Page 77 of Her Accidental Highlander Husband

“What do ye plan to do when he gets here?” Cam asked in a low voice.

“I’m not sure. But I can’t have you risk your life or the lives of your men for me.”

“That is not for you to decide.”

Brushing aside that nonsense, he left their room and headed down to the bailey. Knowing Mari was in danger pushed him into action. He pressed the men harder and longer. When they protested, he challenged them.

“At this very moment, the English could be on their way. We have to be ready. We have to be better. They outnumber us and outarm us, so each of you must fight as three men, not one. Liam, Paul, Rufus, come forward.” He waved at them to hurry. “If the three of you take me, we’ll stop for the meal. If you canna, we keep going. Agreed?”

They all nodded and drew their weapons. They had youth on their side, but Cam was stronger and better trained. Soon Rufus dropped away and then Paul. Liam put up a good show. He was a strategist, and he’d grown in the last months. But eventually Cam deflected a lunge and forced the sword from his hand. Heaving in air, Liam lifted his head as Cam rested his sword tip at the lad’s throat.

“We continue,” he commanded, and everyone lined up again to go through the motions. Another hour, and another, as the noonday sun crested and slipped past its peak.

It was a warm September day and the men were drenched in sweat and growing weak, but still Cam pushed, even knowing he was dancing on the edge of sanity. The sun was moving toward the horizon, and they’d had no food or drink the entire day.

He sparred with Liam again, and the lad stumbled and reached out, raising his sword. The steel wavered, and the boy collapsed in the dirt, his pale blond hair soaked.

“Liam? Lad? Get up.” Cam knelt beside him and touched his pale, clammy face, feeling his heart pounding. “Bloody hell.” His skin was far too hot. He hefted the boy to his shoulders and headed for the loch. “We’re done for the day. Go rest and get something to drink.”

In the nearest shady spot he submersed Liam, making sure to keep his head above the water. When he finally woke, Cam handed over a flask of ale and sat with him as he sipped it.

“I’m sorry for my weakness,” Liam said while resting his head on his knees. “I can’t believe I disgraced myself in front of all the men.”

His color was better, but Cam wanted to make sure he was well. “Nay. It wasna you who was the disgrace, but me. A warrior is only as strong as his body, and I didn’t take care of yours. I’m sorry, lad, truly.”

“You want us to be fierce, as would any war chief.”

“Aye, but there’s being fierce and there’s being foolish. I’ve been something far worse than foolish.”

“What’s that?” Liam asked.

“Desperate.”

Liam nodded, not needing any explanation. “You want to protect Lady Mari.”

“Yes. Very much so.”

“I understand. I’m in love, as well. And I’d do anything to keep her safe.”

Cam gave him an indulgent smile. “I’m not in love, but Mari is my wife, and it’s my duty to protect her.”

Liam’s brows pulled together. “Ye don’t love her? I was sure you did. The way the two of you are always sneaking off to your room and the woods…”

Cam chuckled. “That’s lust. I’ve got that aplenty. But I also have a responsibility to keep her safe. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

Liam nodded. “I understand. I feel the same. Even if I only met her after she’d already been injured.”

“The Stewart lass?”

“Aye. Evelyn.” Liam’s eyes got all dreamy in that way love made men lose their wits.

Cam wouldn’t fall into that trap. “I want to protect my wife. But I’ll not lose ye to do it. That was wrong. I won’t let it happen again.”

“I’d give my life to protect her, and be glad for the honor,” the boy said, causing Cam’s guts to turn.

He should have been pleased to hear the young warrior’s vow of fealty. He should have clapped the lad on the shoulder and told him he was a brave man. But it didn’t ring true. Giving one’s life for another was an honorable thing. But what was one life saved if another was lost?

What made Mari’s life more valuable than Liam’s, or the rest of his men? For it was clear it would not be just one man to fall in protection of Mari when they faced the English, but many. Could he ask a warrior with a wife and children at home to give his life so that Cam could save his own wife?