Page 13 of Intrigued By A Highlander

“Leave her be, Seth. She needed a break,” Hennie said, defending Birdie.

“Mind your business, Hennie, or you’ll feel my hand and not in a pleasing way,” Seth said.

Hennie scrunched her face in disgust. “Like I’d ever want to.”

Seth smacked Hennie in the back of the head. Watch your tongue with me, woman. And you—” He turned to his wife and twisted her arm until she cried out. “I’ll break it if you don’t get back to work.”

Dru couldn’t hold her tongue. “That wouldn’t be wise, then she wouldn’t be able to work.”

“She’s got another hand, and it doesn’t concern you,” Seth threatened.

Dru was about to say more but Hennie shook her head, so Dru held her tongue, though barely.

“And what are you wishing for, Birdie?” Seth demanded. “You have no reason to complain or wish for anything. I am a generous husband. You should be grateful.”

Birdie paled and worry sparked in Hennie’s eyes.

It didn’t take much to realize that Birdie would suffer if her husband found out what they had been discussing.

“Tell me,” Seth demanded, clinching his hand as if getting ready to use it.

Dru couldn’t let that happen. “You heard her wrong, you fool. She was talking to me, saying, “‘You wish you had one.’”

Seth looked puzzled and scratched his head. “Had what?”

“A good husband like you.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I almost gagged. She must be daft thinking you’re a good husband. You stink and you’re fat.”

Hennie squeezed her lips together, fighting back laughter and Birdie shot her a grateful look.

“You don’t disrespect a man that way,” Seth warned, his voice low with menace.

Dru let out a deliberate chuckle. “If there was a man present, I’d agree with you.”

Seth lunged across the table, but she was quicker, slipping out of his reach with ease.

Dru couldn’t just let it go and scurry away. Instead, she grinned. “You missed, which proves me right. You’re nothing more than a load of lard.”

Seth’s cheeks didn’t only burn red, his whole face did, and his eyes ignited in rage. “You need what most women need… a good beating.”

She wiggled her fingers at him. “Come on, load of lard, try and catch me.”

She turned and bolted, laughter on her lips. Until something hard struck her, knocking her off her feet. The ground came up hard and fast, stealing breath from her lungs.

Before she could scramble up, a beefy hand clamped around her arm and wrenched her upright. Seth’s other hand was already swinging for her face.

Dru ducked.

His fist caught his jaw, and he stumbled,

His grip loosened, and she wasted no time. She tore free and ran.

Dru darted through the village, weaving between carts and startled villagers, the sound of Seth’s thudding footsteps pounding behind her.

“Get back here, you little rat!” he bellowed.

“Why?” she called over her shoulder, grinning. “You’ll only miss again.”

A curse flew from his lips, but he was too busy dodging a flock of squawking hens to respond. Dru laughed and kept running.

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