pox.
Understanding dawned in Braxton’s eyes. “I can do that for ye. I’ll also have ye horse ready to depart within the next half hour.”
“Thank ye, Braxton. You’re a good man.” One of the best, in fact. It was no surprise why Aedan Macleod had allowed the man to marry his sister.
It didn’t take Ben long to put the few articles he’d traveled with together into a sack. Going about the room and checking he had everything that he needed for the journey home; he doubted a cart would be required, after all. He left the room and strode down the hall, slowing his steps as he passed Kenzie’s quarters. No feminine chatter came from behind the door and he wondered if she were in there, reading or looking out over the estate’s lands. Was she lying on her bed, dreaming of him…?
He cursed himself as a damn fool for acting like a green lad. It was not like he’d never met a lass before who’d made the blood in his veins burn. So soon after the death of his wife, he didn’t need to become embroiled with some meddling woman from the future who had a tongue as sharp as his blade. There were a few lasses at his own estate that would scratch the itch that annoyed him daily. He would seek them out as soon as he returned home.
Another lie. He would do no such thing.
But first he had to deal with his deceased wife’s clan and make perfectly clear that they had better keep off his lands unless he was present. Ben could understand that after the death of Aline they harbored anger and resentment toward him, but he could not allow them to take what was his.
Chapter 8
At dinner, Kenzie sat stunned as Braxton told both her and Gwen of Ben’s departure that afternoon. She’d been sitting in her room, trepidation making the book she’d held in her hands shake when she’d heard Ben stride down the hall. It must have been the time that he was going. That he was leaving to return to Castle Ross had not been what she’d expected to hear. A small part of her had hoped he’d stride into her room and quench the thirst she had for him. After what had happened in the library, she thought he might take charge, burst into her room, and seduce her.
Apparently not.
It was an odd reaction to have since Kenzie had never liked overbearing men. Maybe it was because she’d inherited a Scottish estate and had taken over the running and care of it when she was of age. She’d been brought up to be independent and often did what needed to be done herself. She had never relied on any others for support. Of course, she had been happy if it was offered, but it had not been needed, necessarily.
So, to want Ben to take charge of her body, throw her onto her bed, play her like a fine instrument until she sang, wasn’t the norm.
“Why did you not try and stop him? Aedan and Abby will be here later today. And now there is no point in bringing them all this way.” A small frown line marred Gwen’s brow and it was a frustration and disappointment Kenzie understood.
“You wanted me to keep Black Ben, one of the most fearsome Scots this side of Edinburgh here against his will? I dinna have a death wish, wife.”
Gwen huffed out an annoyed breath. “I thought he was bringing his son here.”
“Yes, well I suppose he wished to return home to ensure that not only was his son well, but also that Castle Ross does not come into jeopardy by Clan Grant. You know they never approved of Aline marrying him, and they’re seeking out justified revenge, in their opinion if I know anything about them.”
Kenzie hadn’t thought it was as bad as all that, but perhaps she was allowing her twenty-first-century mind not to rationalize too much and not see just how hard and dangerous this time was for others.
“Do you think Clan Grant will strike at Ben?” Knowing that in only three months Ben would be killed, Kenzie couldn’t help but think that this was perhaps the start of the Black Ben mystery that historians had wondered about. Clan Grant held a grudge, so it could be that laird who had a price on Ben’s head.
“I have to follow him, Gwen. You know why.” Kenzie didn’t want to say any more as