Page 25 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
He steeled himself, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. “Stay here. I’ll handle this.”
Without another word, he handed her into the carriage, his touch firm, leaving no room for argument. He took another look at her, saw the fear in her eyes, and clenched his jaw. “It’ll only be a minute, lass.”
And then, he disappeared, whistling to alert his men as well.
He and his men tore through the village with ease. They searched the nearby woods and buildings, their senses sharp, their eyes scanning every corner and shadow. But the attacker had slipped away without a trace.
Frustration simmered low in Hunter’s gut as he searched the skies before returning to the carriage. Kara’s voice drifted through the slightly open window, and he could overhear their conversation.
“I just thought—Well, ye were in the inn…”
“Kara! Out with it already!” he heard Erica say impatiently and smiled to himself before wrenching open the door to save Kara from whatever misplaced frustration she was about to receive.
He kept his expression serious, reminding himself where they had left off before the attack.
Aye, how could I forget…
He held Erica’s gaze for a moment, a warning clear in his eyes. She didn’t back down, her worry for him evident, but she kept quiet as he took his seat and closed the door behind him.
As the carriage lurched forward, Hunter found himself clenching his jaw and looking out the window again. He hadn’t even noticed the sting in his arm before Erica leaned forward and extended her hands toward him—a silent demand to let her examine his wound.
Reluctantly, he took off his jacket and lifted his shirt over his head to bare his arm to her. Only, he realized too late that he was now naked from the waist up. Her green eyes lingered on his body for a moment longer than he had anticipated.
The memory of her little game in the inn was fresh in his mind, and he could scarcely believe how easily she’d gotten to him. It was unthinkable that someone he’d only known for a few days could knock him off balance. And yet, here he was, his arm tingling under her gentle touch, every brush of her fingers stirring something inside him he’d thought long since buried.
“Ye dinnae need to fash over it, lass,” he muttered, watching her nimble fingers work.
She shot him a defiant glance, her eyebrow arched. “Dinnae tell me what I need to do. If ye are me husband now, I may as well keep ye from bleedin’ to death.”
“If?” A chuckle escaped him before he could stop it. “And here I thought it was nothin’.”
She rolled her eyes and finished tying the bandage with a light tug, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her gaze as if she’d just won a battle.
Hunter could feel the warmth of her hands lingering as she sat back, her posture triumphant, the soft curve of her lips betraying her smugness. He bit back another laugh as he pulled his shirt and jacket back on and settled into the silence.
Later, a soft knock sounded on the roof of the carriage—it was the only hint Hunter needed to know that they were back at MacKinnon. Erica met his gaze with wide, questioning eyes, and he simply tilted his head, motioning for her to look out the window.
She had been trying to mask her nerves, but the slight tremor in her fingers gave her away. That and the way her eyes darted between him and the towering walls they had neared.
For the first time, it struck him just how overwhelming this must be for her—their rushed wedding, the move, the strangers. Yet, she hadn’t let that fear stop her from verbally sparring with him, or from trying to catch his attention in that inn.
He found himself feeling proud of her—a thought that sent desire through his veins.
The carriage shortly pulled to a stop, and Hunter was grateful for the reprieve. He stepped out first, offering his hand to help her down. She hesitated, just long enough for him to notice.
“Welcome to MacKinnon Castle, Lady MacKinnon,” he said softly, trying to gauge her reaction.
Erica stepped out of the carriage, raising her eyes to the massive stone fortress, her jaw set with an almost steely determination. “It’s… grand,” she forced out as if trying to convince herself. “It’s a strange sense of peace ye have, Hunter,” she added, recalling his one-word response to her earlier.
Hunter couldn’t help the faint smirk that tugged at his lips.
The doors opened as they approached, and there, in the wide entrance hall, stood Lily, her eyes lighting up the moment she spotted her uncle. Hunter watched her restrain herself from running over to him. Instead, she took slow, measured steps toward them, her curious gaze flicking to Erica.
A hint of anger rose in his chest, but he couldn’t pinpoint the reason behind it. “Lily, I’d like ye to meet me wife, Erica,” he said, giving Erica a slight nod.
Erica crouched down, at eye level with the girl. “Hello, Lily,” she said, her voice soft but tinged with uncertainty.
Lily took a step closer, her small hands clasped together in front of her. She looked as though she was studying Erica before her gaze flicked back to Hunter. “Is she stayin’, Uncle?”
