Page 14 of His Secret Highland Bride

“With her?”

He nodded. There was no sense in trying to hide his feelings from the old woman. She’d known the answer before asking the question. She’d seen the panic and worry in his eyes.

“Maybe you shouldn’t return to the castle alone.” Bess winked.

It was late and Shane was too exhausted to follow along, so he shook his head. “I’m not taking your meaning, aunt.”

“If you were to arrive at the castle already wed, that would certainly upset Deirdre’s plans to marry ye off for coin.”

Shane smiled. “You would enjoy that, wouldn’t you?” Leave it to his aunt to stir up trouble for Deirdre.

She nodded toward Lindsay. “I think it would help the lass as well.”

“Perhaps.” The idea sprouted like a seed dropped into fertile soil. As he escorted his aunt home and returned to the cottage, he thought of how it might be to have Lindsay as his wife instead of the faceless woman his father and stepmother had chosen for him. Marrying her would offer her protection. She wouldn’t need to fall prey to her uncle’s abuses again. It seemed the right thing to do.

He and Lindsay were well suited. They were content to simply sit and talk to each other. But would it be fair of him to take a woman like that and force her into the role of Lady MacPherson? Her days would be taken up with the running of the castle instead of quiet walks in the woods.

She was barely managing her rowdy cousins. How would she handle her duties as the laird’s wife? He imagined one of those duties more than the other. Her nights would be spent with a man who might eventually be able to give her his body but never his heart.

It wasn’t the first time he’d thought of taking Lindsay Cameron to his bed. But it was the first time he’d thought of her as his wife as he did so, to have the blessing of the church if not the blessing of their families.

If she were his wife, he could protect her. Except he’d not been able to protect his last wife, had he? He could only imagine what his clan would think of him marrying a Cameron lass. They may never accept her, but he could force their obedience if not their loyalty.

He laid out some furs by the low fire and settled in to sleep as dreams of Lindsay MacPherson played about in his head. The two women, Maria and Lindsay—past and future—intertwined as he slept. Memories he had with Maria were taken over with Lindsay’s smile, while he imagined Maria in the cottage playing with Tre. He woke at light, still tired from spending what was left of the night wrestling with what he was to do next.

He didn’t wish to marry, and if given the choice he’d not do it ever again. But he would have to marry. Why not at least choose a wife he cared for?

He went about breaking his fast, making enough for her as well. When she didn’t wake in time to eat, he gave some to the dog and then ate the rest of her share, too.

“If ye don’t wake soon, you’ll be responsible for making me soft in the middle,” he threatened playfully before brushing a bit of hair back from her lovely face.

“Wake up, lass. We have important things to discuss.”

Chapter Six

Lindsay opened her eyes to darkness and confusion. She was lying in a comfortable bed, which meant she wasn’t at her uncle’s cottage. Was she home? Had her father come for her? Regardless of where she was, she wished she could remain there despite the great discomfort she was in.

She lay still, trying to decide which part hurt more. Her back was stiff. Her face and head throbbed. Her side felt like fire, but, most of all, she needed to get to a privy. Sitting on the edge of the bed brought stars to her vision. She caught her breath with shallow pants as she took in the room. Enough light came from the moon and the low embers in the hearth for her to recognize it as Shane’s cottage.

“How did I get here?” she whispered to the little dog by her side. Why was she here at night? Where was Shane? The answer to that final question was answered by the slight snore coming from the large lump next to the fire. He was sleeping on the floor while she had taken up his bed.

Touching her face, she felt the swollen, tender bits. Her lip. Her eye. She stood slowly, giving her battered body the time it needed to straighten, but as soon as she was upright, she pushed through the pain to get out the door and behind the nearest bush.

Of course, Treun had followed her and was now coaxing her back in the house by running and looking back at her as if it were a game. She hobbled back to the cottage to find Shane looking at her as if she were a ghost.

“What are ye doing out of bed?” He gestured to the bed where she’d been sleeping.

“I had pressing needs,” she answered and smiled when his cheeks seemed to grow darker. She wished for more light to see better. Was the soldier blushing? She’d seen him look at her. Not leering stares like her uncle but rather with appreciation.

The thought of her uncle brought back an unpleasant memory, and she swayed where she stood.

Shane was quick to put an arm around her waist to support her, and she enjoyed his warmth and closeness. “You should have woken me. I would’ve helped ye.”

She looked around the cottage, noticing the herbs and things that hadn’t been there when last she’d visited. “It appears you’ve already helped me a great deal. How long have I been asleep?” Her mind was muddled, but more memories were coming now. Uncle Randall had come home in his cups and said he wanted to make her his wife. After trying her out first.

She slumped on the edge of the bed, unsure if she could remain standing even with his help.

Shane took the opportunity to guide her back. Her head sank into the soft pillow as he tucked her legs under the blanket.