Page 96 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Lach nodded, though the smile had faded. “I expected as much.” He looked over at the women. “It’s worth it to have you happy.”

“She’s worried you will be upset with her. Make sure you put her straight on that,” Bryce said.

Cam laughed. “I must say, being a protective husband suits you well.”

Lach stepped forward and held out his arms to welcome Dorie home. “I’m so glad to have you back in our fold.”

She frowned. “You might not think so when you find out my father is not sending his men.”

Lach waved it off. “You’re more valuable to my clan than a handful of British soldiers. Women are vital to the growth of our clan. After all, none of my warriors would be here if not for the women.” He winked when she blushed and Bryce squeezed his shoulder in thanks for his words.

After their meal, they went up to their room which had been filled with the trunks Dorie brought home with her.

“I’ll add some pegs to the walls to hang some of these things. We’ll make it all fit,” he said as he pushed one of the trunks away from the bed so they could get in to sleep. The large dog didn’t help make the room seem bigger.

“I shouldn’t have brought everything, but Harriet was insistent that this was all mine and I should have it.” She frowned when she looked at the overcrowded room. “Why would I ever need so many fancy gowns?”

Why, indeed? She certainly wouldn’t have use of them here in the Highlands with a war chief as her husband.

“Dorie…” He let out a breath and took her hand. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you a home like the one your father has.”

Her eyes went wide. “Why ever would the two of us need a house of that size? Even with all my brothers and sisters, Sutherland House was far too big.”

He loved her practicality, but she was missing his point. “I can’t even give you a home like Cam and Mari’s,” he explained.

“Ah. I see. Do you think I’ll regret coming home with you? I knew the size of our room when I left England. And I still couldn’t wait to get back here to be with you.” She looked around and let her arms drop by her sides. “I will say it seems much smaller now with these trunks filling the space, but we’ll figure it out another time. Come to bed, husband.”

That was a request he was happy to oblige. His earlier exhaustion faded slightly as excitement took its place. He pounced on the bed, toppling her over with him.

She laughed but made no attempt to escape his clutches. “I don’t really care if the room is big enough to hold my trunks, so long as the bed is big enough for the two of us to romp around in,” she said, warming his heart once again.

“I shall love you from one side of the bed to the other to make sure there’s plenty of room.”

They spent each night over the next week testing the bed to make sure it would do.

He woke up before her one morning, Rascal taking his place as Bryce slipped out of bed. He had a bite to eat and went out to run his men through their drills. The Campbells hadn’t arrived yet, and Bryce began to worry they’d changed their minds.

There was no way the MacKinlays could ensure victory over the McCurdys without the help of another clan. Liam hadn’t arrived home yet from the Stewarts, either, so there was still a chance both clans might join them. Or neither.

It was almost time to stop for the noon meal when the guard on the gate yelled out, “Riders. A lot of them. Armed.”

Bryce smiled and called up, “What banner do they fly?” He could wait the few minutes for them to arrive, but it was better to know if it was the Campbells or Stewarts who rode on the castle.

“No banner flying.”

Bryce’s smile faded and his brows creased as he looked to Lachlan. They both knew a clan approaching in peace had no reason not to fly a banner.

“Bloody hell,” Lach muttered. “Bryce and I will ride out. Have the men at the wall. Prepare for battle.”

…

With the help of some sturdy lads, Dorie had the trunks stacked out of the way. Kenna made room in the solar for the ones that wouldn’t fit.

She offered Kenna and Mari many of the gowns. Since Dorie was so tall, it would be easy to cut them down a bit to fit Kenna, or a lot to fit tiny Marian. The women were excited for the fine dresses. Especially since they didn’t have to make them themselves.

“It will sadden me to have to put them aside when I grow too big to wear them,” Kenna said while rubbing her bump.

“Do you hope for a girl this time?” Dorie wondered, since Kenna and Lachlan already had three boys.