Why?He needed information, but the jut of her chin told him nothing more was coming.He wiped his mouth.“I’ll be okay now.”
He shuffled farther into the dimly lit outhouse and shut the door, his mind a tempest of questions.His fingers trembled, but he managed.At least the place didn’t smell too bad.He’d been in some outhouses…
The thought petered out before he could finish it, and a frustrated groan escaped him.
“Are you okay in there?”Sienna sounded worried again.
Liam didn’t know what to think when every instinct screamed danger.If he was in trouble, he couldn’t see it.The women were trying to help.
“Liam?”
“I’m fine,” he said, trying to rein in his testiness.“Give me a minute.”He straightened his clothes and exited.“Where do I wash my hands?”
“Over here.”She rushed to his side, and he was glad of her steady support.
She directed him to a barrel with a scoop attached to the side, where he washed his hands.
Liam scanned the area as they returned inside.The cottage was small and well-kept, with bright daisies flanking the door.But when he looked at Sienna, they felt like strangers, and it was scary as fuck.
Chapter 3
SiennawaiteduntilLiamfell asleep before seeking her mother’s advice.A cold twist snaked through her belly while she relayed a careful version of the truth.
“I didn’t intend to hurt him.How could I know he’d lose his memory or become so ill?What if he dies?”
“He won’t die.Now that he’s awake, he’ll grow stronger.”Her mother’s quiet confidence helped to tamp down Sienna’s fears.But as Tamsin spoke, her gaze flickered to the closed bedroom door—a subtle tightening around her lips that Sienna recognized as silent disapproval.
“We’ll wait until Hedrek and the boys return from work and hold a discussion,” her mother added.
Sensible though Sienna worried her audacious plan would explode with epic force.
On Monday, she’d return to her secretarial job because they desperately needed the money, and she worried about her mother’s safety alone with Liam.From the little she’d learned, he seemed decent, but people hid their true selves.She’d learned this at a young age.
“I have the market tomorrow,” her mother said.
“But—”
“No.”Her mother cut her off.“We must carry on as normal and pray your mate recovers.”
Sienna bit her lip, wanting to protest thematepart, but her mother was right.“The money will come in handy with an extra mouth to feed.”
“I’ve told you before.There’s nothing wrong with us.We’d live normal lives if everyone minded their own business.”
“You’re right,” Sienna said.
“A suggestion.If your Liam is up to it, we’ll take him to the market.We must integrate him in the villagers’ eyes, and this trip is ideal.”
“What about people gossiping?Liam might hear something he shouldn’t.”
“We’ll do what we always do—stick our noses in the air and sashay past because we don’t stoop to their level.Liam can formulate his own opinions.”
“Honey, I’m home,” boomed a familiar voice.
Pleasure filled her mother’s face as she whirled toward the doorway with a broad grin.Seconds later, her father appeared, his unique features drawing every eye.Her mother streaked toward him with a joyful shriek, and he wrapped his brawny arms around her.They kissed as if they hadn’t seen each other for months rather than three days.
“Get a room,” her oldest brother, Jago, said with a grin, shaggy hair falling into his eyes.
Cadan, the middle brother, sighed, his sun-browned skin and callused hands a testament to long hours outdoors.A crease of exasperation tugged at his brow.“Are they kissing again?”
