Page 69 of Wedded to the Heartless Highlander
“He did?” Erica gasped, disgust lacing her words.
Hunter chuckled at her reaction and then nodded.
“That should have been yer first concern! Why would anyone, with the prosperity of their clan in mind, wish for their Laird to compete for a woman’s hand?”
“That’s one way to put it,” Hunter drawled, leaning his back against the doorframe.
“Why did he nae simply advise ye to answer at least one of me maither’s previous invitations?”
“He did.”
Erica’s eyes widened. “What is his obsession with Clan McFair?” she blurted out.
Hunter tilted his head to the side. “What do ye mean?”
“It just seems strange.”
“Strange? I dinnae follow.”
“Ye clearly havenae listened to the advice of yer closest councilman. Ye are a good, strong leader, Hunter. Ye dinnae need someone pullin’ the strings behind the scenes to tell ye what’s best for yer clan—for yer family.”
Hunter studied her, the word ‘family’ striking him like a whip.
He pushed off the doorframe, lowering his voice. “Maybe ye are right. But I’ve got more important things to worry about. The borders, the council… Struan and the other councilmen help by remindin’ me of other matters of equal importance?—”
“The borders again,” Erica interrupted as her imagination ran rampant with images of a lone ride at the edges of McFair Keep. “Ye have been obsessed with them for days now. I get it, but ye are actin’ as if the world’s goin’ to fall apart if we dinnae defend every inch of the borders.”
Hunter’s eyes flashed with a sudden intensity, and before she could react, he took another step toward her, his voice rising. “I’m doin’ the best I can, Erica! Ihaveto protect ye—both of ye.”
His words stung, not because she didn’t appreciate his protection, but because she hated that he seemed to think she couldn’t stand on her own feet.
“I ken that well enough, husband,” she bit out, her sharp voice cutting through the air. “But ye dinnae have to make me decisions for me—as if I’m incapable of doing anythin’ on me own!”
Hunter’s eyes widened slightly as if he hadn’t expected her to push back so fiercely. “That’s nae what I meant, Erica. Ye?—”
“Then what did ye mean, Hunter?” she cut him off again, her temper flaring. “Ye’re so focused on the borders, on Struan, on everythin’ except the people around ye. Ye are losin’ sight of what’s important. If there’s real danger, then we—Lily and I—might be better off at McFair Keep. It would certainly be safer.”
The words were out before she could stop them, and she regretted them immediately. The air between them seemed to freeze, and for a brief moment, Hunter’s expression hardened, his lips thinning.
“Ye wish to leave?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “After everything we’ve been through, ye want to run back to yer faither’s keep as if nothin’ is wrong?” Anger radiated from his body.
Erica’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she almost wished she hadn’t said anything at all. But she couldn’t back down now. Not when she felt so strongly about it.
“If it means protectin’ Lily and meself, then aye, I do.”
The fire in Hunter’s eyes was nearly tangible, like a storm ready to break. “Ye think ye can just leave whenever ye want? Ye think I cannae handle this on me own?” He inched closer to her again, his tall frame looming over her. “This is yer home now. Ye’re me wife, Erica, and Lily belongs here with me. Ye are mine. Ye belong here.”
“I’m nae questioning ye,” Erica snapped, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. “But ye havetoo muchon yer plate, and I dinnae want Lily to be caught in the middle of whatever’s comin’ next.”
Hunter’s chest heaved with labored breaths, and for a moment, Erica thought he would shout at her. “Where is this comin’ from? Why now, at the mention of me borders, do ye bring up goin’ back home?”
“I—” she started to explain. “Thomas wrote to me. I found his letter yesterday while ye were out.”
“A letter?”
“I wasnae sure how to bring it up, or even if I would,” she admitted. “But… it’s been on me mind ever since.”
Hunter’s expression remained neutral, unsure where the conversation was heading. “Go on then, what did yer braither say?”
