Page 50 of A Fierce Archer

He didn’t wish to correct her, so instead he bowed his head. “Thank ye.”

“I must inquire,” Ewan began. “Upon my return from Uist, I will be building my own home and will require a wife soon thereafter.”

After exchanging looks, the women remained silent.

“I have to make sure that my last marriage was indeed dissolved, which I am sure it is. If I can place on ye the burden of finding a woman for me to marry, I would appreciate yer assistance, Lady Ross.”

“Ye wish to marry so quickly?” Lady Ross asked. “Why?”

“I prefer a meek lass. One with little opinion. Looks do not matter to me. If ye would kindly think on it.”

Once again, he gave a slight bow and walked away, ignoring their astonished looks.

Before last meal, he needed to sleep. The ride from the northern borders had been hard. After encountering a group of men along the way, they’d been forced to slow. He’d considered going faster, leaving the group and arriving back at Dun Airgid before the others, but then decided against it.

It wasn’t that he’d hoped Catriona remained or that she’d gone. What he didn’t want to face was knowing either way. Over time, he’d gone from hurt to anger and, finally, to accepting that it was best for him not to ever allow his heart free rein again.

Whether the woman remained or had gone, at this point, mattered little. He was prepared to see Catriona again and he was equally ready not to ever do so.

Now he had to not only face the current situation, but also to return to Uist where he would once again have to be ready to see Una.

Thankfully, no one except him knew the reason why he’d left Uist. And if he had his way, no one ever would.

Ewan flopped onto his bed, not bothering to remove his boots. Upon closing his eyes, the memory of the last time he’d seen his father immediately appeared.

“Go to Una, Son. Tell her the marriage will be dissolved. Ask that she consider returning to her own clan,” his mother advised. “If she refuses, then set some ground rules. If she is to take a lover, it must be discreetly.”

“What of the child?” He paced in front of the fireplace. “Everyone will think it is mine.”

“There is naught we can do about it,” Lady Ross said with a sigh. “The only thing I can suggest is that ye go away. Create a life away from here.”

“Yer son will be seen as a bad father who deserts his own child,” her mother’s companion interjected. “Perhaps what should be done is for her to be sent away. If we find out who the father is, he can be bribed to take her.”

Moments later, Ewan returned to his wife’s chambers, not at all looking forward to the argument that would no doubt ensue.

Familiar noises made him stop from knocking. Grunting and moaning came from behind the door. Immediately, his hand went to his broadsword. Before drawing it, Ewan considered this was a good thing. He was about to find out who his wife’s lover was. He would barge in and demand the man take her away or face death.

The swishing of his sword slipping out of its holdings somehow permeated through the thundering blood rushing past his ears.

Stepping through the doorway, he allowed his eyes to become accustomed to the dimness. The couple was so enthralled that they did not notice his presence until he was beside the bed.

It was then the male turned and met his gaze.

For a moment, Ewan was sure he’d made a mistake, walked into the wrong bedchamber. But Una’s gasp brought him to realize he had not.

His father pushed away from her slowly, withdrawing from her body in a way to ensure Ewan saw it clearly. All the while, Una remained frozen, her legs spread.

“I thought ye said he would not return tonight,” his father said to Una, who other than to swallow visibly had yet to move. “I suppose it is best for it to be known. I tire of hiding,” the laird said in a bored voice.

When Ewan’s fist crushed his father’s nose, the sounds of bones crunching seemed to hang in the air. It was not a fair fight. Ewan was over a head taller than the laird and outweighed him, all muscle.

The second punch to the midsection slammed his father into a table that toppled over, spilling the contents and breaking the furnishing with loud crashes and cracks.

Ewan punched him a third and fourth time, each hit harder.

When the older man fell to the floor, Ewan fell upon him like a wild beast, pummeling and pounding him until strong arms dragged him away.

And still he continued fighting, landing punches to both his brothers and a guard who’d come when hearing Una scream.