The man bobbed his head. “Aye, for there’s no rain. Any day there’s no rain is a good day.”
“If ye say so, Father. I am off to seek my wife. By God, the woman needs to have her bottom thrashed.” He squeezed his hands closed and drew in a resigned breath.
Father Murphy leaned toward a bush and broke off a good switch. “Here, Laird, use this. But do not break that tender, sweet lass’s skin.”
He accepted the switch from the priest and marched onward. But as he progressed, Breckin scoffed to himself and tossed the switch intothe nearby thicket, knowing Father Murphy was jesting with him. Besides, he would never harm a single hair on his wife’s head, let alone beat her with a damned switch. With a long stride and a bit of vigor pushing him, he’d reach Willa’s cottage in a short time. He supposed that was where Eva had gone. En route, he saw Willa walking toward him.
“Laird, I am gladdened that I came across ye. Connor will need to stay another day or two. I am afeared an infection has beset his leg. I had to open his wound. I shall tend to him but wanted to let you know.” Willa waited for him to say something.
Breckin half-listened until she repeated what she’d said. “My thanks, Willa, for your care of Connor. Did ye see Eva?”
“Aye, she came to the cottage and is there now with the lads. I need to go to Gideon’s but should not be gone too long.” She quickly walked off and disappeared beyond the trees on the lane.
He continued until he reached the cottage. Instead of knocking and giving warning of his arrival, he thrust open the door and stepped inside. Three gasps met him. He peered at his brothers but shook his head, and gave the signal that he did not wish to be spoken to. Within several steps, he reached Eva, clasped her hand, and gently pulled her from the cottage.
She huffed and tried to dislodge her hand from his but he held fast. “Breckin… What are you doing? If you mean to punish me—”
“Shhh…await.” He kept walking until he was far enough away from the cottage and stopped. “I was wondering where that lass was—the one who chastised me at the market in Edinburgh for trying to rescue her—and here ye are. What I want to know is why ye have been so reserved. And why ye now found your gumption to chide me so?” He folded his arms across his chest and waited for her answers.
“Breckin, I… Well, you were going to harm my father’s soldiers and I couldn’t have that when they only came here to aid me. It has been difficult being here. No one talks to me, the women, that is, except for Willa, but she’s always busy. I do not belong. At least at home, I had the servants to talk to. I have been crushed beneath the feet of tyranny.” She sighed deeply. “I am not used to such isolation.”
He stepped close to her, set his hands on her shoulders, and peered into her eyes. “Eva, forget not, lass, that ye are now a Buchanan. We allow naught or no one to crush us.”
“Except another Buchanan,” she countered.
“Ye are a lioness, not a weak mouse. Never allow anyone to crush ye, not even me. When ye need to conquer, ye shall do so with all the strength of a Buchanan.”
“That is absurd because I do not feel like a Buchanan. Besides, Breckin, I want to fit in, not conquer.” She lowered her face but he wouldn’t allow her to hide her gaze from him and lifted her chin.
“Ye already conquered me, lass, the rest will follow easily. I vow to ye that it will be so.” He leaned in to give her a wee peck on the lips but heard Gideon shout. With a groan, he pulled back. “Next time ye wish to rebuke me, Eva, wait until we are alone.”
“I am sorry, Breckin, that I embarrassed you. I did not mean to and did not think—”
“Me either, lass. I had not realized how my treatment of your father’s soldiers would affect ye. I must remember that ye care too much for others. I should go.” Breckin’s frustration tightened his fists when he turned and walked away from the sweet minx. He hastened his steps as he left the cottage, and soon he reached the bridge where Gideon awaited him.
“What goes?”
“We received a message from Colin Campbell. He says he is going to take arms against the MacDoughalls and calls upon us as his ally to support him.”
“Damnation,” Breckin muttered. “I did not want to leave our land but I suppose I must. Gather as many of our soldiers as possible, och leave a score of them behind to protect the clan.”
Gideon bowed his head, turned, and marched off.
Breckin returned to Eva and found her tying vines together. He thought it strange but didn’t remark on it or ask what she was doing. “I must leave the holding and am not sure when I will return.”
She hurriedly stood when he’d entered, dislodging the flora from her lap, and nodded. “My thanks for telling me.”
“I shall try to return with haste,” he said as a sort of peace offering.
“You are off to war, are you not? Just return in one piece and unharmed.”
He grinned because it seemed she too wanted peace betwixt them. “Is that an order?”
She smiled with shining eyes. “No, simply a request.”
“Sounds to me, lass, that ye might be beginning to care for me.” Breckin pulled her against him and gave her a longing kiss. Lord, he did not want to leave her but his obligation to the Campbells couldn’t be ignored.
His brothers snickered with laughter and made gagging noises. When he pulled away from Eva, Breckin glared at them. He pressed his hand on her face and dallied in leaving because her sweet lips were rosy from his kiss and her face flushed.
