Chapter Thirty-Two

Bryce had never been so happy to see the battlements of Dunardry as he was when they crested the final ridge and the castle came into sight. The last of the day’s sun lit up the stone in welcome.

Everyone was outside waiting for them when the carriage drove into the bailey. Bryce hopped down and helped Dorie out. She’d no sooner stepped down than a large, gray mass set upon her. Whining and wiggling in excitement, Rascal welcomed her with drool and muddy paws.

“Get down, beast.” Bryce brushed mud off as the dog ran in circles, clearly happy to have her home. Bryce didn’t blame him. He’d barely set her to rights when Kenna and Mari nearly toppled her in excited embraces.

Bryce moved away from the squealing to speak to his cousins.

“I see you have your wife back,” Lach said with a smug smile.

“Aye. You were right. I surely hope this is what you were blathering on about when you told me you supported whatever decision I made, for the viscount is not going to send his men.”

Lach nodded, though the smile had faded. “I expected as much.” He looked over at the women. “It’s worth it to have you happy.”

“She’s worried you will be upset with her. Make sure you put her straight on that,” Bryce said.

Cam laughed. “I must say, being a protective husband suits you well.”

Lach stepped forward and held out his arms to welcome Dorie home. “I’m so glad to have you back in our fold.”

She frowned. “You might not think so when you find out my father is not sending his men.”

Lach waved it off. “You’re more valuable to my clan than a handful of British soldiers. Women are vital to the growth of our clan. After all, none of my warriors would be here if not for the women.” He winked when she blushed and Bryce squeezed his shoulder in thanks for his words.

After their meal, they went up to their room which had been filled with the trunks Dorie brought home with her.

“I’ll add some pegs to the walls to hang some of these things. We’ll make it all fit,” he said as he pushed one of the trunks away from the bed so they could get in to sleep. The large dog didn’t help make the room seem bigger.

“I shouldn’t have brought everything, but Harriet was insistent that this was all mine and I should have it.” She frowned when she looked at the overcrowded room. “Why would I ever need so many fancy gowns?”

Why, indeed? She certainly wouldn’t have use of them here in the Highlands with a war chief as her husband.

“Dorie…” He let out a breath and took her hand. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you a home like the one your father has.”

Her eyes went wide. “Why ever would the two of us need a house of that size? Even with all my brothers and sisters, Sutherland House was far too big.”

He loved her practicality, but she was missing his point. “I can’t even give you a home like Cam and Mari’s,” he explained.

“Ah. I see. Do you think I’ll regret coming home with you? I knew the size of our room when I left England. And I still couldn’t wait to get back here to be with you.” She looked around and let her arms drop by her sides. “I will say it seems much smaller now with these trunks filling the space, but we’ll figure it out another time. Come to bed, husband.”

That was a request he was happy to oblige. His earlier exhaustion faded slightly as excitement took its place. He pounced on the bed, toppling her over with him.

She laughed but made no attempt to escape his clutches. “I don’t really care if the room is big enough to hold my trunks, so long as the bed is big enough for the two of us to romp around in,” she said, warming his heart once again.

“I shall love you from one side of the bed to the other to make sure there’s plenty of room.”

They spent each night over the next week testing the bed to make sure it would do.

He woke up before her one morning, Rascal taking his place as Bryce slipped out of bed. He had a bite to eat and went out to run his men through their drills. The Campbells hadn’t arrived yet, and Bryce began to worry they’d changed their minds.

There was no way the MacKinlays could ensure victory over the McCurdys without the help of another clan. Liam hadn’t arrived home yet from the Stewarts, either, so there was still a chance both clans might join them. Or neither.

It was almost time to stop for the noon meal when the guard on the gate yelled out, “Riders. A lot of them. Armed.”

Bryce smiled and called up, “What banner do they fly?” He could wait the few minutes for them to arrive, but it was better to know if it was the Campbells or Stewarts who rode on the castle.

“No banner flying.”

Bryce’s smile faded and his brows creased as he looked to Lachlan. They both knew a clan approaching in peace had no reason not to fly a banner.

“Bloody hell,” Lach muttered. “Bryce and I will ride out. Have the men at the wall. Prepare for battle.”

…

With the help of some sturdy lads, Dorie had the trunks stacked out of the way. Kenna made room in the solar for the ones that wouldn’t fit.

She offered Kenna and Mari many of the gowns. Since Dorie was so tall, it would be easy to cut them down a bit to fit Kenna, or a lot to fit tiny Marian. The women were excited for the fine dresses. Especially since they didn’t have to make them themselves.

“It will sadden me to have to put them aside when I grow too big to wear them,” Kenna said while rubbing her bump.

“Do you hope for a girl this time?” Dorie wondered, since Kenna and Lachlan already had three boys.

“I hope for the same thing I always hope for—that whichever it is, the babe is healthy and happy.” Kenna smiled and Dorie felt a yearning for that same type of joy. She felt almost greedy to wish for more than she’d already been given. Her husband loved her, which was a miracle unto itself. She was happy.

But the truth of it was, despite her blessings, she wanted a child with Bryce. Guilt washed over her as the door burst open, letting in one of the maids.

“An army is approaching the castle. The men are leaving to head them off.”

Dorie jumped up and ran down the stairs into the hall, but there were only a few scattered soldiers remaining. Rascal ran out of the hall and she followed after him. In the bailey the men were mounting and preparing to leave. She searched the men closest to the gate, knowing the war chief would have the place of honor in front of his men.

“Bryce!” she called and caught his attention. Despite the seriousness of the moment he offered a smile and slid down from his horse to pull her into his arms.

“I’m sure it’s just the Campbells or maybe the Stewarts.”

“The maid said there was no flag.”

“Aye. And that’s why we’re going out to greet them.”

Dorie knew well enough that a welcome party didn’t call for every soldier to join them. Especially not fully armed. They were preparing for what might happen if their visitor was not friendly.

“Come home to me.”

“I’ll do my best.” He kissed her and she knew that was all the promise she would get from him. His kiss was fierce and full of intention. “That will have to do until I return. But when I do, ye might want to be ready.” He gave her a wink and patted Rascal. “Guard her well, lad,” he instructed, then mounted his horse.

She stepped out of the way as only a few warriors followed her husband through the gate. The rest remained in place, in case things turned bad.

…

Bryce swallowed as he crested the hill and saw the approaching army. Nearly a hundred men approached with no flag among them. This was even more men than he had left back at Dunardry. They wouldn’t win this battle. Bryce knew the warriors remaining at the castle could fight them off for a time, but he worried they’d lose in the end.

The leader of the other group spurred his horse and came toward them. When he was in sight, Bryce relaxed and scabbarded his blade. “Stand down. It’s Dorien.”

Bryce eyed the soldiers again, spotting a red coat here and there, but overall they were out of uniform. Paid soldiers.

Lachlan kept his blade at the ready and narrowed his eyes on Bryce. “What have you done to his daughter now that he sends an army to take you down?”

“Nothing,” Bryce answered while his mind recalled the things he might have done to displease his father-by-marriage. “I’m fairly sure,” he added, not sounding very certain.

“Welcome back to Dunardry,” Lach called when he was close enough. “To what do we owe this honor?”

Dorien smiled in greeting, which Bryce took as a good sign. “It was my understanding you wished to have access to the sea through the McCurdy port. And the only way to have it was to take over Baehaven”

“Aye. It was our understanding that your offer of men to help was only available if Bryce came home without your daughter.”

Dorien spared a look at Bryce and offered a nod of respect. “I wanted to make sure your heart was pure when you made your decision. You picked her even when faced with losing something valuable.”

“I will always choose her,” Bryce said honestly. “Always.”

Another nod from his father-in-law, this one of approval. “My men are yours on one condition.”

“That is?”

“I want Baehaven Castle when the McCurdys fall. And they will fall.”

Lach spared a glance at Bryce, but nodded. “As long as you’ll grant us access to the port.”

“My daughter is married to your war chief. I propose an alliance. This time offered by a man of honor.”

Lach agreed and they rode on to the castle. Bryce went ahead, happy to tell Dorie the news of their visitor. She was waiting and worrying in the hall when he returned. “Your father is on his way,” he told her after she released him from a relieved and rather passionate kiss.

“My father?” He saw a moment of worry in her blue eyes. “You’ve not changed your mind, have you? Are you going to send me back?”

“Nay. Never. Your place is here with me. He’s here to help us take Baehaven. He apparently wants the castle and the lands for himself.”

Her bright eyes went wide, this time in surprise rather than worry. “He plans to move to Scotland and live in Baehaven?”

“I canna speak to what he plans for the place. I only know he wants it in exchange for the use of his men, and Lach agreed. Now, are you coming out to greet the man or no?”

“I am. Do I look a mess?”

“You are beautiful in whatever you’re wearing. Or nothing at all.” He bent to kiss that soft spot on her neck just below her ear and got a shiver of interest. A smile spread across his lips at her response. “And, I daresay, you’re even more breathtaking now with some color on your cheeks.”

“Some color?” She rolled her eyes. “I’m probably as red as the evening sun, which is exactly what you planned.”

He couldn’t help but laugh as he led her out to the bailey. When she saw her father, she picked up her pace and left Bryce behind. He didn’t mind. He knew how much she’d missed her new family, even in the short time they’d been back at Dunardry. He would give anything to make her happy. In fact, he’d even considered moving to England for a time so she could visit with them. Although having them come to Scotland was preferred.

As expected, she peppered the man with questions on her siblings and stepmother, asking after their health and happiness. One would think it had been decades since she’d seen them, the way she went on, but Bryce left her to her reunion to go see after the grooms.

There were a lot more horses to be stabled and fed, so some of his men were helping there, while others were at the smithy seeing to the weapons and any repairs needed for battle.

When he paused in the kitchens he noted the organized chaos.

“Do ye ladies need anything?” he offered. After drawing in a few buckets of water and putting a couple of lads on kitchen duty, he moved on to oversee the next thing, and then the next.

He met up with Lach and Cam when he returned to the bailey.

“I think everything is in order,” Lach said. “We’ll want to be underway in a matter of days so as not to use up too much of our reserve.”

Cam nodded and reported on his tasks. “I sent men to hunt. It will give us a few more days at least.”

“There’s no reason to wait,” Bryce said. “The McCurdys do nothing but waste good air by breathing it.”

“I canna disagree, but I want to ensure victory. Having the extra men is a step in the right direction, but we’ll need a successful strategy, too.”

“Riders!” the guard called from his post on the gate.

A moment later the gate opened and a single boy came tearing into the bailey.

“Is it McCurdys?” Lach asked as the lad slid down from his horse to come bow before the laird and offer a missive.

“Nay. Campbells.”

“When it rains, it pours,” Lach said, looking up at the sky.