Page 83 of His Secret Highland Bride

“She’s a snake,” Lindsay said, remembering what Shane once said about the “laird’s stepmother.” She now knew Deirdre was his own stepmother. What a fool she’d been to not put it together.

She knew Shane would want the woman found so she could be held to face justice, but if that didn’t happen, at least they had some of their money back.

“What is all this?” the Wallace laird asked as he entered the room, looking at her.

“Your daughter has spared my people a devastating winter and myself a great amount of pain.”

Her father laughed and looked about as if waiting for someone to tell him it was a jest, but when no one did, he straightened his shoulders and gave her a nod. “I am happy you’ve a sound head upon your shoulders.”

She detected something she thought might be pride in his words and could only stand there blinking until the laird called everyone to the hall to finish their meals.

…

The next morning, with the MacPherson money secured in her own room, Lindsay went down to the hall to break her fast. Many eyes were on her as she entered and made her way to the high table.

“My honored guest,” the laird said, gesturing to the seat on his left that had up until today belonged to Deirdre. The man frowned as she sat.

“Thank you.” She offered a smile, and she could see the pain in his eyes. Was her own pain as easy to see? Perhaps it was only noticeable to those who knew what heartache looked like. “I wanted to say how sorry I am for how things turned out. I know it hurts a great deal to learn someone you loved had other intentions.”

He tilted his head as he studied her. She thought maybe he did see her pain, for he nodded once, and then, with a deep breath, he brushed off her sympathies.

“I owe you my gratitude for saving me from the same fate as the other lairds in Deirdre’s path. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts.”

“Restoring what was taken is all the reward I need,” she said, though she wondered if she shouldn’t ask for more.

If she was with child, she’d need to make sure she could provide for her and the bairn.

“I wonder if I might stay here longer than just a visit?”

He smiled. “Nothing is more important than having a home.”

“If ye are looking for a wife, mayhap we can arrange something,” her father said.

Lindsay pressed her lips together to keep from bursting into tears at his words, but the MacKenzie laird was the one to answer.

“I believe it’s much too soon for such things.” He turned back to Lindsay. “While I’m not able to offer marriage, I’d be pleased if you wished to call Leod your home.”

Lindsay’s lip trembled. She’d not planned to make a home with the MacPhersons, but she missed it a great deal. Her dog, their cottage, but most of all…Shane. She did miss him, no matter how much he’d hurt her. She loved him.

“We do not need to speak of such things now. Let us take some time to heal a bit before discussing such tender topics,” the MacKenzie laird said.

“Thank you, truly,” she said but was unable to stop a single tear from escaping.

…

Shane seemed to live in a daze. He knew he sat on a horse next to Alec and Ronan. They’d met up with their brother the day before, and he was accompanying them to Castle Leod.

Shane also knew they were headed to find Deirdre. He knew when to eat and when to sleep and when to press his lips up in the form of a smile, but everything happened without his heart playing a part in any of it. He was as numb as he’d been after losing Maria, but at least he knew Lindsay lived.

Still, he was lost without her. The more he thought of her, the less he believed she’d left him because he had no money. She’d never cared for trinkets or fancy gowns, even when he’d tried to purchase them for her. But he did worry that she didn’t trust him to provide for her.

If he was able to get his hands on Deirdre and recover the money she’d stolen, he’d be better able to take care of Lindsay, as well as the rest of the clan. Perhaps his wife would forgive him and agree to come home if he proved himself capable. He’d need to find her first.

The men sitting around the fire had gone quiet, and when he looked up he found himself in the familiar situation of being spoken to and not realizing it. “I’m sorry. What was said?”

“Never mind. I’m not going to repeat the entire conversation because you weren’t paying attention.” Alec rolled his eyes.

“It seems you’re only with us in body, brother. Your mind is elsewhere. I had hoped being home would have healed ye,” Ronan said with concern.