Page 9 of Trapped with the Vicious Highlander
“I have looked after her for the past two weeks—it only makes sense. There may be other reasons as well, but I am afraid I do not fully understand them for now.”
Brodrick nodded. “Then ye’ll have a month to figure it out.”
Ava’s confused frown deepened. “A month?”
“Aye.”
“Are you saying that you’ll be back to take her in a month?”
Brodrick chuckled. He wasn’t planning on leaving his daughter’s side for one more second.
“Och nay, lassie. She’s comin’ with me. And ye’re comin’ with her.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed. “I do not follow.”
“Since Margaret trusts ye, and ye’re the only one who can make her speak, ye will be comin’ to live with me for a month.”
Ava swallowed again, staring at the warrior before her and wondering if this was a joke or if he actually meant it.
She quickly realized the latter when she saw the expression on his face.
He was not jesting.
She was going to leave with him.
CHAPTER4
Ava continuedto stare at the Highlander before her, still in a daze. He had just asked—no, ordered—that she leave with him along with Margaret. A bitter huff escaped her lips as she leaned against the kitchen cabinet.
“No,” she said, her voice coming out in almost a faltering whisper.
Brodrick narrowed his eyes at her. “Nay?”
“No, I will not be going anywhere. And neither will Margaret,” Ava added.
The faltering whisper was gone. Her confidence was back. Now wasn’t the time to wonder how this man was able to take her breath and confidence away and bring it back just the next instant, but he had that power. And she was not going to be left at a disadvantage. Her hand rested on the top of the cabinet.
Brodrick raised his hand in despair. “Ye truly are a difficult woman, arenae ye?”
“And you are quite the irresponsible man, calling a woman you barely know ‘difficult.’”
“I ken ye dinnae plan to make me life easier.”
Ava scoffed. “Because I do not want you to leave with a girl who may or may not be your daughter?”
Brodrick shook his head. “I thought that was settled.”
“Settled? Because Margaret happens to be some kind of bread for sale at the market?”
Ava watched a slow smirk tease the corners of his lips and couldn’t help but wonder what he could possibly be thinking at that moment.
Did he think she was mad? Or did he think her a woman who stood her ground no matter who her adversary was? He was a Highlander, after all, and she couldn’t imagine many women giving him such grief like she was doing at this moment.
Unfortunately, this involved his daughter, and there was only so much admiration he could have before he was forced to take action.
“The only way we can know for certain is if Margaret speaks—and that is if she even recognizes you. I suggest you return in a month. Hopefully, she’ll talk well by then and not just drop a syllable and go silent the next minute.”
Brodrick nodded. “I hear every word ye say, woman. But I cannae agree with ye. Margaret leaves with me. And since ye are the only one she trusts at the moment, ye leave with her too. I dinnae ken how else to make ye understand.”
