Page 102 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Bryce looked down at the other man as Dorien stepped closer. It was clear from the expression on his face he’d heard what the old laird said.

“You killed her mother.”

“Nay.” This time when he coughed, red spattered his lips. “It’s true I roughed her up a bit in my rage, but her death…no. She took care of that herself, to spite me.”

“You lie,” Dorien said. “She wouldn’t have taken her own life. Not when she needed to be there for our child.”

The McCurdy’s eyes narrowed on the Englishman. Even at death’s door as he was, it was easy for him to see the similarities between Dorien and the child he’d thought was his daughter for nine years.

“Did she ever tell you of the child?” Blood was running from the corner of the man’s mouth and his voice rattled. “She planned to go to you without Dorie because she knew I’d never let her take the girl. When I refused, she took a blade to her own throat.” He laughed, blood bubbling from his mouth. “Now I’ll see her in hell. And you will never have her.” A few ragged breaths later the smile left his lips as life vacated his eyes.

“He lies,” Dorien said again.

Bryce didn’t know many men who still felt the need to lie when facing death. Generally, they were quick to spill truths until their dying breath. But for both Dorien and Dorie’s sake he would let them have their truth as they knew it. Some things were better not known.

With the fall of the McCurdy laird, the remaining men surrendered quickly and came forward to bow in front of them. Lachlan offered them sanctuary in exchange for their fealty, and they were quick to comply.

When everything was settled Lach turned toward Baehaven Castle and nodded to Dorien. “Your castle, my lord.”

…

It had taken three days for a messenger to arrive with word of a battle that, by now, was most likely over. The news he brought was outdated, not to mention vague. He had no word specifically of who had fallen and who lived. All he was able to report was that the MacKinlay laird was alive, and the McCurdys had been taken by surprise.

Kenna sent the lad for a meal and gave an encouraging smile to the ladies who’d convened. “They had surprise on their side. I’m certain the McCurdy took one look at the men amassed and laid down his sword in surrender.”

Dorie offered a brittle smile and wondered how they were able to sit there without going mad. It took her a moment to see the answer. Each one of them clung to a child. They all had a small piece of the men they loved.

While Dorie had nothing of Bryce.

That night she tossed and turned as visions of her husband being slain in battle taunted her from sleep. It was still dark when she dressed in the messenger’s clothing she had washed and mended earlier and made her way to the stable. She’d secured Rascal in their room, knowing the guard would recognize him and know who she was straight away.

She knew it was a foolish endeavor. If the McCurdys had indeed defeated their forces, they could even now be heading her way. But she’d rather face it straight on than wait another second to hear of her husband’s fate.

At the gate, she was faced with her first challenge. She had found a cap in the hall and pulled it tight over her hair. Lowering her voice, she announced she was to return to the battle to bring back word. Thankfully, the guard didn’t hesitate to lift the gate and allow her to leave.

The sun cast the faintest hint of light on the eastern border so she headed in the opposite direction. It was a simple thing to follow the trail left by more than three hundred horses. As the sun rose higher and she was able to see better, she picked up her pace. She stopped only long enough to rest and water her horse and was off again before dawn the next day.

Rain had settled in and even though it was still summer, she was drenched and shivering in the hills, unsure what time it was since the sun refused to shine. Slogging through the mud made things slower, so she was only at a canter when two men stepped out on the trail, blocking her path.

She turned, but another, larger man had stepped behind her, covered in filth and blood.

“Look what we have found,” a familiar voice bellowed. “If it isn’t my dear sister, here to aid us.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Dorie tried to steer her horse around them, but the man in front had already grabbed the bridle and was holding her mount as her brother reached up with one hand and yanked her down.

She fell hard to the ground and curled into a ball so he’d not step on her. She anticipated a growl and savage barking, but then she remembered Rascal wasn’t with her. He’d not be able to save her this time.

She expected the men would take her horse and go, but a bit of cursing caused her to turn and see that her brother wasn’t able to mount.

From the ground she took in the state of the other two men. One was unable to stand as he held a hand over a large gash across his stomach. Dorie swallowed back bile at the twisted bulge she saw him clutching. The man clearly wasn’t long for this world with a wound like that.

The man holding her horse hobbled on a leg drenched in blood. When he shifted, she was able to see the makeshift bandage tied around the wound that was also dripping with blood.

Her brother stumbled as he tried again to lift himself to the saddle. He reached to rub his back where she noticed the perfect mark of a horseshoe.

No doubt, if he could get up, he planned to leave them all behind and save himself. If he was able to take her horse, she would be left behind with no food and no way to get back to Dunardry or to go on to Baehaven.