Seduced by Her Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham Read Free Book Online

left, others would follow.
    â€˜And how could you stop them?’
    â€˜It won’t come to that.’ He walked alongside Bram through the remains of the keep. ‘Tonight I’ll speak to them.’
    When he passed several of his kinsmen, he didn’t miss the despair and hopelessness on their faces as they worked to gather up what remained of their belongings. It wouldn’t be easy to convince them, but as their chief it was his responsibility to care for them.
    He passed Brodie, who was holding the hand of his three-year-old son. The child struggled to pick up a stone that was nearly as big as he was, his face pursed with effort. Brodie put his arms around his son and helped him to lift up the stone, before setting it down upon the wall.
    The fist of grief caught Alex so hard that he blinked back the emotion. It had been almost three years now. Their son would have been the same age as this child. He could almost imagine it in his mind, and when Brodie stood, holding his son’s hand, Alex felt the emptiness of his own palm.
    It’s in the past, he told himself. You have two daughters. Be thankful for what you have.
    In the distance, Dougal was returning with Mairin and Adaira riding alongside him in the wagon. Nairna andLaren approached a short distance behind. There was exhaustion in his wife’s bearing and he didn’t understand why she’d defied him again.
    He increased his pace to meet her, when he reached her side, he saw the defensive expression rise up. From the way she clutched her side, she was in pain. He couldn’t understand why she would exert herself, simply to get away from everyone else.
    â€˜You took the girls for a walk?’ he confirmed, nodding toward his daughters, who were tormenting poor Dougal with their chatter.
    â€˜Aye. You wanted me to keep them away from the fortress.’
    â€˜I meant for you to rest and keep them with you.’ He suspected she’d known his wishes; she’d simply chosen to ignore them.
    The more he thought of it, the more he realised that they’d been gone for several hours outside. It was freezing and a thin layer of ice coated the loch. Laren wouldn’t expose the girls to that kind of cold. When he studied his daughters, he noted that they didn’t appear in any sort of discomfort. Their cheeks were rosy, their smiles bright.
    â€˜Where did you take the girls?’
    She looked startled, as if she hadn’t expected him to confront her. ‘Just on a walk. Nowhere, really.’
    â€˜For several hours?’ He moved closer, his gaze narrowed.
    â€˜Well, I—’
    â€˜Don’t lie to me,’ he demanded. He reached out to touch the back of her neck and, upon her skin, he felt warmth and a slight perspiration. The aroma of wood smoke clung to her hair. ‘You went inside somewhere, didn’t you?’
    Laren coloured, but didn’t deny it. ‘Yes. We went toFather Nolan’s cavern.’ She backed away from his touch and he let his hand fall to his side. From the fear in her eyes, he knew there was far more that she hadn’t said.
    â€˜Why?’ The cavern had been abandoned for several years, ever since the old priest had died.
    â€˜I—I’ll tell you later,’ she stammered. ‘But not here.’
    He heard the tremor in her voice, and her blue eyes were downcast. It startled him to see her so uncertain, almost as if she were guilty about something. What was she hiding?
    â€˜Send the girls to Vanora and Ross tonight,’ he gritted out, releasing her from his grasp. ‘I want to talk to you alone.’
    Her face flushed with uneasiness. ‘I have to prepare food for the girls. They need a meal before they go to sleep.’
    It was a feeble excuse not to go. But then his gaze moved down to her hands and he caught the traces of blood upon them.
    â€˜You’re bleeding again.’ It was a foolish observation and it infuriated him that