Page 56 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Bryce couldn’t argue.

“Kenna has promised me a pleasure as well. It’s a handy motivator,” Lach reasoned.

Cam laughed loudly. “Handy? Mari’s promise doesn’t require I use my hands.”

Bryce wondered if they’d all been promised the same thing. If so, the McCurdys waiting in the field didn’t stand a chance. He and his two friends would slay them all down by themselves, just so they could return to their wives as quickly as possible.

On the edge of the woods, the men all gathered. Bryce looked down the line, still hidden in the shadow of the trees. Liam was at the farthest point to his left and gave a nod of readiness. Cam at the end of the line on his right gave the same assurance.

As was his right, Bryce let out the war cry, and with his sword in hand he led his warriors into the field to take down the intruders.

Metal clashed and men called out in pain. Horses ran past unmanned. Bryce came down from his horse, taking out two McCurdys in one wide blow. The matter was over quickly. The MacKinlays had enough men, in addition to the element of surprise. Some of the younger men were sent to track down the McCurdy horses, spoils of war to add to their stables, as well as a resource not to be used against them in the larger battle that was yet to come.

Today’s victory had been nearly guaranteed when they descended on the McCurdys, but Bryce breathed a sigh of relief when the call came back that there were no MacKinlay losses. While none of their enemies were able to escape, some were spared and sent to the dungeon until their loyalties could be swayed.

Bryce checked each of his men personally to confirm their health. It was common for men not to realize they’d been injured until well after the battle was over. The rush of fear and excitement kept a man from feeling pain.

“No MacKinlay losses,” he reported to the laird after he’d confirmed.

Lach gave a nod as the prisoners were bound. “Very good. Let’s go home.”

Covered in blood, Cam, Lach, and Bryce rode for the loch to wash.

“We were victorious today,” Lach said as they scrubbed themselves clean. Though the blood might be gone, the deaths they’d caused that day would stain their souls the rest of their lives. It was the way of things.

“And our rewards await our arrival home,” Cam said with a crooked smile.

“What reward?” Liam asked.

The men shook their heads, not wanting the lad to know what he was missing by being unmarried. With a sigh, he left to head for the castle and give word of their success.

The thought of what awaited them at home, along with the chill of the water, had Bryce and his cousins hurrying and heading back toward Dunardry in no time.

…

Dorie paced the hall with the other women. Each of them held a sleeping child who was startled awake when the men poured into the hall talking loudly and covered in blood. She watched for a tall blond head over the rest and felt her heart pick up when she didn’t see her husband.

Liam came to stand in front of them. “Your men are well. They stopped at the loch to clean up a bit before returning home. Three guards remained with them, just in case, but we made a clean victory and expect no retaliation.”

“Thank ye, Liam. Go and have some food. You’ve done us proud today,” Kenna said, making the lad’s ears turn pink in embarrassment. When he was away, Kenna turned to them. “I believe I shall put the children down and wait in our chamber for Lachlan’s return.”

“Yes, I think I shall do the same. It’s late, after all. There’s no sense in leaving for the house now. We’ll stay the night here,” Mari agreed.

Could it be these women were as anxious to get their heroes alone in bed as Dorie was?

In the corridor upstairs, Kenna left her boys with the nurse while Mari carried her sleeping children into their chamber. Dorie felt the faint clench of jealousy that she had no children of her own to settle into bed.

The feeling was quickly brushed aside with the knowledge that she might even now be with child. And if not, tonight there would be another chance.

She didn’t think Bryce wanted children, but she knew if they were blessed with a babe, he would treat it well. Perhaps even find a way to love their child. If he couldn’t, would their son or daughter notice Bryce wasn’t giving everything?

With a sigh and a bunch of unanswered questions, she went to their room to wait for her husband to return to her. She was seated on the bed in just her shift when Bryce entered their chamber. She stood immediately to help him remove his weapons and clothing as he told her of their victory.

He twitched when her warm hands touched his cool skin, still damp from his dip in the icy waters of the loch. When he was naked, he lifted her gown from her body and pressed against her, making her squeal and squirm from the chill.

“I believe you promised me a wicked pleasure, wife.”

Of course he wouldn’t have forgotten. He’d probably slayed every McCurdy singlehandedly so he could return as quickly as possible.