Page 25 of A Scot to Wed

“I dinnae want to marry the man. He’s vile.”

Evan leaned forward, the fire coming from his eyes a frightening sight. “Did he touch ye in any way? Did he harm ye?”

At first she didn’t understand what he meant, then when she realized he was referring to rape, she smiled, which had him looking both angry and confused. “Nay. That was never an issue.”

His brows rose to his hairline. “The mon showed up at yer door with a betrothal paper, and ye weren’t concerned he would violate ye?”

“Nay.”

“Must I drag the rest of the story from ye?”

Katie looked off into the distance, not wanting to face him with her words. “Richard prefers the affections of young lads.”

Evan sucked in a breath. “Yer brother.”

“Aye.”

Nothing was said for a few minutes, just the far off sound of small animals scurrying about and birds overhead, searching for food. The soft wind blew in her face, and just the words spewing forth after holding them in all these months calmed her.

“Do ye have reason to believe he will follow ye here?”

“At first I dinnae think so. I told myself he wouldn’t make such a trip, but I don’t know for sure.” She twisted in the saddle and looked at Evan. “Ye see, Richard dinnae like to be thwarted. With the paper supposedly signed by my da, he feels he has the right to come after me and drag me back to Stirlingshire.”

“Ye and yer wee brother.”

“Aye.”

Evan ran his hand through his hair. “Even if the betrothal was signed by yer da, which I doubt, given what ye just told me about the mon, those things can be broken.”

“If he accepts that. I hate to say this because it embarrasses me so much, but he’s had his eye on Gavin for a couple of years. I think da being alive, even though he was absent a great deal of the time, kept him from doing what he wanted with the lad.”

“Ye have nothing to be embarrassed about, lass. ’Tis the mon’s shame, not yers.”

“What can I do?” It amazed her how quickly she’d grown to rely on Evan. Aye, he was her laird, and based on his actions so far, he was a caring man and a staunch leader of people. But she felt a certain connection to him that she’d never felt before with any man.

“’Tis my problem now. If the mon thinks he has a strong reason to fetch ye back home, he will come through the front door with his paper in hand. We will rely on that for now. But with all the others arriving from yer clan, he could easily slip in if he feels ye might naysay him. ’Twill be best if ye set up some method to check everyone arriving from yer clan.”

“Aye. That’s a good idea. I can have Colum and Meggie stay by the door. The rest should be arriving soon.”

Evan reached out and touched her hand. “Ye have nothing to fear. I will protect ye and yer brother.”

Katie felt as though a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Evan moved his hand from hers and cupped her face. “I won’t let any harm come to ye. Do ye trust me?”

She licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded. “Aye. I trust ye.”

“Good. Let’s return to the castle so ye can speak with Colum and Meggie.”

They turned their horses and made their way back, the sun a bit brighter, the air a bit sweeter, and her heart a bit lighter.

They were greeted by a group of people that Katie recognized as her clansmen. She smiled at Evan as he helped her from the horse. “’Tis Riley and Michael and their families.”

“I’m thinking we should send one of the men out to ask among the tenants and farmers if they ken of any empty cottages. Our visits are taking a bit longer than I had planned, and we cannot keep putting people in the castle.”

“Aye. I agree.” Katie hurried into the castle, hugging and welcoming the new families. All the little ones were crying and the older ones racing around, happy to have the long journey behind them. Evan trailed behind her, but after asking for Colum and Meggie to join him in the library, he made a quick escape.

Katie stood on the front step, addressing the group. “We’re still trying to find cottages for all of ye. Until then, ye can stay with us here in the castle.”

“Nay, Mistress. No need for that. Just point us to a piece of land, and Riley and I will put up our own cottage.”