Black Richard's Heart (The MacCulloughs #1) - Suzan Tisdale Page 0,111

power to avoid spending any amount of time with her, save for their marital bed. There, she was uninhibited and free spirited and she held nothing back. Could it be that she was just as free-spirited elsewhere?

He knew the answer. His wife was as honest as the day was long. Deep in his heart, he knew he could trust her, could put his faith in her. She’d never betray him or his family.

Raking a hand through his hair, he continued his pacing, his mind and heart in a fierce battle for control. Never in his life had he been so consumed with doubt over anything. Always self-assured and in complete control of his faculties.

That was until he laid eyes upon Aeschene for the first time. ’Twas as if everything he knew, everything he believed in had suddenly flown away, deserting him in his hour of need.

Grogginess began to settle in. Giving up his pursuit for solid answers, he rolled out his pallet and settled in for another fitful night of sleep.

Richard was out of doors as soon as the sun crept up over the horizon. The rain from the night before still clung to everything. A slow steady drip of rainwater fell from the corners of the keep, splashing in the puddles. Out of doors smelled fresh, damp, and clean.

Up to his ankles in mud, he knew ‘twould be too dangerous to work in the quarry this day and too muddy to work in the fields. With few choices and too much pent-up energy, he decided to chop wood. When that task was done, he fixed the broken door on the chicken coop, oiled the pulley on the well, and even helped their stable master clean a few stalls.

What normally would have made him exhausted seemed to instead, invigorate him. For those few hours of hard work, he didn’t have time to feel like a louse.

It had been days since he had seen Aeschene. Just as many days since his brothers had uttered even a good day to him. Even Rory and Lachlan had been giving him the cold shoulder. They had left yesterday morning without so much as a by-your-leave.

Everyone was giving him a wide berth. ’Twas readily apparent their loyalties lie with Aeschene.

How many times had his father warned him about his strong-mindedness? Yer stubborn head is goin’ to be the death of ye someday.

Begrudgingly he was left to admit his father had been right. ’Twas his own foolish, stubborn pride that had placed him right where he was; alone and miserable.

The sun now hung high overhead in a pale blue sky dotted with white, billowy clouds. Birds flew lazily overhead and he could hear cattle lowing from the glen.

Were it any other time in his life, he might have smiled at the sights and sounds.

He was tired of the silent treatment.

He was tired of being treated like a leper inside his own keep.

And he was damned bloody tired of sleeping alone, whether it be the floor of his study or his bed. He wanted to see his wife smile again, to hold her tightly, to feel her breath upon his skin. He wanted her back.

Wiping the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his tunic, he made his mind up then and there to put a stop to the madness.

Even if it meant begging his wife for forgiveness.

Richard was heading toward the keep when he heard a shout come from the wall. “Laird! Rory and Lachlan are comin’,” his guard called down to him.

They had left yesterday, with only a few sillars to their names. Richard knew it was too much to hope that they had managed to procure at least a small amount of salt for Hattie. Mayhap if they had, it might lighten her mood and spread to the rest of his family.

Rounding the corner, he came to an abrupt halt.

Lachlan was driving a wagon that appeared to be laden with supplies. Behind him, Rory was riding his gray gelding, with Lachlan’s mount cantering behind him. Both men were smiling at him.

Lachlan pulled the wagon to a stop and jumped from the wagon. After greeting Richard, he began pulling a heavy tarpaulin away to reveal the contents of the wagon.

Richard let out a low whistle. “Who on earth did ye kill?” He asked in wide eyed amazement. “We do not steal, but if it was a Chisolm …” he let his words trail off as he eyed the contents with a good measure of