Page 35 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

“We have feared for that girl and knew what was in store for her if Fletcher remembered her. When we insisted that ye marry one of our own, we always meant her, MacDougal.”

“Why?” Theo demanded. “Ye had heard the rumors of me. Why would ye force her on a man like me?”

“I took one look at ye and knew that ye were our salvation. Knew that ye were Gemma’s. I know about yer father, Theo. I know he is alive and well. I was a poor warrior, but I made an excellent spy. I have connections all over the mountains gathering information for me. I know ye saved yer people from him, and that ye would save us, but Gemma is a stubborn lass.”

Harris had a network of spies? The information should have infuriated him, but Theo just sighed. He always knew there was something more to the man than what he could see on the surface. He was married to a strong woman like Agnes, who could read and write, so of course Harris was literate. And apparently a top-notch liar.

“She didnae marry me to run from Fletcher. She was set to run, but she couldnae leave ye and the others. She married me thinking she was protecting ye, and I let her.”

“She makes ye a better man. So why are ye sending her away?”

Theo fixed him with a hard look. “She ran headfirst into battle to save a child, armed with nothing, and was nearly cut down right in front of me. Whoever sent those mercenaries wilnae stop, and I wilnae watch her die. She will be safer on MacDougal lands. There are those I trust who will look out for her.”

“Are ye certain that ye arenae sending her away for another reason? I see the way ye look at her. She would love ye, if ye let her.”

“If she knew what I was capable of, she would never,” Theo whispered and felt a fist squeeze around his heart. Since the battle, she’d been looking at him like he was a hero. It was doing something to him. Softening him.

Now was not the time for him to go soft.

“The man ye were isnae the man that ye are.” Harris patted him on the arm. “Our Gemma is special. If ye drive her away, ye may never get her back.”

Then Theo was alone once again at the loch. He realized Harris was right. He couldn’t send her alone, at least not at first. He would go with her, see that she was settled, and return.

That should pacify her, and if something were to happen to the loch while he was gone, Thomas could take care of it.

First, there was something he needed to take care of.

It took almost an hour to find Graeme. Instead of watching his men or searching the land for a weekend, the MacSeaver heir was sitting on the edge of the woods looking at a particular cottage.

“Is there any reason in particular that ye are staring at Lady Jillian?” Theo asked mildly as he sat next to him.

Graeme started and growled. “What are ye doing here, MacDougal? Do ye not have an army to train?”

“I am leaving for a few days,” Theo said abruptly. There was no point in being coy. “‘Tis time that I took my wife home.”

“And ye want me to leave?”

“We had an agreement, and ye fought by my side. That doesnae mean that I trust ye. If ye decide to stay, ye will be watched.” The agreement stood whether Theo was there or not, which was why he had strengthened his patrols. From the moment Graeme expressed an interest on spending time at the loch, Theo was ready for him to betray them. The fact that he hadn’t, that he’d fought to protect the loch, surprised him.

He wondered if it surprised Graeme, too.

Graeme shrugged. “I am already watched.”

“Why are ye here?”

The MacSeaver heir knew Theo wasn’t talking about the land. They stared over at the small blonde as she brushed her hair out of her face and continued to collect firewood.

“She is a MacSeaver. ‘Tis my duty,” Graeme replied.

“Ye think she killed yer cousin.”

“I know she did.”

Silence fell, and Theo suddenly wondered if Graeme was pleased that his cousin was dead. It did pave the way for him to be laird, but even if that were the case, there was still anger and resentment clearly aimed at the woman.

“Do I need to worry about her safety while I am gone?”

Graeme scowled. “I doonae abuse women, Theo.”