Page 42 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander

“Where are ye takin’ me?” she whispered as doubt and uncertainty started to fog her judgment.

For a second, she wondered if she had made a mistake. But when the Laird stopped at the grove of trees and looked out over the glen, she found herself stunned by the beauty.

“Me faither used to take me here as a child. He would swear it was the only place in Scotland where one could lose a secret,” he said.

Astrid found herself inching closer to him. He stood so still that if she hadn’t known any better, she would have thought him a statue.

“Can ye?” she asked, caught up in the beauty of the navy-blue sky conquering the light of day. The Laird glanced over at her, confusion riddling his face. “Really lose a secret here? Or are ye just paranoid?”

“Aye, I believe ye can,” he answered with a slight chuckle. “Now, here’s where ye’re goin’ to tell me yers, and we’ll nae speak of it again.”

“What makes ye think I have secrets?”

The Laird moved closer. Astrid tried to remain as still as the crag they stood on, but when he reached for her, she instinctively recoiled from him.

“Aye, there, ye see that?” he asked. “Ye cannae be doin’ that. Have I nae proved to ye that I’ll nae harm ye?”

“Aye, ye have,” she answered as guilt pummeled her.

She knew there was no logical reason for her to fear Laird McFair. He had, after all, been so kind to her since he had taken her in. But still, she couldn’t help but feelhiscalloused fingers trailing up her arm.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the images of Jenson, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t.

“Ye’re thinkin’ of another,” the Laird whispered.

There was a hint of pain in his voice that pierced her heart.

Astrid didn’t want anyone to be hurt because of her. Yet, as she looked at the Laird, it was clear that he carried her burden. Only he didn’t have a name for it.

“Aye,” she answered. “He wasnae very kind.”

“I am nae that man,” he said with such conviction that she couldn’t help but look at him in awe.

“I ken.”

“There’s nay doubt in me mind that whatever happened to ye was horrific. And I do hope that ye’ll tell me one day, but that doesnae have to be today. I am, however, goin’ to have to ask ye to stop bein’ so rude. Ye have nay right to treat me in such a manner, when all I’ve done is bein’ kind to ye.”

“Ye’re right,” Astrid mumbled as she hung her head. “And I’m sorry. There are things that happened that… well, that I’m nae proud of.”

“Laird Chalium will never touch ye again. Ye have me word. But yer lack of interest is causin’ division within me clan, and I cannae have that.”

“Ye’ve noticed, have ye nae?” she asked as she dared to steal a glance at him.

“The whole castle has,” he confirmed. “And I need a reason behind yer actions, lest it look like pure defiance.”

“It’s… complicated,” she answered, the weight of her troubled past pressing down on her chest.

As much as Astrid wanted to push away the memories, they rushed at her like a wild stampede.

“Start simple,” he urged as he folded his arms across his chest and waited for her.

“I had a sister,” Astrid began.

“Had?”

“Aye.” Astrid nodded. “She died seven years ago.”

The Laird’s gaze was direct and stern, but it was clear to her that he wasn’t putting the pieces together.