Page 16 of Bride Takes a Charmer (Highland Vows & Vengeance #3)

I n his haste to get on the trail home, Shaw rose early and dressed.

He peered at his wife, confounded by how he’d been fortunate to finally marry her.

Even in her sleep, Sorsha appeared beautiful but it wasn’t her allure that attracted him.

Her spirit and manner first drew him to her.

She had kind eyes, a gentle and approachable manner, a winsome voice, and a tender heart.

She was everything he’d hoped for in a wife.

As he dressed, a sense of protectiveness came to him and he vowed then that no one would ever harm her. He’d make certain of it. Once they reached Moy, he would have her safely ensconced on his island and within the protective arms of his clan, where he would ensure that he kept his vow.

With a caress to her shoulder, he rousted Sorsha and she opened her eyes. “Good morn, Wife. Are ye ready to get started?”

Her sweet lips widened in a smile. “Wife…,” she said with a sigh. “I am still pondering how this came to be, Husband . But aye, good morn.”

Shaw pressed a hand over the silkiness of her locks and grinned.

“I know it will take getting used to, lass, but aye, ye are my wife at last, and I am pleased. Now, we should arise, for we will leave soon. I presume ye will want to say your farewells to the queen. Meet me by the corral and we will leave posthaste.”

Sorsha wrapped the bed cover around her body and shuffled to the edge of the bed. “Margaret said they too were leaving this day for England. Perhaps she hasn’t left yet. Go on and I shall hurry.” She turned and waited for him to reach the door before she stood.

Shaw grabbed his satchel, closed the door behind him, and ambled outside.

He’d garbed himself in his warmer tartan and heavier tunic for the morning was chilly.

As he approached the corral, he spotted Walen already tacking up their horses, and one more for Sorsha.

He moved to his own mount, secured his satchel to the saddle, and checked the horse’s bridle, and girth.

Walen was quiet as he finished his tasks.

Once done he leaned against the wooden postern with a wily smile splayed across his face.

“How was your night? Pleasurable, I imagine? I had a productive night and won some coins…” his voice trailed off and he chuckled.

“I suspect ye gave no thought to me, though.”

“I am gladdened to hear ye were not bored in wait of me.”

“Not at all, Laird, there was a group of the king’s men-at-arms who entertained me and in my appreciation, I relieved them of their silver. As you can see, I secured a horse for milady this morn, as well, so she’ll have her own mount to ride.”

Shaw meandered his hand over the neck of the chestnut mare his friend had purchased for Sorsha.

The horse was somewhat smaller than theirs but sound enough for the journey.

Their horses were bred to ride amid wars and a hillier climate than the fine-boned and bonny mare.

They might have to pace themselves so as not to overtax her.

“My thanks. We will depart as soon as Sorsha arrives. I get the sense that something troubles her. She has not said so, och there is a bit of sadness in her eyes.”

Walen chortled. “Ye mean she is not overcome with utter joy at marrying ye?”

Shaw shoved his friend’s chest. “Jest all ye like, and of course, she is overcome with joy at our marriage but something is troubling her. That is all that I mean.”

“Have ye asked her what it is?”

He shook his head. “Nay, I do not want to force her to tell me. Given time, she will understand that she can speak to me of her troubles and that I will listen. Living with the Chattans, I expect she has not had an easy time of it and is untrusting.”

“Best keep your ears alert then because here comes milady now…” Walen moved to untie her horse and smiled at her as she approached. “Milady Sorsha,” he said and bowed. “’Tis a pleasure to see ye again. I have not laid eyes on ye since ye were last here at the king’s keep.”

“Is that you, Walen? I remember you. You are still following Shaw around?” She laughed lightly and his comrade’s eyes shone with affection.

“’Tis naught but my lot in life, milady, to serve my laird and follow him. And I am also at your service and vow to protect ye with my life. Our clan will rejoice when they learn that our laird has finally wedded and to such a bonny woman at that.”

Sorsha raised her dainty brow and scoffed. “You still have a way with words, Walen, and yet are not as charming as your laird.”

Walen bellowed a laugh. “Ye only say that because ye are now married to him.”

She folded her hands in front of her and a coyness brightened her cheeks. “It is good to see you too, Walen, and my thanks for your offer of protection.”

“Your horse, milady.” Walen handed her the reins and rounded her horse to mount his.

Shaw hurried forward and helped her mount her horse. “We shall ride a good distance this day and need to make as much ground as we can before nightfall. If ye need to stop to rest, tell me so.” He let his hand linger on her thigh and glanced up at her bonny face.

“I shall, but worry not, I will do my best to keep up.” Sorsha patted the mare’s neck and waited for one of them to lead their procession toward the gates.

Walen rode ahead of them and Shaw rode next to her.

He was glad to be going home, but then he remembered that he needed to stop in Fassiefern and at Tor.

When he’d awakened, he meant to tell Sorsha about their journey and the stops he needed to make.

Once through the gates, he waited until they reached the lane on the outskirts of Edinburgh to broach the subject.

“Sorsha, along the way, I need to stop in Fassiefern. It should not take long, och there is something I need to do.” He slowed his mount to be next to hers and gazed at her as their horses trudged along. She focused on the lane but nodded in response.

“What is in Fassiefern?”

He didn’t want to explain but should because he didn’t want her to worry. “There is a lad there that needs a home.”

Walen slowed his mount to ride on the other side of Sorsha now. Shaw didn’t say more and she asked for no further explanation, that is until his comrade interjected.

“Aye, our laird takes in poor unfortunates that are without and brings them home to our clan.” Walen chuckled. “Our comrade, Tom, runs the tavern there and oft keeps an eye out for anyone needing shelter. ’Tis our laird’s way of increasing our clan’s numbers but also—”

Shaw cut his comrade off. “Our clan is small and we have plenty of room for the forgotten children in the village. If the lad is amiable then he will be welcomed into our clan.”

Sorsha’s eyes widened but she had somewhat of a smile on her face. “That is… commendable, Shaw, that you seek to aid those children. I am gladdened that we will stop and hopefully give the poor lad aid.”

“Aye, and afterward, we will ride for Tor. Geoff sent me a missive asking me to come. My sister and her husband are expected to stop there on their way to our keep. She means to return to our clan. I expect that we might be reunited there.”

His wife’s mouth drew tightly and her brows furrowed. “Must we? I…cannot go there…to Tor because…” Sorsha ceased and quieted. Her shoulders slumped and she kept her gaze ahead.

Shaw called “whoa” and tightened the reins. His comrade continued onward and didn’t notice he’d stopped, or perhaps he moved forward to give them privacy. Sorsha turned her mount and faced him.

The look of pain in her eyes concerned him.

Earlier, he’d told Walen that something troubled his wife and he was certain that it had to do with the Chattans.

Perhaps Rodick’s death plagued her but he wasn’t privy to how his cousin had died.

Until he knew, he was in the dark. Whatever happened to Rodick had to be at the root of his wife’s troubles.

He needed answers to his questions, but he wouldn’t force her to speak of her former husband if it was too painful for her. He waited to hear what she had to say.

“I apologize, Shaw, but if you need to go to Tor, I…I cannot.” She lowered her chin and wouldn’t look at him.

“My visit to Tor can wait if it distresses ye.”

“It does.”

“Why does it? Is it because of Rodick’s death? How did he die? Ye have not spoken of it with me and should. Mayhap the troubles ye deem that follow ye are not as worrisome.” He reached to take her hand and she clasped his fingers tightly.

“’Tis not Rodick’s death that troubles me… I just… There was much heartache there and I never want to step foot on that land again. Promise me that you will not force me to go there.”

Her voice strained with each word and she seemed to be flustered.

Whatever the reason, Shaw understood that she’d had a difficult life with the Chattans.

Hell, he was their cousin and couldn’t count the number of times they’d caused him grief.

Still, it had been her home and her daughter was there.

“What about Gillian, your daughter…? Should we at least not retrieve her so ye can be together? If ye are worried that she will not be accepted by my clan—?”

Sorsha shook her head with vigor and gazed at him between the ears of her horse. “Nay, ’tis not that. It’s just that I fear Geoff will not let Gillian go so easily. She is his brother’s child, after all, and I suspect that he had hoped to marry me, but with the king’s demand…”

“He hoped to marry ye?” Shaw didn’t like hearing that. Geoff was a belligerent man and a bully who forced others to accept his will.

If Alexander hadn’t compelled him—or even any of the other Highlanders—to marry her, her life would have been a living hell. “Did he intend to force ye to marry him?”