Page 5 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“She’s my wife now. And I’ll thank you to not touch her again, or feel the wrath of my blade on your neck. Do ye ken?” Bryce’s words were deadly calm.

The woman hadn’t been his wife for more than ten minutes and already he was being called on to protect her.

“Aye. Just take her. I wish to leave before the stench of this place becomes permanent,” Wallace sneered.

Wanting to get the man away from her, Bryce turned to lead the oaf back inside.

“You can’t leave her. She’ll run,” her older cousin warned.

“She’ll not run. Where will she go?” Bryce held out his hands.

“She’s daft. She’ll run.”

“You’ll wait here for me?” Bryce asked her.

Dorie swallowed then nodded, swiping her finger over her heart in a promise.

“Let’s go.” Bryce gave the man a shove back inside. Once he’d secured him with the rest of his likewise oafish kin, Bryce hurried to the kitchen to gather food and drink. Swiping a plaid from the hall, he went back to the bailey to find his new wife was gone. “Blast and damn.”

…

Dorie heard the puppy before she saw him. He was a matted mess of fur whining under an empty wagon.

Moving slowly so not to frighten the animal, she reached under the wagon and scratched him on the head. A few moments later she had coaxed him out, and he crawled into her lap, licking her face and wagging his tail.

It was then she heard a man curse and turned to see her new husband was standing where he’d left her. He was looking around unhappily.

With a gasp, she ran across the courtyard to the place she’d promised to be. When she stood in front of him she cringed, bracing herself for his displeasure, but nothing happened.

The snuffling at her leg caused her to open her eyes. She attempted to wave the dog away, but he wouldn’t go. Instead he thought she was playing a game and snagged a piece of her gown, ripping it.

“It looks like you’ve made a new friend,” Bryce said drily.

He reached for the dog, and she jumped in front of the animal, pushing him away so it wouldn’t be beaten. Once again she expected a punishment, but Bryce leaned around her to get to the dog. Picking him up, he scratched the dog affectionately behind the ears.

When she summoned the courage to look at him, it was to see an amused smile on his face instead of the anger she expected.

“Aren’t you a wee rascal?” her new husband said to the dog. “You need to be cleaned up, but you have a gentle spirit. Would you like him, Dorie?” he asked.

Her eyes went wide and she nodded, though still wary it could be a trick.

Two women who had been present at the wedding came out of the castle and headed in their direction. The taller redhead was the laird’s wife. While the women were different in coloring and stature, Dorie was sure they were related. It was there in their eyes.

“Are you well, dear? Your brother is a beast,” the shorter blonde said in a cultured English accent as she rubbed her rounded belly. “Did he hurt you?”

Dorie shook her head, but it was her husband who spoke. “I stopped him before he was able to cause any damage.”

“He’s blustering about not leaving until he’s seen proof of the consummation,” Kenna said with a frown. “While I wouldn’t want ye to rush things, mayhap you can see to your duty so the bastard can leave my castle as quickly as possible.”

Dorie might have laughed for hearing the laird’s wife call her brother a bastard, but she was stuck on the first part. The consummation part, to be exact.

In truth, she didn’t know what it entailed beyond what her mother had told her when she was a child. That a man lies with a woman and she has a baby. Surely that wasn’t all there was to it.

“I planned to take her for a ride and have a bite to eat. Are you hungry?”

Dorie nodded.

“When we return, I’ll have the proof and they can be on their way.”