Love in the Time of a Highland Laird (A Laird for All Time Book 3), Angeline Fortin [top ten ebook reader txt] 📗

She agreed but that left her with nothing to do but wait and listen to Cairn complain while Mathilde nursed his minor wounds. She paced the room and stared repeatedly out the window for sight of the men. Fear was plaguing at her and yet Cairn seemed unconcerned. He did nothing but bitch and moan about the pain and Mathilde’s technique the entire time.

“Nae so tight, Mathilde!”

“Sorry, Uncle.”

When did Mathilde become so meek? If she were wrapping that bandage she’d be telling him what he could do with his complaints. For a grown man, he was the biggest baby she’d ever known. She didn’t care if he was the Earl of Cairn, after all, and Keir’s father.

“Oh, my God!” she burst out. “It’s not that bad!”

“Listen here, lassie—”

“Please,” Mathilde interrupted as if she hadn’t heard the miraculously renewed strength in his voice. “My uncle is a man of sixty years. He is too old to suffer such an injury.”

Al shook her head. She might not be able to say a lot of complimentary things about her stepfather, but at sixty-six, he’d knock anyone on his backside who said he was too old for anything. But then again, sixty might be considered old since the life expectancy was probably shorter. It was a different time. She’d only assumed from the example Keir had set that it was a tougher one.

“No, he’s too old to act like a child,” she argued, then glowered at the man upon the bed. “Haven’t you even thought to ask about your sons?”

“Impertinent, lass! Who are ye tae question me?”

“I’m someone who actually cares about what’s going on out there,” she told him. “You should be grateful for what Keir’s done for you. If you can’t manage that, you should at least be concerned. Worried that he hasn’t returned.”

Cairn harrumphed but didn’t say anything else. But this time when Mathilde tightened the knot, he only hissed and shot Al a venomous glare. “He would nae be in this mess a’tall if I’d stayed where I was.”

“In prison?” If he wanted to go back, he could be her guest.

“Nay, I’ve nae e’en been here a full sennight. I was safe and comfortable in the home of my,” he shot a glance at Mathilde, “er, a certain lady friend. She convinced me I should return tae Dingwall. That is when I was captured. Shouldn’t hae happened a’tall.”

Al and Mathilde both gaped at him.

“Uncle, you’d been free all the days following the battle and didn’t think to let Keir or anyone know you were well?”

“I dinnae dare send a message. It was in my best interests—”

“Your best interests?” Al questioned in amazement. Fear for Keir and anger over his unbelievable apathy bubbled up inside “Yours? Your family has been worried sick about you.” Perhaps an overstatement but at least now she was getting a clearer picture of why none of the MacCoinnach men seemed to be genuinely worried about their father. He wasn’t only selfish, he was uncaring of their feelings, too. “Do you even know Frang was killed in the battle?” she asked. “Do you even care?”

Cairn only blinked. Surprise, but no remorse. “Aye, well, ‘twas the lad’s duty tae serve his clan.”

“Oh my God. You don’t care at all, do you?” She looked up at Mathilde who seemed equally taken aback by her uncle’s indifference. “One son dies because you command him to fight, your nephew is lost as well. Keir is out there fighting right now because he was determined to save your life.”

“I dinnae expect it, but ‘tis good to know I raised sons who know their duty.”

Yes, Keir did know his duty. Somehow this man had managed to instill that in him.

“You don’t deserve a son like him. He’s the finest man I’ve ever known, even dreamed might exist. He’s smart, brave, and loyal even when his loyalty isn’t deserved, I can see,” she choked the words out from the tears clogging her throat. “You, sir, are a horrible person.”

Cairn lurched up in the bed. “Just who do ye think ye are, lass, tae talk tae me like that? I am the Earl of Cairn.”

“I don’t care if you’re the king of the world!”

Hot tears fell then, splashing on her cheeks. It was as if letting them fall unleashed a torrent of emotion as well. Her body stiff, hands fisted at her sides, she screamed at him. The words were ripped out of her, from her very heart.

“I love him. Even if you don’t care, I do. I love him! God, I love him more than anything. More than I ever imagined. And you just lay there not giving a damn. You bastard, don’t you realize he might have given his life to save yours?”

“I dinnae.”

Whirling around at the rumbling burr, she saw Keir in the doorway being supported by Artair. There was a small trickle of blood running down his temple, another spot on his shoulder, but overall he looked sound and wonderfully alive.

With a sob, she ran to him, falling into his arms as he lifted her against him. Her feet dangling inches above the floor as he hugged her tight. His warm lips brushed her brow, her temple, then her cheeks. Kissing away her tears.

“‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’”

A watery laugh escaped her and she buried her face in his neck. “How long have ye been listening?”

“Long enough.” He chuckled near her ear. “I seem to learn a lot lingering in doorways.”

He leaned back and kissed her so tenderly her heart ached even more.

“I’ve learned much about Father as well.”

“Are you sorry you saved him?”

He shook his head, glancing over her shoulder. “Nay, but I’m glad I dinnae have to live with him. I’m the Duke of Ross now, ye ken?”

Her lips quirked. Releasing her, he turned to Cairn who was pushing himself out of bed.

“Father, ye should know I’m getting married.”

He started