Page 17 of His Secret Highland Bride

Chapter Seven

Shane rapped quickly on the shabby door and waited for the yelling inside to quiet down. Randall opened the door, blurry-eyed and with a sickly tinge to his skin. It was clear the man was not well and the drink was making things worse.

“What do ye want?” he spat at Shane. “The girl’s not here.”

“I’m aware.”

He stood straighter at Shane’s comment. “If you know where she is, you’d better bring her back here. I’m seeing after her.”

“As to that, I’ve witnessed the way you saw after her. Much the way you see to your boys, from the looks of it.” The littlest boy had a blackened eye, and the eldest’s lip was split and scabbed over.

“And what business is it of yours?”

Shane bit his tongue to keep from revealing exactly who he was and why it was his business. There was another way that wouldn’t reveal his identity to the lout. “I am acquainted with the new laird and know well what he thinks of men who abuse women as you have done to your niece.”

Shane took a slow breath to calm the rage that bubbled up. He knew what he was capable of when he allowed his anger to take over. He’d not be able to stop himself from killing the frail man.

Fortunately, his threat stilled the man’s tongue. Shane decided to go further. From his father’s letters, he’d learned his brother Alec had become a formidable war chief. It was difficult for Shane to believe, remembering Alec as a gangly lad of five and ten who only came up to Shane’s nose when he’d left. But if Alec drew fear into the hearts of men, it was worth mentioning him. “Do you know of Alec, the war chief?”

The man’s eyes went wide as he muttered, “The Trow?”

Shane didn’t know of the name, but it was clear he’d managed the fear Shane had been hoping for. “Aye. I know him as well, and he will see you’re punished properly for what you’ve done.”

“Please. I’ll not hit her again. I did offer the lass marriage.”

“You mean you threatened marriage.” The idea of someone as lovely as Lindsay having to be married to such a creature… He swallowed down the bile the thought brought up.

“If she took it that way…” His words drifted off as Shane took a step closer. A warning not to put any of the blame on Lindsay. “Please,” the man begged again, which was exactly what Shane had wanted.

“Hear me. I make only one offer, and you will take it or face the castle for your crimes.” He held out a few coins. “Take this money and leave the MacPherson clan today. You’ll leave the boys with me so I might find a good home for them where they’ll be raised properly into men this clan can be proud of.”

Shane barely got the words out before the man grabbed up the coins and gave a nod. The man seemed eager enough to be done with his sons as he ran back into the cottage to grab a few things, not sparing so much as a parting word for them. What kind of a father walked away from his children without so much as a hesitation?

“I’ll be on my way, then. Thank ye.” He took off and didn’t look back.

The boys stood there watching as their da rushed off before turning to look at Shane.

He was not accustomed to being with children. There were some about the camps, but he and Maria had not been blessed with children in the year they’d been wed, so he’d never been a father himself. “When will he be back?” the older one asked, though Shane thought the lad knew the answer.

Robbie, the littlest boy, who was maybe eight, had tears in his blackened eye. Was he sad to learn the man had left them or was he afraid of what would happen to them? The man, coward that he was, was still the boys’ da.

“He will not return. I’ve sent him away for what he did to your cousin. He was facing punishment from the castle, so it was best he leave.” If the boys felt any way about that, they didn’t show it. Shane didn’t give them time to start worrying. “Doran, you’re old enough to join the guard. If it is your wish to do so, I can start your training myself.”

Doran’s eyes went wide, and he nodded excitedly. “Aye. I would like to be a warrior.” He looked down at his thin body, and the excitement waned.

“Worry not—you’re tall enough and not done growing yet. With proper food, you’ll fill out into a fine warrior. I was not much bigger than you when I was your age.”

His eyes went wide as they moved, taking in Shane’s size now.

“Very well, then. All of you gather your things and come with me.”

The smaller boys spared a second to look to Doran, who gave them a nod, which spurred them into action. They came out a minute later with small bundles of their things, then without question followed Shane deeper into the village. Shane took a breath before stepping up to the smithy’s shop. He’d already had to reach out to Bess to see Lindsay was tended to, and now he would reveal his return to another old friend.

“Munro, how have you been?” he asked the large man with huge, work-worn hands. It took only a second for Munro to recognize him. White teeth showed in the depths of his thick beard.

Shane had worked with the man in the forge as a lad, learning the skill. His father hadn’t known at first and afterward did not like having his heir working in the village. But he allowed it only so long as Shane learned how to make swords and other weapons.

Munro had lost his wife years ago in childbirth, and Shane knew his heart still burned for their loss. Shane knew that pain well himself and wondered if years from now his loss would still show in his eyes the way it showed in Munro’s.