Page 18 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Bryce checked on Dorie a few times throughout the day. Each time she was resting peacefully. Kenna assured him she would be fine. Her heartbeat had evened out and her appetite had returned.

“I’ll have Liam guard her.”

“Do ye really think that’s necessary?” Kenna asked.

Bryce remembered how much Kenna hated being looked after when Lach had posted guards to protect her. He didn’t imagine Dorie would like it overmuch, either, but he’d rather have an irritated wife than a dead one.

“Aye. For now. I’d rather be safe.”

“So you care for her?” Kenna cocked her head, a small smile pulling up her lips.

Bryce frowned at the woman. It figured Kenna would try to make this arrangement into a love match. She, being quite fond of her husband, wanted every marriage in the clan to be a loving one.

He growled at her. “I have a duty to her and nothing more. Don’t try to make this into something it’s not.”

Kenna pouted, though Bryce knew her well enough to know she wasn’t even close to giving up. Kenna didn’t know the meaning of defeat. Bryce was in store for meddling. That was for certain.

“I’ll have her protected, though I don’t need to be the one to do it. Let me know when she’s well enough that I may have my bed back.”

“There’s plenty of room…”

He gave Kenna another scowl and rushed off. He knew well enough the bed was big enough for the two of them. Especially since his wife was so thin. Though he’d noticed briefly as Kenna and Mari had stripped off her gown that the lass wasn’t without lush curves.

He’d pushed away thoughts of those curves while she was sick, but now that she was on the mend, he recalled the swell of bosom he’d seen when her shift fell open a few days ago.

In a foul mood, he was fit for a fight when he reached the bailey and found his men standing around doing nothing.

“What’s this? Did you all wake up lazy today?”

Galen was the unlucky one to speak first. “We are awaiting a wagon to go out to Cam’s house. We were told we’re to be working there this afternoon.”

“And who told you that?”

“The laird,” Galen answered.

This news didn’t make Bryce any happier. Bryce was the war chief, but Lach, as laird, was the only person in the clan who could overrule Bryce’s command. Once again he and his cousin didn’t agree on orders.

As usual when he was fed up with the way Lach did things, he thought of his father’s letter last year, inviting him to take his rightful place within clan Campbell.

He pushed the thought away.

“Fine. But Liam, ye will stay behind. I have another job for ye.”

Liam frowned but voiced no complaint. The lad was smart and rarely objected to any task. He’d been an orphan when the old laird brought him to the castle and gave him small jobs. He grew up in the shadow of the castle, helping to clean weapons and run messages until he was big enough to carry his own sword.

The other men loaded their tools into the wagon and left for Cam’s manor house.

“What do you wish me to do?” Liam asked.

“You’ll stay with my wife and see her safe. You’ll also watch to make sure she doesna speak to anyone in private.”

Liam’s brows creased and he leaned in closer. “But she doesn’t speak.”

“Aye. She doesn’t speak,” he repeated. “That doesna mean she can’t speak if she wanted to.”

Liam’s eyes went wide and he looked toward the castle, clearly understanding Bryce’s accusation. After a moment, Liam asked, “Do you think she’s a spy for the McCurdys?” He was a sharp lad, his second in command.

“I’ve no idea. If she is, I don’t ken what information she would be passing to them since she’s not privy to any great knowledge. But for now, we’ll watch to make certain of it.”