Page 22 of Never Marry a Highlander

“I ken.I’ll have the guardsmen bring a bucket of water to the tent.I will bring food for the two of you once ‘tis ready.”

Edith’s face brightened.“Thank ye so much Mister Craig.”

Craig stood and pulled Lorena up.“Let’s go, lass.”

Just as they reached the tent the men had set up, one of the guardsmen entered with the jug of water.

“I will help Lady Lorena,” Edith said as his wife collapsed on the bedding the men had set up.

Eyeing her, Craig said, “I will have food sent in.Please see that yer mistress eats.”

Edith nodded and Craig took a second look at Lorena and left the tent.The poor lass looked terrible.He would sorely miss not having her soft body next to his while he slept, but ‘twas only fair to give the tent to the two women.

“It sounds like yer wife is still giving ye a hard time,” Giles said as Craig sat alongside him.

“Aye.She had a bad experience with men most of her life.She doona trust them.”He dangled his hands between his spread legs.“I hope with time she’ll learn that she can trust me and everything I tell her to do is for her own good.”

“It sounds to me like the lass doesna want to be told what to do at all.”

Craig glanced in the direction of the tent.“Aye.I feel as though she’s pushing me, just waiting for me to snap and send her flying.”

Giles nodded.“Which will prove her point that no mon can be trusted.”

One of the guardsmen walked over to them.“I have plate here for Edith and Lady Lorena.Did ye want to bring it to them?”

“Nay.Ye can do it.Just make sure ye call out so the maid can take the food from ye.I doona want ye entering my wife’s tent.”

The men listened as Craig gave the assignments for those who would stand guard and those who would relieve them.He and Giles would sleep in front of the tent to guard the women.

“I doona expect any trouble since we’re on MacKay land, but there are always reivers and those who have been banned from their clans wandering around causing trouble that we need to worry about,” Craig said as he wrapped himself in his plaid and took his place on the pile of leaves he was using for a bed.He listened for a while and neither woman spoke, so he assumed they were both asleep.

He rested on his side, missing Lorena.Was she missing him?Apparently not since he could hear the light snores coming from inside the tent.

He turned onto his back and placed his hands behind his head.The light breeze and forest smells lulled him to sleep.