Alex couldn’t believe his ears. Maddie always did what he said to do.
She loved him, trusted him. She would do what she was told as a good wife should. He did his best to discuss things with her, and he allowed her to speak her opinion inside their bedchamber, but when it came to battle and warriors, she would never question his decision.
What were Mac and his brothers talking about?
He felt they’d set a bit of a challenge to him. He’d be glad to prove them wrong.
Chapter Six
Alex begins to learn more about his wife from his brothers.
“What the hell do you mean she left?” Alex’s roar could be heard across most of the Highlands, if he were to guess, though they were still in the great hall. He only hoped it reached Maddie’s ears.
Logan said, “She’s been gone for hours, is my guess. Are you going to stand here and holler or go after her?”
“Mayhap I should allow her to go alone. See how well she does.” He paced in a circle. “And I’ll kill Mac.”
“I wouldn’t do that. He went along to protect her, I’m sure. Would you rather he stayed back? You married a stubborn lass, Grant, and she was going one way or another. Her plan had been for me to leave and for her to follow if you did not come around. I did not argue, as I knew at least I could keep an eye on her that way. Why she decided to leave in the middle of the night, I don’t know.”
“You knew of her plan?” Alex snapped, his rage climbing.
Logan returned his stare without any fear. “I knew that nothing would stop a woman with that look in her eye. Tellingyou would have done nothing. And someone needed to be reasonable enough for her to trust him with her confidence. At least I know her plan—something you don’t know. You yelled at her, not me.”
Brodie came across the courtyard and held up a sack. “I’ve gathered enough food in case your wife forgot.” He had a sack in his other hand. “Oh, and extra plaids. The storm will bring the winds up.”
Robbie was directly behind Brodie, hiding his face from Alex. “And why are you hiding, Robbie? Are you grinning? I don’t find this amusing at all.”
Robbie stuck his head out and said, “We tried to warn you, Alex, but you didn’t believe us.”
“Of course I did not. I never thought my wife to blatantly disobey my order. She’ll pay for it, you can be certain.”
“Your order?” Logan guffawed. “Say that word to Gwynie, and she’ll knock you down with a fist.”
Alex scowled, trying to understand Logan’s words. “A wife’s job is to obey her husband. The church commands it.”
“Mayhap you’re correct, but I don’t order Celestina around,” Brodie said.
“Why are you afraid to give your wives orders?”
“’Tis not fear, Alex,” Robbie said, “but respect. Caralyn says giving her orders all the time reminds her of her former life.”
“Celestina says the same. Her father never allowed her to question his commands. Ever. She cries if I bark an order at her. She said it takes her back to being held prisoner by her own father.”
Alex hadn’t considered that before. Would Maddie feel the same about anyorder? His orders weren’t cruel or inhumane as Kenneth’s had been, so he’d felt they were acceptable to make. It was the way of marriage. But Maddie had compared him to that terrible man yesterday. At the time, he’d thought she’dspoken only in anger, but perhaps his ordering was too much of a reminder for her.
“And you’ll not be going after Mac,” Brodie said. “I heard your threat earlier. I’ll stand by his side, and you know why.”
Alex did know why. In truth, he thanked the Lord above for Mac. It’d been Mac that had sent him that message years ago that the bastard Kenneth beat his sister. Without it, he might never have returned to MacDonald keep, and Maddie would not have grabbed a piece of his soul with one glance.
Brodie had been with Alex when he’d received the letter that spurred their return to the castle, and he knew well Mac’s role in it. He’d always respected the man for that.
“I know, Brodie. I recall it well. Mac’s only protecting her. I spoke through rage.”
“Aye, but we need to move, Grant,” Logan said, grumbling while he paced. “There’s a storm on its way.”
Alex nodded, shifting to strategic thought. He had to be prepared for any circumstance. “Robbie, you’re willing to stay back? If they’ve gotten to a certain point, we’ll go on to Ramsay land and not return until after the Yule.”
“Aye, you know we’ll stay here.”
