The Laird's Future Bride Read online

  “I’m sure if ye kenned me better ye would nay be saying that.”

  Leaning against the castle wall, she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to collect herself. “I’m your brother’s wife. I don’t knows why yous like mes. I don’ts know whys Duncan does, but I knews from these moment I met hims he was special.” She opened her eyes and stared into Callam’s blue eyes. “Yours arent’s Duncan’s stormy blues. I loves his eyes.” She closed her eyes and brought up Duncan’s eyes, they were one of her favorite things about him, how expressive his eyes were. “I’m shinys and new. That’s whys yous likes mes. I’ve heard yourz quite the player.”

  “I have nay been with anyone since I laid eyes on ye.”

  Holly knew this conversation wasn’t going how she wanted and with the alcohol still clouding her mind she didn’t want to play games, she had to set Callam straight. “I’mz not usuallys mean and Ima sorry, but you are not for me. I knowz because I can touch yous and mes hearts beat doesn’t increase. I can look at yous and thinks yous are very nice to looks at, buts your notz what turns me on. I don’t crave your touch. I gets allz that with Duncan. I knows I haven’t been heres longs, buts I think I’m falling in loves with that idiot. Oh craps, I mayz already.” She threw her hand up and almost fell forward.

  Callam steadied her and then she felt his arms come under her legs and around her shoulders and he cradled her in his arms.

  Holly let out a squeal. “Haya, I can walks.”

  “Not nay up the stairs in the state ye are in. Let’s get ye inside. We’ll take the servant stairs at the kitchen.”

  Duncan moved to the shadows as the two came in. He still wanted to kill his brother, but he felt like a bastard for the way he treated Holly, especially when he’d come out to see what they were up to. He should have trusted her. Duncan came upon them in time to hear Holly tell Callam she was his wife. As he was about to go out to help her, Holly continued by saying how she loved his eyes, and what his touch to her alone could do, and she felt nothing for Callam. The thing that shocked Duncan the most was that Holly was falling in love with him.

  He followed them up the stairs. He was going to apologize to Holly. Duncan had to bite his cheek to stop from laughing when she said, “Yous don’t smells like hims either. He smells woodsy. I loves his smell toos. That’s whats gots me first.”

  “Ye dinna like me smell?” Callam asked.

  By now Callam kenned Duncan was behind him.

  “You smell nice. Just not the yummyz smells that’s mys Duncan smells.”

  At the door to their chambers Duncan opened it and took Holly off Callam and shut the door behind his brother.

  “Duncan. Yous came. I’ma sorrys. You weres right. I didn’t know. I promises. I only likes you.”

  He helped her get undressed, gently placed her on the bed and kissed her forehead. “I ken, Holly. I’m sorry for the way I acted. I was jealous.”

  “Why. Yous have nothing to bes jealous about. I only wants you.”

  “I ken that now.” He took his own clothes off, got in bed and gathered her to him, holding Holly tight, and stroking her back. “I’ve never been like I am with ye with anybody else. I share everything with me brother, but I’ll nay share ye.”

  “Mmm. Good. I donts wanna bes shared. I just wants you. Yous makes me wants to stays, even though yous dad doesn’t likes mes.”

  He frowned and held her tighter to him. How could she still be thinking of going back to her time? They were married and perfect for each other. He didn’t care what his father thought anymore. Holly couldn’t leave him. He needed her. She made him happy.

  Chapter Eight

  The sunshine didn’t last long, only a few days. On the fifth day of her marriage, the rain pelted down, and the sky was dark and dreary again, a perfect complement to the way she felt. “Oh, God, I knew there was a reason I didn’t drink.”

  Duncan chuckled under her. “Does that mean ye’ll turn me down if I feel ye up and want to make love to ye?”

  “Ahhh, stop shouting.”

  “I’m not.” Duncan kissed her head. “I have to get up.” He moved out from under her, and the movement made her queasy. “Do ye want me to get someone to bring food up to ye?”

  “No. I can’t even think of food right now.”

  She felt his lips on her forehead. “I’ll make sure they have other things for ye to drink. Can I get ye anything before I go?”

  Holly opened her eyes a crack, only to be assaulted by the light shining through the window cloth. Slowly turning away from the brightness, she closed her eyes and moaned as her head felt like it was about to explode. Right now she wished she was back home in her own bed with cold water and aspirin.

  She sat up as she remembered she had aspirin in her satchel. “Fuck me. Shit that hurt.” Holly clutched her head at her quick rise.

  “Holly.”

  She cracked her eyes open and looked at Duncan, who stared at her as if she’d just said the worst words in the world. “Oh. I forgot ladies don’t say stuff like that in this century. She closed her eyes as the light made her headache worse. “Before you go, could you please bring my satchel over and some water for me to drink?”

  Opening one eye she saw Duncan shake his head and go to her satchel and bring it over to her. “There’s ye satchel. I’ll get ye water.”

  Pulling the satchel to her, she opened both her eyes and emptied the contents on the bed and cheered when the white packet stared back at her. Grabbing the unopened aspirin, she undid it and thanked God she’d thought to bring a new packet. Popping two pills, she clenched them in one hand and used her other to shove everything back in the bag.

  Staring down at her hand, Holly debated now if she should take the aspirin. A headache wasn’t anything big, and in this time they didn’t have any advanced medicines. Was she wasting resources she could use later? Was she ever going to get home? Did she even want to? Even though she’d only been here for a small time, it felt right. Holly sat unsure of everything until Duncan came in with a goblet.

  “I got ye water. Mother said she has a potion to cure ye.”

  “Thank you, but I’m not a fan of your mother’s magic.”

  Duncan winced. “She canna use her power. This is a mixture ye would drink.”

  “I have something, I’m going to take.” Holly showed him the pills. She put the pills in her mouth and took a big sip of water.

  “What did ye just take?”

  “It’s called aspirin. It cures aches and pains.” Duncan’s eyes widened, and he looked at her bag on the bed. “Surely ye jest?”

  “No. I’m not. In my time, we have a lot of different drugs to help different things. Aspirin is the most common. It can be bought easily.”

  “Those tiny things will cure your aches?”

  “It should do in about fifteen or so minutes. Then I’ll be able to get up and help.”

  Holly could see that Duncan really doubted her. She pulled her satchel closer, and took out her camera and iPod. “Duncan, come and see this. In my time technology has helped us. We produce medicine that can help with all sorts of problems.” Duncan didn’t move. He just stared at her. “Aren’t you curious about my things?”

  Duncan studied her for a while before he glanced down at her electronic devices and shrugged. “Aye, but if I focus on future things that I will never get to enjoy in me lifetime, then I’ll nay get things done in the here and now. I dinna want to see what amazing things ye have and worry more than I do that ye will try to find a way to get back to yer time so ye are with all these things again.”

  It wasn’t doubt that she’d seen, it was worry. Duncan worried she’d leave him because this time was so backward compared to what she was used to. Holly didn’t want to leave anymore. “I can’t go back to my time now. Who would teach me how to ride a horse?” Holly winked at Duncan.

  “Ye’ll stay just for the horse then? All right, when ye are ready, come and find me, and I’ll start to teach ye about the stallion.”
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br />   “Midnight. His name is Midnight.”

  Duncan grinned at her. “I’ll see ye later.” He pressed a kiss on her lips before he turned and walked away.

  Holly stared after him and sighed. He was so yummy, all muscles and fiery hair. His kilt didn’t make him look girlie, but manlier. His sword was strapped to him, and he looked like a fierce highland warrior on a romance novel. She was pretty lucky. How many women dreamed of what she had? Holly would bet a lot, even though she was in the sixteenth century and married. Holly wondered, if she went home would it mean she was still married? She should make the best of the time she had here. Magan had said she’d brought her with magic, but what if something went wrong and it sent her home?

  Lying back on the bed, she told herself not to worry, not to think about it all. Holly had no control over it. She’d gone a couple of days without thinking about everything she could do or try to get home. She had been happy for most of it.

  Feeling better, she sat up and this time her head didn’t feel like it was about to split open. Her stomach still didn’t feel a hundred percent, but it was better than when she woke.

  Slowly, Holly got out of bed and did her morning business then put the green gown on. This was one of the period dresses she could almost do up without help. Sitting on the bed, she brushed her hair then braided it, then stood to search for her shoes. She found one under the bed, but the other was nowhere to be seen. Frustrated, she went to her suitcase and put on her joggers she’d brought for exploring. She hadn’t worn them before as they were white and didn’t go with anything. Holly hoped the green dress was long enough to hide them. The shoes would draw attention.

  Dressed and ready, she left the room she shared with Duncan and had a quick look in the sitting room for her shoe, but couldn’t spot it there, either. Leaving the rooms, she walked down the stairs to see the dining hall pretty much empty. Not feeling like eating alone, she walked to the kitchen only to pause when she heard.

  “They’re fighting now. Looks like they’re about to kill each other.”

  “Aye. I saw them before I came in. Since she’s arrived, neither have gone down to see their leman. Bertha is nay happy.”

  The women cackled.

  “I think it’s good. Bertha might have to work now instead of spreading her legs for the two of them.”

  “I dinna ken if that will be the case. Duncan’s not sharing.”

  “Ahhh, how do ye ken? Those two share everything. The same leman, and the duties of being laird. ”

  “I saw and heard them fighting yesterday. He’s verra possessive of her. Although, I dinna blame him. She’s a bonny thing.”

  “Aye, she is. All the men seem taken with her. She’s trouble.”

  “Oh, Fiona, ye dinna ken her. She’s nice to everyone. I’ve nay heard her say anything nasty about anyone. I think we should give her a chance.”

  “Aye, Mary.”

  Nothing was said for a while, and Holly debated if she should go in. Her stomach made the decision for her. Straightening her back, she took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. As she entered, the four women stopped and stared at her.

  Clearing her suddenly dry throat, she pasted a smile on her face. “Sorry to bother you, but can I have a piece of bread? I’ve only just come down.”

  The big woman was the first to break the staring and smiled. “Of course, me Lady.” Holly recognized her voice as the one who had told them to give her chance. The woman went to the table and started making up a plate.

  “Um…I just want the bread, please. If you’re too busy, I can cut it myself.” Holly racked her brain for the name of the woman. She thought it was Mary, but she could be wrong.

  “Nay, I’m nay too busy for me mistress.”

  None of the other woman said anything, they still stared at her. Desperate to break the ice and feel needed, Holly went over to Mary and took over cutting the second slice. “Thank you. I’m sorry I can’t remember your name. I’ve learned so many the last couple of days. I think it is Mary. Am I right?”

  Mary nodded. “Yes, I’m Mary. That over there with the red curly hair is Edna. The one with blue eyes and brown hair is Fiona and the brown eyes and brown hair is Iris.”

  “Hello.” She took a bite of her bread as the three other women greeted her. “Can I help in here? This is different to my kitchen, but I’m sure I could do something to help. Me and my mother use to bake things together all the time.”

  Mary’s smile brightened, and she shook her head. “I’m sure ye have other things to do.”

  Holly was supposed to go meet Duncan for lessons about Midnight, but she thought she’d give him some time to get some work done first. Holly wished she had a job to do. She’d been there now for five days and hadn’t been given any job or told she had one. Magan had introduced her to everyone and told her about the castle, but she never said what Holly was supposed to do. “No, I don’t. I’d love to help if I can.”

  “Do ye ken how to make tarts?”

  “No. I’m a quick study though. Let me watch, and I’ll get it in no time.”

  “Iris, Lady Holly is going to watch and, when she is ready, help ye.”

  Iris’s eyes widened, but she nodded and moved slightly over making room for Holly.

  It took Holly only five minutes to understand what needed to be done. For the first twenty or so minutes the women worked in silence until Holly couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Are you all married?” That broke the ice, and they all spoke telling her about their husbands and children. All Mary’s children were married, and Holly was shocked to find her daughter, who was younger than Holly, was expecting her second child. Fiona and Iris each had boys in Duncan’s army, and two girls who were teens and helped look after other's children while they worked. Edna had two boys aged seven and eight, both training to be warriors.

  “That is very young to be training to be warriors. They are still babies,” Holly said, unable to get over the medieval ways to start training the children at such a young age. The women looked at her like she was strange.

  “It’s older than some other clans start them,” Edna said in a defensive tone.

  “Where I come from, they’re classed too young. Still babies. How can you let your babies become trained killers so young? It’s just barbaric.”

  “Things are done differently here. We dinna have the luxury ye seemed to have had.”

  Holly sighed when Edna stiffened and glared at her. Great, she’d offended her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Edna gave a stiff nod, but it wasn’t the same happy conversation as before.

  “Thank you for letting me help and telling me about your family. I hope I helped. I’m going to go find Magan now.” Holly wasn’t really going searching for Magan, she just needed to get away from the tension she’d created.

  “Thank ye for yer help. It was nice to talk to ye,” Mary said.

  Holly nodded and walked out of the kitchen, needing fresh air. It was raining, a light drizzle, but she didn’t care about the rain. She couldn’t stay in the castle. She started to wander and ended up at the training yard, where Magan and Robert stood watching a fierce battle. It took Holly a moment, but she saw the two men fighting were Duncan and Callam.

  “They are fighting in the rain.” She glanced quickly at Magan before turning back to watch Duncan wield the sword.

  “Aye. They have to learn to fight in rain, hail, or shine, because a battle does nay stop just because it’s raining, lass,” Robert said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Where I live, it doesn’t rain like it does almost every day here.” Holly couldn’t tear her gaze from Duncan and his muscular body in action. She imagined he looked like some avenging god from a movie, come to life in front of her.

  “The rain is good for ye,” Robert mumbled.

  “I know. We have droughts where I come from and water restriction because we get so little rainfall.” Holly watched as Callam went down
at Duncan’s push. Duncan thrust the sword close to Callam’s neck, but he rolled away just in time.

  “Who are they preparing to fight?” Holly didn’t look away from the scene before her.

  “They are practicing for when they do need to, so they are ready,” Robert said proudly as he watched his sons.

  “They have been fighting all morn,” Magan snapped. “Robert, I don’t think it’s a mock battle they’re preparing for. The fighting is real. I’m not even sure if they’re using the blunt practice swords.” Magan wrung her hands and glared at her boys.

  They didn’t look like blunt swords, but Holly didn’t know anything about swords. Holly watched Duncan and Callam more closely, and could see the anger and determination on both men’s faces. This was no mock training battle.

  Holly’s heart skipped a beat as Callam elbowed Duncan in the stomach and swung his sword toward his chest. Duncan blocked it in time and pushed Callam back. Cheering went up, and Holly noticed for the first time since she arrived at the training yard the yard was filled with, men, boys, and young ones.

  “I was told this would happen, but me boys are so close I dinna really believe it.” The worry in Magan’s voice had Holly turning to look at her. “I should nay have brought ye.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw what happened yesterday. I kenned Callam likes ye too. Robert warned me. Blair even told me.”

  Robert hugged her. “I dinna think they would try to kill each other. I still dinna think they will. They are both using their powers and are both evenly matched.”

  Groaning, Holly moved from the sidelines and walked to the two fighting men. Cupping her hands into a megaphone, she yelled, “Stop. Stop right now.” Neither stopped; instead, they seemed to fight harder. “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” she grumbled.

  As she got closer, arms came around her, lifting her and carrying her away from the battle. “What do ye think ye’re doing, woman? Have ye lost yer senses? Never go near battling men. That will get ye killed.”

  “They are going to kill each other.”