Page 74 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
“I was talkin’ about family,” Archer told her. “Yer braither obviously cares about ye, and he put his life on the line to find out what O’Gunn was plottin’—I would have sent him back, actually. He obviously cares about ye a lot. Maybe he feels ashamed of the scars or gets looks from women and men alike, but he finds purpose in his family. That’s all I meant.”
“And ye?” Eileen asked. “Is family more important to ye than women?”
“Of course,” Archer replied.
Eileen was expecting that answer, but not so promptly. She thought he might make a small joke before giving a straightanswer, but he was extremely forthcoming. She stared at him in the dawning light and realized it was the truth.
“I love me maither and sister far more than any woman who’s ever shared me bed. None of them hold a candle to me family.”
“As it should be,” Eileen allowed.
“Aye, as it should be,” Archer echoed. “I still must teach ye to fight with a dirk, however. Yer braither would have meant well with wantin’ to teach ye how to fight, but I assume ye annoyed him too much when ye were kids. Nae many men can take a stubborn and challengin’ woman like ye.”
Eileen almost choked on her giggle. “Aye, is that so? Ye can handle me just fine, but other men cannae?”
“I think I’ve proven that, and if ye find me a man who can put up with ye for more than a couple of days, then I’d call ye a liar.”
“I assumed ye’d come in here to comfort me, but ye’ve come in here to make jokes. Aye, ye should teach me to fight, as there’s someone who needs to be put in their place.”
Archer laughed. “The offer stands. Afore ye leave for home, I’ll teach ye how to wield the dagger.”
“All right,” Eileen said, rising to the challenge. “I’ll take ye up on that.”
Archer nodded and smiled.
Eileen turned to her brother again, monitoring the rise and fall of his chest.
“We grew closer when we grew up,” she continued. “He and I are the only ones of our siblings who arenae married. I dinnae ken if he’ll ever marry, but I hope he does. He’d make a good husband and faither.”
“And ye?” Archer asked.
“I wouldnae make a very good husband and faither,” Eileen drawled.
Another chuckled. “I’m serious. Ye must have plenty of suitors.”
Eileen thought about it. “Bein’ the youngest, there has never been a rush for me to wed, and I think Maither likes havin’ me home now that Faither has passed. But aye, she’ll want me to get married sometime.” She took a couple of deep breaths. “I willnae be marryin’ O’Gunn, that’s for sure. Nae after what he did.”
“Nay, stay away from the man,” Archer agreed.
“He’s lonely,” Eileen said.
“Reid?”
“Aye.” She swallowed. “I see it in his eyes often. I saw it when we got the message from O’Gunn. I ken I’ll have to wed, and I ken Reid will lose me to another man. He will never admit it, but I see it. He told me how grateful he was to have me by his side, and I feel the same about him, but he needs someone who can be with him.”
“And ye need someone who can be with ye,” Archer said.
Eileen didn’t reply. She sat in her chair for a while, watching her brother. She silently prayed for him to find comfort with someone, for him not to have to fight so hard anymore.
After a while, she got up and walked over to Archer. He opened his arms wide, and she sat back down on his lap, his warmth enveloping her once more.
She wouldn’t sleep in his arms this time, but she needed to feel that the world was not so grim, and for a while, her entire world was contained by him.
Archer kissed her on the temple and rubbed her upper arm as she rested her head back on his shoulder. She watched as the sky turned from purple to blue, feeling as if she’d escaped the world for a moment.
She felt safe with the Laird, and she hoped Reid would feel safe again when he woke up.
“Thank ye,” she whispered as her body grew lax.
