A Perfect Wife [Highland Menage 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (19 page)

“Remember when Kiera came to Castle Leod from the sheiling?”

“Aye.”

Colin waited, still confused. MacKenzie sighed. It was the lad’s first time so he’d explain it to him.

“Did the wee lassie nay tell ye she’s carryin’ yer babe?” Colin gaped, his eyes wide. “By the look on yer face, the answer would be nay. Silean, Kiera, and Barbara will have babes within a few months of each other.” He snorted a laugh. “A babe of my own and two grandbabes, all at once.”

Colin glared. “We willna live at Castle Leod. Barbara and Silean would not share well.”

“Ye are right on that!” He shuddered at the thought.

“Father, you told me Barbara was a quiet, modest lass. You lied.”

He grinned at yet another of his plans working out so well.

“Aye, laddie, I did. Ye thought an empty-headed lassie was what ye wanted, but one like Silean would bore ye. ’Tis why ye and Kiera get along well. Barbara is also a lass with spirit. She’ll suit ye, aye, and keep ye fightin’ and makin’ up.”

“Barbara and I will be staying here at Redcastle with Roderick.”

MacKenzie went to the sideboard for a dram of whiskey from the cask he’d brought. He raised an eyebrow in a silent question. He filled a second glass at the answering nod. He picked up both in his hands and walked to his youngest son.

“Redcastle has always been yers, Colin. Roddy was holding it for ye.” He held out a glass. “As my heir ye are the laird of all MacKenzie land. When I die at ninety in a battle ye’ll be the eleventh Lord of Kintail. Best get a few whelps under your belt afore that.”

He toasted Colin and both drank. It burned like acid all the way down, hit his belly like a brand, and almost bounced up again. He inhaled cool air, hissing between his teeth..

“Jesu! That has a bite!”

Both of Colin’s eyes streamed. He wiped them, coughing and choking. “Aye, ’twill be better in twenty years or more. Did ye grab the wrong cask when ye ran out the door, Father?”

He shuddered. “Mayhaps ’twould be best to keep that one for pouring on wounds.”

“Or serving to fathers who visit with a garrison of troops armed to the teeth?”

“Ye ken why I brought the men, aye?”

“Ye wished to catch Ross of Balnagowan,” said Colin.

“Aye, but ’twas too late for that.” He scowled. “Wish I’d seen Malcolm MacDougal snapping those whips. Ross will have matching holes on his cheeks ’til he molders in his grave. King James isna pleased. Ross may soon end up as his guest, locked in a lonely tower.”

“It canna be too soon for me,” replied Colin with a growl. “He kidnapped my wee sister and kept her in a cave overnight!”

“Aye, and the damned cheater outfits his reivers in coats of mail!” MacKenzie looked at the whiskey, wondering if he dared another dram.

“Do ye wish me to find ye a whiskey ye can drink without turning the last of yer hair white?”

He ruefully brushed his hand over his head. Marrying a young woman made him think more about his appearance. Silean said she was quite happy marring him rather than remaining at her father’s home as a useless widow. They got along well enough, and now that he’d got rid of that harpy aunt of hers, they’d do even better. Her stomach better be settled by the time he made it back to Castle Leod as he intended to have his bed slamming against the wall again.

“Whiskey, Father?”

He jerked his lewd thoughts back to the room. “Aye, and thank ye.” He watched curiously as Colin opened a hidden panel. “Are ye hiding it from yer men, or yer wife?”

“Mayhaps a bit of both, admitted Colin as he poured. “Barbara’s been known to take a dram of whiskey.”

“And does it make her frisky?”

Colin grinned as they toasted each other. “Aye. Mayhaps that’s why she’s carrying my babe already.”

This whiskey went down far easier. He exhaled, nodding his approval. A touch of spirits could make a woman relax. Neither of them had thought Silean would get with child. Then she’d drunk half his dram of whiskey, dropped to her knees, and took him in her mouth. It made him feel like he was a lad of sixteen, and he’d performed as such. He was sure she’d give him another son. She later, blushing, told him Lady Alana Sinclair, wife to Cormac and James MacDougal, had suggested it.

“I wrote a letter to King James about the MacDougals,” said MacKenzie after Colin refilled the glasses. “One about their laird.”

“Aye, why?” Colin tilted his head, narrowing his eyes.

MacKenzie pretended innocence. “I said what good men they were and how Somerled has done much to make up for his father.”

“And?” demanded Colin.

“And I may have suggested Laird MacDougal be rewarded with a wee wife.”

“You did what?” Colin’s one eye had enough ire to skewer a man.

“I suggested the king might wish to dispose of one of his extra wards by presenting her to Somerled and Niall. Ye ken they never leave Duncladach so willna’ find their own wife.”

“Och, Father, what trouble are ye stirring up now?”

He toasted Colin, grinning over the potent brew.

“Would the Lord of Kintail stir up trouble?” he asked innocently.

THE END

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Early jobs cleaning cages for a veterinarian, scrubbing floors in a hospital, and working as a waitress helped Reece Butler realize she was more of a thinker than a doer. An office keyboard kept her occupied for many years while her family grew. Once she discovered the romance genre it was a short step to reading erotic romance. And, since she has an active imagination and is fascinated with people, she began writing…

She now spends most of her time writing, reading, researching, editing, plotting, creating characters…and eating dark chocolate.

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