Page 26 of Highland Sky

“Nice work, Nash.” North bent down and tried to scoop the seeds back into the bag. “However, they’re supposed to be planted in the field, no’ here.”

“Sorry about that.” Nash hunkered down and helped his brother pick up the spilled seeds.

“What’s wrong with yer hand?” asked North, eyeing his bandage.

“Oh, it’s nothin’. My lovely wife just tried to kill me again, that’s all. This time, it was with a twisted hazel spar.”

“Losh me, is that what ye call it? After all, everyone heard how she was tryin’ to kill ye last night . . . in the weddin’ bed.” North waggled his eyebrows. “It sounds like she’s a real vixen in the sack.”

“Stop it, North. It’s no’ like that at all. Ye dinna ken what ye are sayin’.”

“Are ye sure it isna?” he asked sarcastically. “It sounded pretty satisfyin’ to me.”

“We didna even do anythin’, I swear,” said Nash in a low voice. He looked around as he said it to make sure no one heard him.

“What are ye sayin’?” North stopped picking up the seeds.

“Kellina didna want me to touch her, so I just showed her how to pleasure herself instead.”

“What? Please tell me this is just a sick jest.” North’s mouth fell open in surprise.

“Shhhh.” Nash finished scooping the seeds back into the bag and tied it closed. “Dinna let anyone ken. We want them to think we consummated the marriage.”

“Nash, what is the matter with ye? Ye ken that consummation is important to seal the alliance between our clans. What have ye done?”

“I refuse to bed a lass who doesna want me, no matter who she is. I have never forced myself on a wench before, and willna start now.” Nash stood and brushed off his hands.

“That wench is yer wife, ye fool!” North grabbed the bag and stood up. “If ye let her get away with that on yer weddin’ night, she is goin’ to rule ye the rest of yer life. Ye will have to look to whores for yer release, and yer marriage will never be consummated now. I’m sorry to say ye’ve made a big mistake, Brathair.”

“Mayhap ye’re right.” Nash rubbed his injured hand and glanced up to Kellina who was on the roof, thatching furiously. “I only did it, hopin’ she would like me. But I can see by the madness in her eyes this mornin’ that she hates me more than ever. I dinna ken why.”

“Ye’re just imaginin’ it, I am sure. She is yer wife. She’s scared, but doesna hate ye.”

“Now ye’re the fool, Brathair.” Nash held up his hand. “Yesterday she threw me off the roof. Today she tried to impale me. What’s next? Slitting my throat as I sleep? And how many times will I be able to escape death? Even a cat only has nine lives, so they say, and I’ve already used up two.”

“Nash, listen to yerself. Ye’re overreactin’.”

“Am I? Ye heard her uncle. He warned us to watch our backs because she is goin’ to try to kill any MacKeefe. She is vengeful and will stop at nothin’ to make the MacKeefes pay for the death of her parents.”

“Well, nothin’s happened to me yet, so I dinna believe it.”

“Watch out,” came a cry from the roof. Nash and North looked up to see a wooden mallet flying right at them. Nash pushed North out of the way, both of them falling to the ground. The mallet landed just next to their heads. “Sorry about that. It slipped,” Kellina called out with a shrug. She did not sound sorry at all to Nash. He had no doubt she did it on purpose.

“That’s three lives used up now,” said Nash. “North, now do ye believe me?” He helped his brother to his feet.

“Aye. Mayhap ye’re right.” Concern washed over North’s face as his eyes lifted to Kellina on the roof. “Ye’d better do somethin’, and fast. Ye need to keep that wife of yers under control, before we’re all killed off one by one,” spat North, grabbing the bag of seeds and quickly heading toward the fields.

“What is takin’ so long? I need yer help. It’s goin’ to rain.” Kellina hurried down the ladder and stood next to him with her hands on her hips again.

“Aye, well, next time ask nicely instead of tryin’ to kill me with yer mallet, and mayhap I’ll move faster.” He scooped up the wooden mallet and shoved it back into her hands, hurrying over to the ladder.

“Sister, is somethin’the matter?” asked Caitlin, joining Kellina. “Yer husband looks angry with ye.”

“He’s no’ my husband,” she grumbled. “Well, no’ really.” She looked down and played with the mallet.

“What are ye talkin’ about?” Caitlin giggled. “Ye were married yesterday, or did ye forget?”

“Never mind.”