Page 59 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“And what did your letter say?” he asked.

Cam shifted to smile at him. “Not that the man would be able to read it with his scribbles.”

“I told him to leave my wife alone. We were married before God and she wasn’t going to return to him.”

“And you thought that would take care of it?”

“Yes.”

“After you killed another one of their men.”

Liam swallowed. If a clan would have killed a MacKinlay a mere letter wouldn’t have satisfied Lachlan. However, a MacKinlay would never attempt to steal a woman from her husband in the first place.

Liam might have asked what they would have done if a man had tried to take Kenna or Mari from their lands against her will, but he knew it was different. Liam wasn’t blood, his wife would not be afforded the same protections as the laird’s wife and her sister.

It was the reason he thought to take care of the matter himself. Though as he sat there now, he realized it didn’t matter that he wasn’t MacKinlay by blood, he’d acted on their behalf as war chief.

“Are my family and I to be cast out?” Liam asked. He would need to find a place for them. Surely he could find work in London. He didn’t have many skills but fighting, but he’d do whatever needed to provide for his wife and child.

“No one’s being cast out.” Lach raised his hand. “I’ll take care of things. I’ll write to Hugh myself.”

“And what will you say,” Cam asked.

“I’ll tell him that Liam and Evelyn were married before God and that she won’t be returning to him.”

“That’s what Liam already said.”

“Aye.” Lach grinned. “But I get to sign the letter as Laird of Clan MacKinlay. It means he will deal with me if he presses the matter further.”

“Thank you, laird.”

“It’s an easy thing to do. Something I would have done a few weeks ago if you’d come to me.”

Liam nodded. “How am I to be punished?”

Lach and Cam exchanged a glance. “You’re not going to be punished, Liam. You didn’t do anything Cam or I wouldn’t have done if our wives were in danger. It’s the way of husbands.” He waved his fingers as if it was a simple truth. Perhaps it was.

“Thank you.”

“If you run into trouble in the future, I hope you’ll come to me.”

“Yes. I will.” It was an easy thing to promise. Liam could only hope this was the end of it.

…

Liam was with the laird so long he’d missed dinner. When he finally arrived in the hall, he grabbed up a bit of food and motioned to Evelyn to join him.

She was quick to follow behind him as they went to their chamber. When he reached for Gwennie with his free hand, she took the food so he could take her daughter.

“I brought you something.” He dug in his sporran and pulled out the small spinning toy he’d purchased from Duncan. The man had offered to give it to him for free, still feeling bad about his part in what happened with Gwennie and feeling obliged for Liam’s help in getting Joan back.

Liam wouldn’t have it. He didn’t like to owe people if it could be helped.

He set her in her bed with the toy and turned to Evelyn. Liam rubbed his chin and sat heavily on the edge of the bed. She came to stand in front of him.

“What’s happened?” She was almost afraid to ask. But curiosity forced her to ask.

“I told Lachlan and Cam about the man who came to take you.”