Page 79 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

She laughed with tears in her eyes. “We will see to it you’re not hungry.”

His eyes went wide with surprise. “Truly?”

“I promise.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Does the war chief drink much?”

She shook her head. “No. Not at all. He will see you have plenty of wooden rabbits.” Not to mention his love and protection.

Shea’s eyes lit up with recognition.

“Would you like to come live with us?”

“He doesna hit ye?”

Evelyn thought she might be ill to think what this child had lived with in his short life. The questions he asked made it clear he was worried of such a thing happening again.

“Never. He is kind and good.” So much kinder than she.

He nodded. “Can I get my things first?”

“Of course. We can stop on the way home.”

He put his hand in hers as they walked back to the Hardy’s modest cottage. They were good people, just filled to the rafters with their own children. Evelyn explained that she was going to take him. Mrs. Hardy seemed relieved to have one less mouth to feed.

Evelyn watched as Shea collected the small wooden rabbits Liam had given him. They were all he had, and it tightened her throat to see the care he took in gathering them.

After saying his farewells, he and Evelyn continued to the castle. She couldn’t stop telling him about his new home and the other children, reminding him of the short time he’d spent there as his mother had healed from her injuries. They’d stopped to give him a good bath in the bailey, and she’d gotten clothes from Kenna.

She couldn’t wait to find Liam and tell him the news, but he wasn’t at dinner.

When night fell, she began to worry about him. Lachlan told her he might stay out the night if he had a lot to think about.

After being captured by the McCurdys, she was much too afraid to go looking for him in the dark. Even on the MacKinlay lands, nasty things lurked in the darkness.

When she entered the chamber, she thanked the nurse for getting the children settled, but then she realized only Gwennie was in the small bed.

“Where’s Shea?” She spun to look for the boy.

“He’s there.” The woman pointed to the dark corner of the room before leaving.

Evelyn moved the candle so she could see. There on the floor on the scrap of fabric he’d brought with him lay Shea, fast asleep.

“That won’t do at all,” Evelyn said as she bent to scoop him into her arms. Despite being taller, he was not much heavier than Gwennie. They’d see he was fed so he’d grow strong.

She nudged Gwennie over a bit so there was room for Shea and covered them both with the blanket. After placing a kiss on each of their heads she climbed in bed.

She left the light burning and turned on her side so she could watch her children sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

A light was still burning when Liam entered the room. He’d considered staying out the rest of the night but wanted his bed. He also wanted to hold his wife. He would apologize in the morning now that he knew what he’d done wrong.

It had taken much too long to figure it out, but he knew now he should have approached the topic differently. Given her a chance to think it over. To discuss it with her rather than state it as if she had no choice in the matter.

As her husband, he understood it was his right to make decisions for his family but having the right to do something didn’t mean it was the best way to go about it. Still, he was going to try again in the morning. Giving the boy a home was worth some amount of discomfort between him and his wife.

Evelyn slept turned away from him. The candle burned on her side of the bed. After removing his weapons, his boots, and kilt, he moved around the bed to give Gwennie a kiss and blow out the light.