Page 105 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

Liam nodded. “I do the same. I want him to be proud of me. Sitting here somehow makes it easier to know what to do.”

“And do you know?”

Liam let out a breath. “Nay. Not yet.”

“Perhaps if the old man canna guide us, we may be able to work it out together,” Lachlan suggested.

“I have a great opportunity before me,” Liam started. “I’m the son of a laird. I never coveted a position of power, though I’m honored to be the war chief. I only ever wanted a family. It seems now I have two. One I know, that belongs to me. And one I don’t know, that I belong to.”

“Kenna said it would be selfish of me to ask you to stay, but I fear if I don’t, you’ll not know how I feel. I’ll not stand in your way if you decide to go. But it’s important you know you’re wanted here.”

“You’ll not tell me which choice I should make?” Liam laughed and Lach joined in, slapping him heartily on the back.

“You’re a man. You’ll make your own decisions. I just want it to be clear you do have a choice.”

“Thank you, Lach. Truly.”

“Ye shouldn’t thank me. I considered letting all the horses run off so there was no way for you to leave.”

“Let me guess…Kenna forbade it.”

“That she did. It’s a blessing to have a wife by your side to tell you when you’re acting like an arse. Or to just be there when you’re facing something difficult. Someone who will listen and support you as you make a hard decision.”

“Perhaps I should be speaking to my wife about this rather than a stone?” Liam understood the laird’s message.

“My father would be proud of you no matter what you decide to do. He loved you. I think the only reason he never claimed ye as his own was out of worry that your family would show up and it would break his heart to have to let you go.” Lach cleared his throat. “I have to say, facing the possibility now myself, I don’t blame him for wanting to avoid such a thing.”

He stood and hefted Liam to his feet. With their hands still clasped across their chests, they embraced with the other arm.

“Go to your wife. Don’t spend too much time with me. I’ll try to sway you and earn the ire of my wife.”

“I’ll not tell Lady Kenna how much I appreciate that you wish to sway me. Last night I thought you were happy to see me gone.”

“It took great strength for Cam, Bryce, and myself to hold those smiles on our faces. We did it for you.”

“Thank you, brother.”

Liam rode back to the castle and went up to his room. Stepping inside he smiled. He recalled the first time he’d entered this room. When he’d taken the position as war chief and was given his own quarters.

He’d rejoiced at the possibilities having a room had opened for him. The ability to have a wife and a family. Now he had everything he’d dreamed of.

He was content where he was, but he knew he’d be content at Stromemore Castle. He’d be happy wherever his family was. He didn’t want to give up the opportunity his birthright afforded simply because it was unknown; he would not be too cowardly to take the chance. But he didn’t want to give up what he had already for something that would never truly be his home.

Gwennie and Shea had climbed into the big bed and were snuggled in next to Evelyn. Kicking off his boots, he scooped up Rose and settled in next to them to watch them sleep until the sun woke them.

Gwennie demanded a story, and Liam told her of a rabbit who had been lost and found a grand home with wonderful friends. And how one day the rabbits who had been looking for him found him.

“The rabbit had two different homes. And two different families?” Shea asked, no doubt seeing the similarities in his own life. “I had two different homes and two different families,” Shea said. “But I like this one so much better.”

“Papa, the leaf. And the seal.” Gwennie didn’t care for deviations in the story.

“Right. I almost forgot that part.” He finished the story in the normal fashion, not sure how the leaf and the seal played into his own story.

When Ev ordered them to get dressed, they scurried off the bed.

“If you thought they were going to tell you what you should do, it didn’t work.” Evelyn smiled and gave him a kiss.

“Will you tell me what I should do?”