Highlander Most Wanted (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #2)(52)

“Will you hold me?” she asked softly.

Instead of answering, he leaned forward, rolling onto his side next to her. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her in tight to his chest. He stroked her hair and pressed his lips to the crown of her head.

“ ’Tis the truth I’d like nothing more.”

She burrowed further into his chest as if seeking the warmth and comfort he offered. She clung tightly to him, and he was just as content to hold her just as tightly in return.

For the longest time, he lay there with her in his arms, her head tucked underneath his chin. Her breathing slowed and she seemed to relax, the tension and fear leaving tightly coiled muscles.

He knew there was still the matter of her injuries to attend to, but he was loath to break the intimacy that had bloomed between them.

No matter what the lass may have done in the past, he could not bring himself to hold any of it against her. She had done what was available to her in an effort to free herself from the reality of rape and abuse.

He’d consign no lass in such a situation to punishment or retribution. It pained him to imagine his own sister, Rorie, in such a predicament. He’d hope that any woman in Genevieve’s position would be resourceful enough to think of a way out, just as she’d done. Even if the result had been Eveline’s being abducted and terrorized.

It was still an issue. Mayhap not for him, as his mind was already made up where the lass was concerned. But there was the problem of Graeme and the Armstrongs, neither of whom would have any love for Genevieve when it was revealed what she’d done.

But he’d not leave her to fight this battle alone. It may cause him a great deal of trouble with his kin and the newly forged alliance with the Armstrongs, but he’d not leave Genevieve to suffer alone.

She deserved a champion when one had long been denied. There was no one to stand up for the lass. Except him.

He stroked the soft tresses of her hair as tenderness overcame him. It pained him to imagine what her existence had been for the last year, but if he had any say in the matter, she’d never suffer such again. Regardless of the consequences for him.

Chapter 25

Bowen’s head came up as a loud knock sounded at his door. Genevieve stiffened and pulled away, her eyes wary.

In an effort to ease her nervousness, he put a gentle finger on her lips.

“ ’Tis naught for you to worry over,” Bowen said. “I’ll return in a moment.”

He slipped from the bed, and she hastily pulled the cover to her chin. He needed to have proper clothing fetched from her chamber so that she wouldn’t feel vulnerable in her torn dress and the cape that barely covered her nudity.

He unbarred the door and opened it a crack to see who was there. Teague and Brodie stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions dark.

“We have a situation,” Teague said bluntly. “Upon returning from our patrol, we found a man dead. His neck was broken. It could be a precursor to an attack.”

Bowen shook his head. “I killed him.”

Brodie’s and Teague’s eyes widened.

“You did what?” Brodie demanded.

Teague started to push forward. “You’ve a lot of explaining to do, Bowen.”

Bowen warded Teague off, and he stepped back in surprise.

“Is there a reason we’re not allowed inside your chamber?” Teague asked.

Bowen stepped farther from the doorway, and then quietly shut the door behind him.

“Genevieve is within.”

Brodie’s eyebrows shot up, while Teague frowned.

“The man you found dead attacked her earlier today. It’s fortunate that I came upon them when I did or he would have raped her.”

Brodie scowled and bit out a curse.

“The whole lot of them are little better than animals,” Teague said in disgust. “Is the lass all right?”

“She was frightened, of course. I took her to my chamber to shield her from the other clansmen. ’Tis obvious she is not held in high regard here, and I would protect her from their venom as well as from any possible retaliation.”

Teague blew out his breath. “They will not like hearing that you killed one of their men. It will seem as though we seek to destroy them after executing the ones who betrayed us. Now this.”

Bowen’s lips curled into a snarl. “I care not what they like or don’t like. If they want to be treated fairly and decently, then ’tis upon them to act accordingly. I’d not tolerate such treatment of a lass, no matter who she was. ’Tis disgraceful.”

“What then would you have us tell them?” Brodie asked. “The body was brought up to the courtyard, and ’tis widely assumed that the killing was part of a staged attack. They are all convinced that the McGrieves will lay siege to us at any moment.”

Bowen had to take a breath to steady himself as anger gripped him all over again. Then he looked up at his brother and at Brodie. His voice was dangerously soft, and for those who knew him well it hinted that he was very near to losing any control he currently maintained.

“You tell them that I killed the man for his attack on Genevieve. You also tell them that the lass is under my protection, and that any slight to her is a slight to me, personally. One I will retaliate against. I will not tolerate any disrespect of her. Let the dead McHugh warrior serve as a warning to the others.”