Page 101 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“Still, I’d rather we discuss our options and make the decisions together.”

“Good, because I don’t know how I’ll feel if you force me to call you Alexander.”

He lifted her into her saddle. “I said I’d never force you to do anything.” He frowned before looking back to her. “I’ll have another vow from you, wife.”

“What’s that?”

“You’ll never do something foolish to protect me.” He mounted and pulled his horse up next to hers.

“I promise you, Liam Alexander Morgan MacKinlay, to always be honest. Even when I’m terrified that the truth will put you in danger. I’ll trust you—us—to make the right decision. Together.”

“Thank ye.” He paused and turned his horse. “Now I must go have a talk with my brother. I’ll see you up at the castle.” And with a kiss he was gone.

She watched him ride off with a contented smile on her face.

“I got my miracle,” she whispered though no one was there to hear.

…

Liam had seen the direction in which his brother had ridden off and knew he’d probably not cross the stream. He found David not far from Liam’s usual spot for thinking.

He walked loudly enough not to sneak up on the man, but David didn’t look toward Liam.

“Might I have a word with ye?” Liam asked.

David looked surprised when he finally turned to see it was Liam. Clearly, he expected someone else to have come after him. Was this a common scenario between father and son?

Liam remembered the way Shea went off when he was upset and how Liam would give him time to calm down before going after him. But David was much older than Sheamus.

“Did Father send you?” he asked.

“Nay. He went ahead up to the castle. There will be a feast. You’ll not want to miss it.”

“I lost my birthright, and a bit of mutton is supposed to make me feel better for it?”

It was an odd situation. One man raised to take over as laird one day, while the rightful heir had been an orphan with no idea where he belonged. He would be patient with his brother, since they were both coming to terms with their new situations.

“I’d hoped maybe you’d consider that you gained a brother to make you feel better, but perhaps I’m not as valued as mutton.”

It was a fine joke, but David only frowned. With a deep breath, Liam went to take a seat on the fallen log next to his younger brother. Liam couldn’t help but notice the similarities between them. Their fingers and hands were alike.

“Do ye hate me?” Liam asked him.

“I don’t even know you. You’ve been nothing more than a ghost who has haunted me all my life,” David said and let out a breath.

“I’m sorry for it. I would have liked to have been a big brother to ye. I’m sure we would have gotten into our share of trouble together.”

David seemed surprised. “I never thought of that. It might have been nice to have someone take half the punishment.”

“I thought of it many times. At night, I wondered if I might have a family out there somewhere who missed me. Brothers and sisters. I imagined what they would be like and what we would say. In truth, I made up an entire imaginary family. They were perfect and happy.” He frowned and tossed away a bit of moss that had stuck to his plaid before going on.

“I did the same thing when I thought of having a wife. I met Ev some time ago and over the years I created a life for us.” He laughed. “It turned out not to go that way at all. I had imagined her happy to be my wife and dote on me, pleased to have my affections.”

He nudged his brother. “I must tell ye, the real marriage did not start off at all how I’d thought. She disliked me for some time. And even now it’s not like I’d envisioned, but it’s better because it’s real. We’ve had our share of obstacles, but she loves me, and I love her.”

Liam didn’t know why he was rambling on. He’d hoped to make some kind of bond with the man. He would need him when called up to be laird.

“My point is that I hope you and I can be friends if not really brothers. I have no idea how to be laird. I take it you’ve been preparing for it ever since I was taken away.”