Page 65 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“Aye. I think he’s mostly dog. Mayhap his father was a horse.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it.”

“When Dorie found him, he was only knee-high and I thought he was fully grown. I may not have suggested she keep him if I’d known what a monstrosity he would turn into. Especially when a storm moves in and he seeks comfort on our bed.”

“You permit him in your room?”

“Permit is not quite the word. It makes my wife happy, and ’tis an easy thing to allow if it puts a smile on her face.”

The man seemed confused by this, if his creased brow was any indication. “I was under the impression you were forced into the match with my daughter.”

“Aye. And I fought it for some time. But once I was done pouting like a lad, I realized it wasn’t her fault, and I’ve tried to make it up to her.” A few silly trinkets were little recompense for the way he’d treated her when they’d first wed.

“But you do not love her.” The man was looking right at him. Even so, Bryce wouldn’t lie. He’d expected the man would ask. It was something a father would want to know about the man married to his daughter.

“I’ve heard a bit of your story from Dorie,” Bryce started. “She told me ye truly loved her mother. It’s clear by the fact you came here instead of sending a letter, and by the smile on your face when you saw your daughter, that you must have loved her mother more than anything. You’ve traveled all this way for the piece of her that remains in Dorie.”

Bryce watched the man. Dorien glanced away but nodded. “True enough.”

“I understand such things because I was married before to the love of my life. I’d known her since we were babes. When I was sent here as a young lad, I thought only of her. And when she was old enough, I asked the Campbell to marry her. We were happy and blessed with a child. My life was complete. When she and my daughter died from fever, I lost my ability to love anyone else.”

Another nod of understanding from the man beside him. “I see.”

“While I canna love Dorie the way I wish I could, I take care of her, protect her, and make her happy in the ways I’m able.” He nodded to the dog. “Even waking up to this monster’s smelly breath on occasion.”

The dog had paused to lick himself in a scandalous fashion. The viscount laughed and gave a look of distaste. “Perhaps you’re more capable of love than you think.”

Bryce knew the man was joking, but he felt a tug of longing in his chest. The truth was, he wished he could heal enough to love again. Dorie was a good woman. Beautiful, kind, and funny. And her passion left him unable to make it through the day without searching her out and carrying her off for a bit of wickedness.

But there was distance between them. A place within him she was not allowed. Whether for her protection or his, it didn’t matter. He could not allow her to breach his walls.

Just then Rascal tensed and growled. He had hunted enough with the deerhound to know this wasn’t an alert of game but danger.

“This way, my lord. Quickly.” Bryce led them into a grove of trees and dismounted as four McCurdy warriors entered the far end of the meadow. Rascal growled again when they headed toward them.

“Quiet,” Bryce commanded. The dog obeyed, coming to sit in front of him at his feet. Earlier he’d thought the beast was there to protect him from an angry father. Apparently not.

The viscount’s horse whinnied, calling the attention of the group. It was clear they would not be able to escape without bloodshed today.

“Tell me, my lord, are you a good shot with your pistols?”

The man’s lips pulled up in a grin sure to make any son-in-law cringe. “Oh, yes.”

…

Dorie paced the bailey, waiting for her men to return. All of them, father, husband, and dog, had gone out on a hunting trip in the wee hours of the morning. It was now late afternoon, and she worried what could be keeping them.

Her first concern was that someone might have said something to cause an argument. Both her father and husband wouldn’t be above baiting the other if it amused them. But she knew neither would take it so far as to cause actual harm.

As the maids in the hall began preparing for the evening meal, Dorie became even more anxious and went to find Lachlan.

While he didn’t seem worried, he indulged her request to go look for them.

He was mounting up to go search for Bryce and her father when the guard on the gate yelled down.

“Riders!”

The sound of the gate opening meant the guard knew who it was. Her heart lifted when Bryce and her father rode through the gate, but it quickly fell when she looked closer.