Chapter Thirteen #2
Like yesterday in the forest, she’d thought she’d been safe alone. It was too early in the day for Ewan to be awake. Perhaps Ronan’s return kept the man from sleeping the day away in the beds of different women.
Brenna braced herself as Mr. Campbell opened the door. But it was Ronan, not Ewan, who stormed inside, taking up much of the small space in the cottage. His brows nearly touched in the middle as he took in the four small children gathered around Brenna and the baby in her arms.
“What’s this?” he demanded.
“This is wee Rabbie. His mother is not feeling herself quite yet from birthing him, but she’s doing a bit better today.” She turned to hand the small bundle to the family’s oldest daughter.
Mr. Campbell gave a quick bow. “I don’t have much to offer you, my laird. But I can get ye a pint of ale if you wish.”
“Aye. Thank you, sir.” He grasped the man’s shoulder. “Ye have a fine home and family. My apologies for barging in and frightening ye.”
Brenna sniffed, knowing exactly why he’d barged in. He still thought her unfaithful. He could follow her around and make accusations until he ran out of breath, but he’d never find her guilty of such a thing.
“You are always welcome,” Mr. Campbell offered. The man was nearing sixty. His five children and his first wife were grown and had families. Now, he was raising these five with a younger wife who suffered from spells of melancholy.
“Have you eaten today, Sarah?” Brenna asked the woman, huddled in a bed tucked in the corner of the tiny home.
Sarah shook her head.
“I think you will feel better if you eat a bit,” Brenna said, stopping by the fire to ladle some stew into a bowl. As she handed it to the woman, the baby began to cry. Mr. Campbell had already gone out to get Ronan’s drink, so Brenna took the baby from the girl and plopped him in Ronan’s arms.
He looked stricken. “What am I to do with him?”
“Walk around and give him a little pat on his arse until he stops crying.”
To her surprise, Ronan followed her directions perfectly as she helped Sarah sit up and take some nourishment. “He’s soon going to need to feed. Will you try?” she encouraged the mother.
Sarah nodded and even tried to smile. Brenna had seen it before. Some women grew sad after giving birth, even to a healthy bairn. Brenna didn’t understand why a woman wouldn’t be thrilled beyond reason to have a child, but it didn’t always work that way.
The baby stopped crying for a moment. When he started again, Brenna took the babe and held him out to Sarah, who fitted him to her breast like a woman who’d already had four bairns.
Mr. Campbell came in and put a cup in Ronan’s hands.
The laird gave a nod of thanks and smiled at the other children, who were staring up at him.
“Who is this man? Why is he so big?” the older of the boys asked.
“This is the laird of clan Grant, Thomas. And he is big because he is a fierce warrior,” Mr. Campbell said.
“Can I be a warrior someday?” the boy asked, not daunted by Ronan’s solemn expression.
“Of course you can, lad,” Ronan said, pulling the boy into his lap. “I would be happy to have a man as courageous as you to make sure the people of our clan are safe.”
“I keep my mama and papa safe.”
“I’m sure you do,” Ronan said.
“Does your leg pain you?” the boy asked, and Brenna gasped, not wanting Ronan to be angry with the child for pointing out his weakness.
But the laird just smiled and nodded. “Aye. It hurts me today. I was walking on it faster than I’m used to.”
Was she mistaken, or did he look over at her—almost in accusation—as he said that? She walked quickly; perhaps her husband had not easily kept up with her as he’d followed her this morning. She hid a smile.
“You should let Lady Grant look at it for you. Last summer, I fell from a tree and broke my leg. She fixed it up so it dinna hurt anymore. I could still do my chores.”
“Are ye a healer, then?” Ronan asked, keeping his eyes on her.
“I just help out. Moira is getting older and can’t keep up with all these fine bairns.” Brenna smiled and picked up wee Joey, who was only three.
After she’d passed out the bannocks she’d brought and rechecked on Sarah and the babe, she picked up her basket and said her farewells.
The children came to the door to wave, and Mr. Campbell gave her a little bow. “I don’t know what I would do if not for you,” the man said. “She was much improved today. Thank ye, mistress.”
“I’m glad she’s in better spirits. Take care. I’ll check in on you again soon.” She headed back toward the castle with Ronan close behind. “Did ye follow me here?” she asked when they were alone. She knew the answer but wanted to see if he would admit it.
“Aye.”
“I’ve told you already, I have no lover.” She gave him an even look and glanced down at his leg when he winced, taking a step. “I’ll make ye some ointment.”
“Nay. Don’t bother. It smells bad.” His nose scrunched up, making her chuckle.
She knew the smell wasn’t the real reason, or at least the only one. He’d been at war, and from the tales she’d heard, war didn’t smell like a rose garden.
“It’s my experience that not many things in healing smell good.”
“True enough.”
“Let’s get you back to the castle, and I’ll help you. You need to rest and give your leg time to heal properly.”
He stopped then, and she thought the pain had made it impossible for him to walk. She turned to come back to him.
“I’m sorry for barging in like I did. I feel rather foolish.”
“You’re sorry for barging in but not for doubting me,” she said, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Aye.” He looked up at the sky as if it held all the answers.
“Where I was, I saw many lonely people take comfort with those other than their husbands or wives. Ye didn’t know me well when I left you, so I can’t expect loyalty from such a brief association.
You probably hated me for leaving, and that anger might have chased ye into another’s arms.” He opened his mouth as if he would share something else but stopped himself.
She kept silent at that. In truth, she had considered taking a lover on the nights when she was so lonely or times when she hated him for the pain he’d caused, but she never acted on it, and not just because she hadn’t found a partner for such a tryst.
He rubbed his chin, looking uncomfortable. “I’m saying, I wouldn’t be surprised to find you sought comfort in another man’s arms.”
“If I tell you I didn’t lie with another man, will ye believe me?” She met his gaze, testing him.
He peered back at her, considering. They must have stood there a full minute while he took her measure before finally, he nodded. “Time will tell. You and I have plenty of that.”
“Listen, husband, I have only shared my body with you.”
He swallowed and nodded, though he didn’t look convinced.
She wanted to point out that if he’d been worried about her fidelity, he might have stayed to see she didn’t stray himself, but the past was done.
There was no changing it now. He didn’t trust her, and she was so angry that she didn’t think she cared.
She let out a breath and continued on their way. She moved to put an arm under his to help support him as they made their way to the castle.
“I don’t need help walking.”
“Fine,” she answered, but her arm didn’t budge, even when he made a noise of irritation.
“You’re too small. I’ll crush ye with my weight.”
He was too big for her to offer much assistance, but she’d manage if it took some pain out of his eyes. She hated to see anyone struggling.
“I’m much stronger than I look.”
He mumbled something that sounded like, “I don’t doubt it.”
He remained quiet except for a few curses as they slowly entered the hall and up the stairs to their chamber.
He practically fell upon the bed while she went to light a fire despite the warm day.
She would take care of her husband whether he wished it or not.
She wouldn’t see him suffer when she could do something to relieve the pain. Smelly or not.
Healing his leg could also be a step toward healing them. He’d been right when he’d said they had plenty of time before them. She would spend the rest of her days with this man who thought her disloyal.
Heaven help her.