Page 12 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

When they stopped for the day, Liam tended the horses with Gwennie perched on his shoulders. He’d bend down to pick up something, pretending to drop her and making her giggle, while Evelyn’s heart sped with worry. But he always had a hand securing her, always protecting.

It was damp and chilly when night fell. When Evelyn steered Gwennie to the other side of the fire and settled in to sleep, Liam got up and came to lie next to her. Before she could protest, Liam threw his plaid around them.

“Put her between us so we can provide heat for her,” he ordered.

“She’s fine.”

“Did you promise before God to obey me or not?”

She couldn’t see his face in the darkness, but she heard the strength in his voice as he continued.

“While I’m not going to be the type of husband to take advantage of your oath, I will in this. I’ll not have my wife and child fall sick from a chill when I can do something for it. Now put her between us so we can keep her warm together.”

She did as he said and relaxed when his warm arm reached across her. He was like a second fire, and she let his warmth sink in.

“We’ll be home tomorrow,” he said quietly.

She didn’t remember much of the landscape when she departed Dunardry the last time, so she hadn’t noticed they were so close to the holding.

“When I first saw Gwendolyn, I realized it wasn’t that you wanted to marry me as much as you needed a way to escape from your home so you could be with her. I don’t blame ye, and I’d never hold it against you. Mothers should never be kept from their children.”

He shook his head. “But I must ask before we meet up with my clan tomorrow, do you want to be my wife, Evelyn? I’d rather allow you refuge with my clan and say we never wed than be shamed in front of my men and laird when they see how much you despise me. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I forced ye.”

He let out a shaky breath while her mind whirled with the opportunity he offered. She’d be free to live among the MacKinlays. Just her and her daughter as she’d planned.

“You don’t need to answer right now. Sleep on it and let me know your answer in the morning. I don’t wish to sway your decision, but know that I did want you for my wife. So much that I faced your father three times to ask for your hand, and I’m willing even now to give you and Gwennie whatever I have to see to your happiness. I know what happened to you with the McCurdys, and while I have to confess to wanting you in that way, I’d never force myself on you. Ever.”

Tears rolled silently from her eyes. It was evident she’d been so wrong and had treated him horribly. And, while she still wanted to live alone, she also wanted Liam’s name to protect her. She couldn’t be cast out if she was the wife of the war chief.

But she wouldn’t lie and pretend their marriage would ever be anything but in name only. After what had happened while she was held captive, she’d never welcome a man’s touch again. And Liam was a man. A large striking man. He would come to expect things from her she simply couldn’t give.

“I don’t need to wait until morning. I’ll remain your wife, Liam, but I can never be a real wife to you, so perhaps I should ask you if you wish to change your mind. I wouldn’t blame you. This isn’t what you planned for when we wed.” She shuddered as more tears escaped and his hand rubbed her arm. There seemed no limit to his compassion. No matter how badly she’d wronged him, he still offered comfort she didn’t deserve. “I’m sorry.”

“Shh… you don’t need to be sorry, lass. I’ve already waited years for ye. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

His hand cradled her face and his thumb brushed away her tears.

“We’ll be fine, Ev. So long as we face things together.”

She smiled at his shortened name for her. It was a casual thing husbands and wives did. And she was this man’s wife despite her wish to be free of men. She wished she’d met him before she’d been broken by the men who’d captured her. They may have been happy together. She might have even been happy. He was a fine-looking man despite her not being interested in him in that way. It wasn’t fair that he ended up with her, but she wasn’t strong enough to send him away for his own good.

Motherhood had made her desperate. She knew she was capable of doing anything to ensure the safety of her child. It was embedded in her bones.

His fingers brushed her hair. He touched her as a person might a horse they thought might bolt. She didn’t know how long he continued to touch her like that, but she managed to relax. She hadn’t known how scared she’d been all this time. She tensed once again when she realized she’d let her guard down.

Gwennie twitched and muttered something in her sleep Evelyn didn’t recognize. She wondered what the girl dreamed of. It was one of the many things Evelyn didn’t know about her daughter. She’d given birth to her, but in many ways Evelyn was as much a stranger to the little girl as Liam.

“What do you think she dreams of when she murmurs in her sleep like that?” he asked quietly.

“Probably rabbits floating out to the sea and making friends with a seal.”

His chuckle was low and soft and so soothing to her frayed nerves she almost started crying again. She reached up and placed her hand on top of his, stealing this small comfort for just a short time.

Her eyelids grew heavy. She opened them again to see Liam was closer than he had been. Her heart started pounding, and she froze as still as one of Gwennie’s wooden rabbits.

“May I kiss you, wife?” he asked so quietly she wasn’t certain she’d heard him correctly.

Kiss her?