Page 4 of McKenna’s Honor (The Clan MacDougall #4)

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R owan Graham did not wish to leave his wife, not for any length of time. Kate had grown frail, and depressed after having suffered three miscarriages in the past year. It was beginning to seem impossible for Kate to get beyond her third month. The loss of the babes they so desperately wanted was not only taking its toll on his lovely wife’s body, it was killing her spirit. Rowan felt that he lost a little more of Kate each time she lost another babe.

Rowan wanted to stop all attempts, but Kate was insistent. He did not want to lose his wife, for he adored her. Even though theirs was an arranged marriage, it had not taken long before he was hopelessly in love with Kate. The thought of losing her because she tried to give him an heir made him ill.

Try as he might to convince her he would rather go his whole life without any children than to spend a moment of it without her, it was of no use. His words fell on obstinate, stubborn and deaf ears. Kate tried to pretend that she was healthy, hail, and hearty. But Rowan saw the subtle changes in her body and her disposition. Ever vivacious, outgoing, and easy with her laughter and smile, his Kate was growing quieter and she seemed to have far less energy than when they first married.

So when word came that Angus and Duncan were in trouble, Rowan was torn. It had only been a week since Kate’s last miscarriage and he wanted to see her fully recovered before even considering leaving her for any reason. But he had fostered with the MacDougalls for ten years and he loved Angus as much as he loved his real father. And Duncan was the closest thing to a brother that he had.

Should he stay and see that Kate took care of herself or go to the aid of his foster father and brother? He anguished over the decision. He did not want to leave his wife. But how could he say no to Angus or Duncan or to the Bond of The Seven Clans?

The bond was an important one. Forged between the MacDougalls and Grahams as well as the Clans McKee, McDunnah, Lindsay, Randolph and Carruthers two years ago, he could not very well ignore it. It had taken years of hard work on the part of Angus and Andrew, Rowan’s father, to achieve the peace and friendship the bond afforded all of them. The bond was a promise to stand together against the English or in any other times of trouble .

Being sentenced to hang for crimes Rowan was quite certain were untrue seemed to be about as dire a circumstance as any. Angus and Duncan needed him. Still, he was quite torn. He could send his father to act as diplomat, but lately, his father had not been faring all that well. Andrew was not much aulder than Angus, but the past months had not been kind to him. Andrew was loathe to admit it, but Rowan could see it plain enough.

In the end, it was Kate who made the decision for him.

“Ye must go,” Kate insisted as she rolled her eyes, openly annoyed with her husband.

“And ye need to rest,” Rowan told her as he adjusted her pillows and fussed with tucking in her blankets. He was doing his best to make her comfortable as if doing so would rid him of some of the guilt he felt.

“What I need is fer ye to stop fussing over me, and go help Angus and Duncan,” she told him as she leaned back against the pillows. “I am no’ an invalid, husband. I will be fine verra soon.”

“I canna leave ye, Kate,” he said as he smoothed out the wrinkles of her blanket.

“Fer heaven’s sake, Rowan!” Kate exclaimed. “Ye are actin’ a fool. Do I need to send fer yer mum?”

The mention of his mother sent an involuntary shudder throughout his body.

He knew he was a grown man, a warrior, a husband, and, if his wife had anything to say about it, someday a father. He had fought against the English -- and a few Scots -- in many a battle. On the battlefield, he had no fear and would go against any man when the need arose.

Those were all much easier to battle against than his mum. Enndolynn Graham was a force of nature and not one to be toyed with. She was one of the few people on this earth that he was actually fearful of and that was a fact that his mother used to her full advantage. His mum and dad lived on the other side of the keep from Rowan and Kate and he tried to avoid his mother whenever possible.

His father made threats every other day to give up his chiefdom and let Rowan take the reins. Rowan had a sneaky suspicion however, that his mother would not allow it. She enjoyed being the chatelaine of the keep far too much to give it up. Not even to Kate, who was probably the only living human being that Enndolynn loved unconditionally.

Much to his consternation, Kate and Enndolynn were good friends. Though he could not understand why or how. Kate had a sweet and sunny disposition. She was eager to help those in need, had a soft spot in her heart for all animals, even mice, and everyone adored her. He could not say the same of his mum.

As Rowan raised an eyebrow he saw a determined look come over wife’s face. It was no idle threat that Kate made. He could see the determination in her beautiful green eyes.

“Ye wouldna dare,” he said, though he had no doubt that she would.

Kate rolled her eyes again. “I would,” she told him. Her lips pursed for a moment before relaxing into that sweet smile that melted his heart every time she offered it to him.

Mayhap were she not such a beautiful young woman, full of sweetness, light and love, he might have stood a better chance against her when she had her mind set on something. He was a hopeless fool when it came to telling her no. He realized early on in their marriage that it was her smile more than anything else that did him in. He couldn’t bear to see it leave her lovely face.

“Rowan,” she said softly as she took his hand in hers. He scooted the stool a bit closer to the bed and leaned in. “Husband, I will be fine. Yer mum is here to look after me. She’ll no’ allow anything to happen to me.”

He knew that to be true. His mother adored Kate and there was nothing she would not do to ensure Kate’s safety and well-being. If Rowan had to leave, there was some comfort in knowing that Enndolynn would fight the devil himself if she had to in order to protect Kate.

Even with the knowledge that his mother was here to see to his wife’s every need, it was not the same as him being there for her.

Apparently Kate could tell that Rowan was mulling things over in his mind, not quite ready yet to agree to leave. “Rowan, ye’ll only be gone a week or two. By the time ye return, I’ll be well and rested and back on my feet. Besides, the way ye fuss over me makes it harder to rest!”

She would not give in. He decided it was better to give in than to argue. Inevitably she would win. He let out a heavy sigh of defeat, gave her hand a gentle squeeze and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “Ye are a stubborn lass, Kate.”

Her face lit with a proud smile. “Yer mum taught me well,” she teased.

Rowan scowled down at her, disgusted with the thought. “Ye are nothin’ like me mum.” The comparison was laughable.

Kate giggled softly. “Oh, don’t be so daft! Really, Rowan, I do no’ ken why yer so afraid of yer mum!”

“I am no’ afraid of her.” They both knew that to be a lie. “She just sets me teeth on edge.”

Kate giggled again as she looked up at her husband. She rested her palm against his cheek and sighed contentedly. “Yer a good man, Rowan Graham. Now go, help Angus and Duncan. They need ye more than I do.”

“I’ll only go if ye promise ye’ll no’ leave this bed until I return,” he told her.

A devious smile came to her face. “As long as ye promise ye’ll no’ leave it after ye return. At least not fer a sennight.”

He returned her smile. “Yer a wicked woman, Kate! ”

“Aye. That I learned from ye!”

Rowan wiggled his eyebrows, kissed her soundly on her lips and left the room before he could change his mind.