Page 67 of His Secret Highland Bride

Shane handed the missives to Alec. “Send off the messengers and take to your bed. You need to be rested and ready for what comes tomorrow.”

Alec left to arrange the messengers, leaving Shane alone with his father-in-law.

“Lindsay explained what happened, and it seems you are both at fault. Though I’m not sure she has come to see it that way as of yet. But she will. She knows her duty. She’ll see it done and be a good wife to ye as she was raised to be.”

The man seemed to think that was the end of the matter. Did he care nothing for her happiness? Duty was one thing, but a marriage—the kind he’d had before—was not bound by duty. He didn’t know what kind of future he might have with Lindsay, and at the moment he needed to focus on having a future at all. “I will make things right with Lindsay. After I settle things with the MacColls.”

“Or you’ll be dead and it won’t matter,” the man said before shrugging and leaving.

“Good God,” Shane said while hanging his head in his hands. But he got no reprieve, for Tory entered without even knocking. She was out of breath.

“Alec told me what is happening. How can I help?”

“Have you seen my wife?”

Tory frowned and shook her head. “I haven’t seen her since last night, when she called me out for lying to her.”

“She was angry with you?”

“If you were her, wouldn’t you be? She told me she was your wife, and I told her I was the laird’s sister. In truth, neither of us lied, but that doesn’t matter, does it? Not really. We all knew well enough what the truth was, yet we said nothing. I only hope she’ll grow to trust me again someday. I was so happy to have a sister.” She pressed her lips together before adding, “Not that I don’t like my brothers, too.”

He stayed her with his hand. “Ye don’t need to twist the truth to spare my feelings, sister. I know how you feel and how it would be nice to have another woman here for you to be friends with. I hope I haven’t hardened her heart against the lot of us.”

“Do ye think she will leave?” Tory asked.

It wasn’t until the question was voiced that he began to think of that option. He wanted to say no, and say it loudly and confidently, but he wasn’t sure.

“I don’t think so. She doesn’t seem the type to give up on things.”

“I hope she doesn’t give up on us.” She pointed at him. “Don’t even think to have me keep anything from her again.”

“I won’t. I swear it. I believe we’ve all learned a valuable lesson.”

She helped him sand and seal additional letters requesting warriors to help defeat the MacColls for good. With enough people, they could defend Cluny and then attack the MacColl stronghold and take it over. These messages were dispatched to the Gordons and the Campbells as well. Any clan within a day’s ride was contacted. By the time he went down to the hall for the evening meal, Shane was still worried but hopeful. They had a chance.

What he wasn’t sure was if he had a chance with his wife.

Lindsay was already seated at the high table in the place next to his. She was wearing another beautiful gown with a different strand of gems at her throat. Would she expect such gifts from him?

Anger flared in his stomach, though he wasn’t certain if he was upset that she might want such things or that he didn’t have the means to give them to her. In her fancy clothes, she looked different. Beautiful in the way other ladies were.

He found he missed the plain dresses she wore when she’d just been Lindsay. He nodded to her as he took his seat. “Wife,” he said in greeting and nodded at her father, who was seated next to her.

“Husband,” she answered coldly.

“I missed you today.” He’d hoped saying as much might coax her into telling him where she’d been, but mostly he’d said it because it was true. He found he rather missed being able to go home to their little cottage, where he could tell her his worries and she would listen and offer her advice.

“I went to the village. I wanted to check in on my cousins and see to some other things. Munro is working on more weapons for your men.”

“They couldn’t come at a better time.”

“Why? What has happened?” Lindsay asked.

But it was her father who answered her.

“Nothing for you to worry over. The men will take care of things.”

She nodded stiffly but said nothing else. Shane hadn’t known his wife well. He surely hadn’t known she was the woman promised to him. But the Lindsay he’d known, the one he’d married, had not been one to sit around and let men handle things. She’d roused the village to make arrows.