Page 65 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
His jaw tightened. “Depends. Which councilman?”
“Struan,” Lily said innocently. “He was rude to Aunt Erica. Said somethin’ strange about her necklace and bairns.”
Hunter’s expression darkened. “Rude how?”
Erica cut in before Lily could respond. “It’s nothin’ worth gettin’ angry about. He made a comment and I responded appropriately.”
“Ye shouldnae have been out there. If ye were so far into Struan’s patrol area, then ye were too far?—”
“What exactly do ye think we were doin’ out there, Hunter?” Erica cut him off, her green eyes flashing. “Plottin’ to usurp ye? Visitin’ enemy clans? I took yer niece on a ride, that’s all. We werenae far at all. Just there…”
She reached across him and pointed stubbornly out the window toward the woods, but he didn’t budge. Her scent assaulted every single one of his senses.
The tension between them crackled like a storm. Lily and Calvin busied themselves with the book, clearly trying not to get involved.
Hunter’s hand flew up instinctively and gripped her arm, pulling her close. “I didnae mean for that to come out as an accusation. Struan is?—”
“I can handle Struan. Just like I can handle ye and handle takin’ care of Lily when ye are away for days on end without notice.”
Her final comment struck him hard. “I told ye I was leavin’.”
“Och, aye, but this isnae war, Hunter. And ye arenae alone anymore. Ye have Lily to think of, and yer wife. Ye cannae just disappear for days on end without a word,” Erica insisted, but her voice cracked.
Hunter’s grip on her arm loosened as she continued, her bottom lip trembling slightly. “Ye should have sent word. We were both worried.”
“I was fine. We were on the southern border.”
Erica dropped her arm and straightened. “Just because ye think ye have to take care of us, doesnae mean we are burdens. Dinnaedare go out without a care for the consequences. We are here. If we are yers, ye are ours.”
Her frankness knocked the air out of his lungs—an effect that used to be foreign to him but was growing more and more common whenever she was around. He didn’t have time to formulate a response when she threw her hands up in exasperation and let out a short laugh.
“First Kara, now ye,” she muttered under her breath.
Hunter furrowed his brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Calvin, who had been flipping through the book with Lily, froze. He shifted in his seat, squaring his shoulders as if preparing for something. Hunter noticed the change immediately, his instincts honed from years of battle. His eyes flicked to Erica, who had turned to face his man-at-arms, her eyes sharp with suspicion.
“Calvin?” she prompted, her voice edged with curiosity. “What is it?”
Calvin hesitated, then squinted slightly as if he was deep in thought. “Nothin’, Me Lady,” he replied. “Just remembered somethin’ I need to tend to.”
Without waiting for a response, he closed the book and excused himself, rushing toward the door.
Hunter watched the man’s retreating figure, unease coiling in his gut. Something wasn’t right. He started to rise, intent on following his man-at-arms.
“Uncle Hunter.” Lily’s small voice stopped him in his tracks. “Can ye read this story with us?”
He froze, torn between his growing concern and the hopeful look on her face. She held the book up to him, her expression so hopeful and so eager that it made his heart ache.
He felt his stomach twist as he gave her a reassuring pat on the head. “I’ll be back shortly, lass,” he said, masking his concern with a smile. Turning to Erica, he gave a quick nod. “Ye two stay here. I need to check on somethin’.”
Erica’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Instead, she crossed her arms in a way that suggested she was mulling over his answer.
Hunter didn’t linger—he had to find Calvin.
Stepping out into the brisk air of the courtyard, he spotted his man-at-arms pacing near the stables, his brow furrowed.
Calvin had been rattled earlier, and Hunter intended to get answers.
