Page 82 of Her Forbidden Highlander Husband

“We had some issues last night, but nothing that wasn’t to be expected. The poor lad. I must say, I love the boy as much as my own child already. I didn’t know how easy it would be. The thought of not having them both…”

She shook her head and turned to Mari. “I’ve heard you tell the story of how you knew you would be hanged after you gave birth to Lizzy. I’m not sure how you did not go mad with the need to stay.”

Mari smiled. “There was a time at the end when I considered running. But it was easy to grasp onto the love I felt for Lizzy and Cam and see what was before us. It is a far easier sacrifice than you’d think to give your life once you know those you love are safe and will go on.” She laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond glad I’m still here to love them myself. But if I were faced with the same decision today, I’d make the same choice.”

Evelyn understood. If her father put her family at risk, she’d give them up if it meant protecting them.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

A few nights later, Liam was awakened in darkness by Gwennie nudging him and crying. “What is it, sweetheart?” He reached to pull her up onto the bed. If she’d been woken by one of Shea’s nightmares, she’d settle quickly between him and her mother where she felt safe.

He was barely awake, but he noticed first that Gwennie’s gown was wet and then he smelled the cause. Since he’d known the lass she’d not once had a mishap.

“What is it?” Ev asked, leaning over him.

“Gwennie wet the bed.”

“Not me. Sheamus,” she reported sullenly.

Without complaint his wife got out of bed. “I’ll get Gwennie cleaned up and into a dry gown while you take care of Shea.”

Liam nodded and got up, stopping when the lad wasn’t in the bed. Ev lit a lantern and Liam searched the shadows for the boy, even checking under the bed. Finally, he found him crouched in the darkest corner, curled into a tight ball. He thought the boy might be embarrassed.

Liam sat next to him prepared to reassure him, but Shea flinched away, his head buried in his arms.

“It’s all right, lad. Don’t worry about it. It’s happened to all of us a time or two.” Liam had spent many nights sleeping in the hall and after the first mishap, he made sure not to shame himself again in front of the other men.

“Ye don’t have a switch leaning in the corner. Do ye use your belt?” Shea mumbled.

It took Liam a moment to piece together what he meant. Liam tried to make the situation lighter with a jest. “Aye. I use my belt to hold up my kilt, so my arse doesn’t stick out.”

The boy turned his head. There wasn’t a smile, but at least the tension eased a bit.

“You aren’t going to beat me? I won’t cry. Ye canna make me.” The last words trembled despite his defiance.

“Nay. I’ll never beat you. And besides, it would be a foolish thing to beat someone over something they didn’t know they were doing because they were asleep, don’t you think?”

He waited until the boy conceded with a short nod.

Liam gave him a friendly nudge. “You don’t think me foolish, do ye?”

A quick shake of his head. After a moment he asked, “Will ye beat my new mum?”

Liam let out a breath and rested an arm over the lad’s thin shoulders. “I understand—growing up how you did, and what you’ve seen—why you are worried about such a thing. But I swear on my blade, I’ll never lift a hand to you, your sister, or your mum in anger so long as I live. I am the war chief of clan MacKinlay and my blade is my most valuable possession, so any oath I take upon it is true.”

Shea didn’t move. Liam thought perhaps he was thinking it all through. There was something else the boy needed to understand.

“You’re part of my family now, Sheamus. I would give my life to protect you. You don’t need to worry. You’re safe with us.”

His promise not to cry was broken as he leaned on Liam’s side and sobbed.

“My da was beating me for being lazy. My ma tried to make him stop and he…he…”

“I know what he did.” Liam hadn’t realized the woman had been protecting the boy when she’d been killed. What the lad must feel. “Your da paid for what he did. He’ll never hurt anyone ever again. And your ma is in a safe place now, too. And she’s looking down on ye and smiling, happy that you’ve found a family to love you.”

When he’d quieted, Liam moved away and stood. “Let’s get you cleaned up and into dry clothes. There’s room for us all in the big bed.”

Gwennie was already tucked in and sleeping next to her mother. Ev smiled and helped pull Shea up into bed after he’d changed. He settled in next to Gwennie. There was still plenty of room for Liam as he shifted and turned down the lantern, leaving it burn just enough that no one would be frightened if they woke and didn’t know where they were.