Page 67 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

“I wonder if you might have considered staying had you been able to marry someone you like more. Perhaps you might not have wanted to leave if you could have wed Hannah.”

He tucked his finger under her chin and nudged her face to look at him.

“Nay. No one would have been able to make me stay. The glory of war was the only thing I cared about then.”

She nodded. That was what Geordie had always told her. She shouldn’t be upset that Ronan hadn’t stayed. It had been decided before he’d known her. But she’d always wondered…

Food was brought up to their room. While they were eating, Will arrived.

“Sorry, laird, but we still haven’t found the bastard. We tracked him as far as the eastern border.”

“He has crossed over to Innes lands?”

“It appears so, mistress.”

“I shall write to my father and tell him to keep watch for Ewan.” She moved to get up, but Ronan set his hand on her knee.

“Tomorrow will be soon enough. For now, I’d rather you finish your meal and rest.”

She allowed him to settle her back against the pillows. She was not one to lie about and have people serve her, but she had to admit it was most pleasant when Ronan was doting.

By the following day, however, she’d grown weary of lying around and insisted on getting up.

She finished her letter explaining the crimes Ewan was wanted for on Grant lands and sent it off with a messenger. As she was heading for the kitchens, Ronan met up with her.

“I would feel better if you didn’t do too much today. I know you are a lady of action and doing, but I am a man who has a knack for worrying over his injured wife.”

She wasn’t up for riding, even if Ronan would have allowed such a thing. And the truth of the matter was she wouldn’t be helpful in the kitchens in her state, either.

“Perhaps you would come with me to visit the Campbell family?”

“I shall carry the basket of supplies. And you’ll not be holding any of the children and risk opening the wound again.”

“Very well,” she said because she didn’t want such a thing to happen. “You will have to hold them for me.”

He grunted, but his eyes told her he was not against such a thing.

***

Ronan knocked on the door to the small cottage and greeted the lad, who opened the door with a smile.

“Hello, Thomas,” Brenna greeted the boy.

“Good day, mistress.” He bowed to Brenna before bowing to Ronan. “My laird, please come in.”

“Such good manners,” he praised the boy as he entered, carrying Brenna’s basket.

“What has happened to ye?” the younger boy asked while pointing to the sling that held his wife’s arm to her chest.

“I was struck with an arrow.”

Their mother, Sarah, gasped as she came forward.

“My lady, surely ye shouldn’t be venturing out.”

“I wanted to see how you were feeling.”

Sarah frowned. “I am much improved and embarrassed for my behavior these last months.”