Page 41 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

Kenna laughed. “Men think wives must obey them, but if you truly want us to listen, you need to tell us why you insist on this or that. Ordering us about with no good reason won’t do it.”

“That doesn’t help me now.” He assisted the two women down when they arrived in front of Cam and Mari’s half-finished manor house. “Please hurry.”

Before his request was out, Mari appeared at the door, covered in blood.

“Dear God,” Bryce choked out.

Abagail, Kenna, and Mari had already surrounded his wife when Bryce woodenly strode into the room. He couldn’t see Dorie past the flurry of females tending her, but he saw a pale hand hanging over the edge of the table, blood dripping from her fingertips.

He couldn’t breathe.

He was going to lose her, and he’d not had the chance to make things right. He knew how fickle life could be. He knew nothing was promised, yet he’d treated her as if she hadn’t mattered.

“Drink this,” Cam said. Bryce hadn’t noticed the man standing next to him but reached for the offered cup. Cam’s hands and clothes were also stained with blood.

Bryce wasn’t able to drink. He knew he’d not be able to swallow past the lump in his throat.

“The arrow is stuck in her breastbone. It didn’t go into her heart. She’s not choking up blood, though her breathing is raspy. If they can get the bleeding stopped and remove the arrow, she’ll have a chance.”

A chance.

It wasn’t enough, but it was all he had to hold on to. He would grasp any hope with both hands.

The sound of a low growl had him turning to look behind him. Rascal was laid out on the floor. Angus the stable hand was cleaning a wound while a young boy held the dog’s thrashing head.

“Hold him tight. I don’t want him to bite me,” Angus ordered.

“The beast saved her life,” Cam explained. “Tore the throat out of one of the attackers. The older cousin, from the looks of him. From the trail leading away, the other one was sent off unhappy. Rascal made it here to me and led us to Dorie before he finally collapsed.”

Anger and gratitude welled up in Bryce in equal measure. “Will he live?” He would treat the beast like a king from now on for saving her life.

“Most likely. He’d be better if he didn’t keep trying to get up to go to her.”

Bryce went over to the dog and knelt down. “Shhh. Settle yourself. There’s a good lad.” He scratched the dog behind the ear, and the mutt relaxed a bit. “Thank you for looking after her. I’ve got it now. You rest.” With a pat, he stood to go see his wife. He would hold her good hand and stand next to her through whatever came next.

He wouldn’t stand off to the side like a coward.

…

Dorie noticed the chill first. She wanted to get another blanket or light a fire, but she was too exhausted to move. The only warmth resided in one of her hands.

She focused on that heat, hoping it would spread to the rest of her body. She felt a pulse against her palm that didn’t match her own. Her own heartbeat pounded loudly in her temples. She tried to slow it to match the one in her hand.

Fingers twitched against hers and visions of Bryce flitted through her groggy thoughts. Bryce kissing her, holding her. She held on to that thought tightly. It was a nice memory.

Bryce scowling. That memory wasn’t so great, so she skipped to the next. Bryce sleeping next to her, lying on top of her. In her. She remembered the heat of his body pressed against hers and wished he’d offer his heat to her now.

“Shhh,” Bryce murmured from somewhere close by. “Rest now.”

But she couldn’t rest. Not without knowing if her dog was well. Not without warning Bryce that McCurdys had attacked her and might harm him. Not without telling him she was sorry for sneaking out of the castle.

“Shhh,” he urged. “Everything is fine. Rascal is sleeping at the foot of your bed. He’s a bit ruffled but he’ll mend. We’re both keeping watch. You’re safe now. We won’t let the McCurdys get to you.”

She thought maybe she had actually spoken her worries out loud, but she didn’t think so. And there was still one concern he hadn’t addressed.

Trying her best, she squeezed his hand. Though it felt as if she’d hardly made an impression, she felt the warm wetness of a kiss against the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry, I failed ye,” he said quietly. “I should have told you of the danger. I should have explained why I wanted you to stay within the castle walls instead of barking orders at you and expecting you to obey. I’ve given you no reason to do what I say. Please forgive me.”