she didn't even last through the first real blink.
'The babe was sick,' she told him.
'And?'
'I took care of him.'
'How did a McPherson bairn get here?'
'I was wondering that very thing,' she said.
'Answer me.'
He hadn't raised his voice, yet Jamie knew he was furious. She decided to appease him without actually giving him a direct answer. 'Alec, I was simply trying to do the right thing. Even if I'd known that dear child belonged to such a sour old man, I still would have taken care of him. The babe was suffering so.
Would you have me turn my back on him?'
'I would have you answer my question,' he reminded her.
'You'll blame Mary.'
'Mary was involved in this?' Alec demanded. He shook his head, then said, 'I shouldn't be surprised.'
'Mary brought the baby to me. McPherson's wife gave her son to Mary, begging for my help.'
Alec finally let go of her arm. Jamie resisted the urge to rub the sting away.
'Now you're bent on being angry with Mary for interfering, aren't you, Alec?'
He didn't bother to answer her. Gavin gave her a sympathetic look, then asked Alec, 'Did Daniel know about this?'
'He couldn't have,' Alec answered. 'He was hunting with me. If he went directly home, he's probably finding out now. God willing, he'll keep her under lock and key.'
'Mary has a good heart,' Jamie interjected. 'Surely Daniel won't be angry with her for helping a sick child.'
'You may go back inside now,' Alec announced, ignoring her defense of her sister.
His cold attitude upset her. God only knew she should be used to his contrary ways by now. He'd been away from home for four long days and nights, but she certainly hadn't missed him.
'I'm not ready to go back inside,' Jamie returned, startling Gavin and Marcus.
Alec didn't look surprised, though. He looked resigned. 'I have a question to ask you first.'
Alec let out a sigh of impatience. 'Marcus, send some men to follow the McPhersons to the border,' he ordered before giving Jamie his attention again.
'Well? What is this question?'
'I was wondering if your hunt went well.'
'It did.'
'Then you found the men who hurt Angus?'
'Aye.'
'And?'
'And what?'
'Did you have to kill anyone?'
He thought that had to be the most ridiculous question ever put to him. She whispered it and then gave Gavin a worried glance. Alec didn't know what to make of his wife. She looked irritated with him. The woman was simply too illogical to bother with.
But very appealing. He'd only been away four short days and nights, but it seemed much, much longer to him now. That admission made his mood black. She was still dressed in her English garb-he'd noticed that sin right away-and he was beginning to realize she was just as stubborn as he was. Mayhap even more so.
'Six, seven,' he announced in a hard voice. 'Would you like to know how I killed them?'
She took a step back, forgetting she was standing on the stairs. Alec grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling. 'I assume, then, that you don't want to know?'
She shrugged his hands away. 'No, I don't want to know how you killed them, you impossible man, but I do want the true number. Was it six or seven?'
'How in God's name would I know?' he asked, clearly exasperated. 'I was in the thick of battle, Jamie. I didn't take time to count.'
'Well, you should have,' Jamie muttered. 'In future, I would ask you do keep count. It's the least you could do.'
'Why?'
'Because I only have eight shillings left, that's why.'
He didn't know what she was talking about. That didn't surprise him, though; he never knew what she was talking about. The color had left her face, reminding him of how much she disliked battles. He guessed she didn't want him killing anyone. That was such an amusing thought that he couldn't help but smile. Hell, he'd probably killed twice that number. The fight had been fierce. He wasn't about to share that information with Jamie, though.
'You're smiling, Alec. Does that mean you were jesting with me?'
'I was,' he lied, thinking to ease her frown away.
She gave him a look that suggested she didn't believe him. Then she picked up her skirts and hurried back inside.
'Alec,' Gavin said, 'what did she think would happen when you caught up with our enemies?'
'I haven't the faintest idea.'
Gavin held his grin. 'By the way,' he said, turning the topic, 'Franklin rode ahead to say the clan's on their way home from Gillebrid's holding. They should be here by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Some of Harold's clan is tagging along. They mean to pay their respects.'
'The hell they do,' Alec barked. 'They mean to look at my wife.'
'Yes,' Gavin replied with a chuckle. 'Her beauty is already becoming legend.
There's also the fact that she saved Angus. Anyone with an ache or a pain will be camping on our doorstep.'
'How is Angus doing?'
'Docile now.'
'What does that mean?'
'He wanted to get back to his duties. Your wife caught him just as he was leaving his cottage. Elizabeth had gone to enlist her aid.' Gavin let out a rich laugh before continuing. 'I could hear Angus shouting all the way to the castle doors. When I got there-'
'He raised his voice to Jamie?'
'He had good reason,' Gavin explained when he saw how angry Alec was getting.
'She'd taken his sword away from him.'
Alec raised an eyebrow in reaction to that statement. 'He did have reason, then,' he admitted with a grin. 'What happened next?'
'She never raised her voice to him, but she had him back in bed in minutes.'
Alec started toward the stables, his hands clasped behind his back. Gavin walked at his side. 'I don't trust any of Harold's men, especially his bastard sons,' he said, turning the topic back to their coming visitors.
'The twins?'
'Justin will be a problem,' Alec stated. 'He's used to taking what he wants.'
'You think he'd actually go after another man's wife?'
'He would. The man's fathered more bastard children than England's king.'
'With his handsome looks, the women do fall at his feet. It's odd that Philip, though identical in appearance, is so opposite in nature. He's too timid to try anything.'
'I don't trust Philip, either,' Alec muttered.
Gavin smiled. 'You speak like a man who cares for his wife, Alec.'
'She's my property,' Alec countered. 'No one's going to insult her but me.'
'She isn't having an easy time of it,' Gavin remarked. 'The task you gave her has helped, of course, but Edith is making it difficult still. She countermands every order Jamie gives. Annie isn't much better. She won't even speak to Jamie.'
