Page 72 of Highland Warrior

“Leave me alone,” he said to Kieran.

“Why aren't you by your wife's bedside?”

“She’s lying in that bed because of me. My life choices almost got her killed. I cannot bear to see the blame in her eyes. Liosa was plotting to kill her, and I did nothing about it.”

“Because you did not ken it. But right now, you have a bonnie wife calling for you and you’re failing her by making one poor decision after another.”

“But I have failed her already.”

“Och horse shit! You stupid prick. You’ve got your head so far up your arse you cannot see she needs you more than ever now.”

“She does not need me. I will only drag her down.”

“For fuck’s sake! Stop ya blathering,” Kieran growled. “If you dinnae see her soon, you’re going to lose her forever because she will think you dinnae love her anymore.”

Iain’s head shot up. “But I love her more than my own life.”

“Well, you’re acting like a man who doesna ken what love is. To be honest, I think it’ll serve you right if she leaves your worthlessbahookieand marries someone else. Perhaps that pretty Norseman. What’s his name again? Torstein. That’s him. They will make bonnie bairns together—”

“Get out of my way!” Iain shouted as he stood up and pushed Kieran aside. “Over my dead body will she be making bairns with that pretty, angel faced maggot!”

Iain raced outside.

“Iain!” Kieran yelled.

“Dinnae stop me. I am going to see my wife.”

“Aye. But you’re going the wrong way. The Keep is that way.” Kieran pointed in the opposite direction.

Iain looked around and realized he was correct. He changed course and said, “I ken it.”

Kieran just shook his head and muttered, “Just dinnae end up in Rome.”

***

Henderson Keep

There was a knock at the door. Yesenda sat up and in walked Iain with some wildflowers. She drank in the sight of him, but then lowered her head, seeing that he had a resigned expression on his face.

He paused for the longest time, just gazing at her. His heartbeat faster and all he could see was her.

“Can I speak to you, love?”

She shrugged her shoulders. She knew what was coming. Iain was going to tell her he was leaving and that he blamed her for Liosa’s death. Yesenda braced for the news and took deep calming breaths and then stared out the window. She could hear the shuffling of feet as he pulled up a chair closer to the bed.

Iain placed the flowers on the bed. He cleared his throat, and for a moment, he was just stunned. He could not stop gazing at his wife. She was the loveliest woman he’d ever seen. In that moment, his doubts melted away.

“Yesenda. Please look at me.”

She turned her head, and he saw a sheen of moisture glistening in her eyes. Iain mentally kicked his own ass for causing her distress.

When a solitary tear slid down her cheek, Ian reached out and wiped it with his thumb, then whispered, “Please dinnae crymo leannan. I am sorry. I am so sorry.”

Yesenda braced, waiting for him to deliver the blow.

“What are you sorry about, Iain?” she asked.

“I am sorry that I did not visit you earlier. I am sorry for so many things. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to tell you.”

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