Page 75 of His Secret Highland Bride

“You scared me last night,” she said as he stretched a bit. “Your skin turned warm, and I thought for sure you’d start a fever, but then a few hours later your skin cooled, and now you’ve woken up.”

“You must have done a fine job of cleansing the wound. That’s what Bess has always said.” He smiled at his aunt hovering by the door.

“She used all of my whisky,” his aunt complained with a smile.

“As the healer from my clan taught me.”

Shane tilted his head, thinking the method odd, not to mention a waste of good whisky, but he couldn’t argue the results, so he shuffled along toward the door with Tre and the two women following along.

“Ye should rest,” Lindsay said.

Shane nodded. “I will. But there’s something I must see to first.” Shane made his way to the steps, stopping twice to put a hand on the wall when he swayed. It seemed he’d lost a lot of blood, which was surely missed. Slowly, he made his way downstairs and into chaos.

Tory met him as soon as he entered the hall, which was teeming with people. “You’re looking recovered, brother,” she said, though her wince made it less convincing.

“What is all this?”

“Many of the MacColls from Collier have already come here in the hope of finding better living conditions. I set the warriors to hunting to keep us in venison, pheasants, and rabbits so we can feed everyone. They brought a wagon near to full of turnips to pay loyalty to you, and the kitchens are making good use of those. We just need homes for them. Until then, I shall set them up in the great hall and the bailey.”

“Thank ye, sister, for taking to the running of things while I was away. You’ve done well.”

“Nay, it wasn’t me. It was Lindsay. Between carrying for ye and advising me, I don’t think she’s slept at all.” Despite her anger with him, she’d tended him and ran the clan while he’d been abed.

“I see you’re up,” the Wallace laird said.

“Thanks to your daughter, things have been seen to while I was down.”

The man frowned and went on without a word of acknowledgment that his daughter was capable of such things. Was this how Lindsay had lived, with a man who refused to spare a word of encouragement or pride?

“What are ye to do with all these mouths to feed?” Wallace said.

“I’m not sure. I only just now found out they had come here. Let me think on the situation, and I’ll come up with a solution.”

The man snorted and walked off.

Tory glared after the man. “He doesn’t think a woman can do anything but sit by and smile. I’m not sure how Lindsay endured it.” Their own father had always said Tory didn’t need anything inside her head so long as her face was bonny.

“It seems to be the way of lairds to underestimate their daughters.”

“If ye are blessed with a lass, make sure you don’t do the same,” she said before heading off to see to a young couple who’d just entered the hall.

Shane knew better. He knew how well Tory looked after things until he was forced to stay at the castle. He also knew how clever his wife was, and he would seek her advice to select the best path forward.

“Where is Alec?”

“He’s gathering the MacColl warriors and sorting them as to their loyalty.”

“Dare I ask what he’s doing with the men who still pledge fealty to the MacColls?”

She scrunched up her nose. “So far, I’ve not heard of any who have.”

While Shane was glad the war seemed at an end, it meant more people to care for and still no funds. He needed to get to Collier and see what was there to salvage. Surely, Deirdre hadn’t been able to leave with everything.

Tory pointed toward the door. “He’s out in the bailey.”

Shane nodded and headed in that direction, not sure what to take care of first. He felt overwhelmed and wished he could return to the small cottage on the edge of the village and talk to Lindsay until his worries drifted away in kisses and heat. Those days were likely over in exchange for the cold marriage of a laird and his lady. He didn’t want that, but what did she want?

In the bailey, he found the gates standing open. Through them, he spotted small camps of people. More of the MacColls he was now responsible for. He didn’t yet know what he would do with everyone, but Collier Castle still sat unclaimed, and Shane was going to take it and any spoils it held. While he didn’t look forward to sitting a horse or a long ride in his state, there was nothing for it.