The Laird's Future Bride by Hazel Gower Page B

ye.”
    Duncan glared at his brother before he entered. His mother stood by the fence wringing her hands. Duncan stopped at the sight of his tiny wife laughing and kissing the black stallion. The beast that everyone was afraid of seemed to be tamed by a tiny woman.
    “Well, what do ye ken. The beast has a thing for the lasses. I kenned there was something special in him.”
    Duncan grunted in response to his brother. He watched in amazement as his wife walked toward them, stroking the horse and talking to it. When she arrived at the gate, the stallion stood beside her acting like the placid beast they all knew he wasn’t.
    “Hello. Isn’t he stunning? What is his name? Whose is he?” Holly’s smile was bright as she looked at him.
    “He does nay have a name.” Duncan watched as her brows furrowed.
    “Why not?”
    “Because I have nay named him,” Callam said, coming forward.
    “Oh. That’s a shame. He is a beauty, and so gentle.”
    “Ha, ye are the only one he is gentle for. I have had him for well over a couple of sennights, and nay one can get close to the beast without almost getting killed.”
    Holly gasped and shook her head as his brother spoke. “No. Surely you are wrong. He’s been a big softy with me. Look at him, he won’t leave my side.”
    Callam shook his head. “Come out now, lass. I’ve promised Duncan I’d get rid of him on the morrow.”
    Holly ducked under the fence and came to him, stared up at him with her big brown eyes and Duncan knew he was a goner. Sighing, he tore his gaze from Holly’s to look at the horse whose eyes were on her. “Nay, Callam, he can stay.”
    A squeal resonated around him and Holly threw herself at him, hugging him fiercely. “Thank you.”
    Duncan wrapped his arms around Holly and turned to his brother, frowning to see him staring at Holly with the longing he’d seen last night clear on his face. After a while, Callam’s eyes met his.
    “Lady Holly, as a gift to welcome you to the family, I will give ye the black stallion. Ye seem to love him so much.”
    Duncan stared shocked at his brother for a moment, but that shock turned into jealousy as Holly let go of him and jumped on Callam. “Thank you. Thank you.” She kissed both sides of his cheeks before she got off him and turned to the horse. “Did you hear that, Midnight? You are mine,” Holly crooned to the horse, and Duncan turned a death stare at his brother who watched Holly with a smile on his face.
    His mother, who’d been quiet the whole time, spoke up, “I should have seen something like this happening. I was warned. I’m sorry, me boys.” She gathered up her skirts and walked away, leaving Duncan with Holly and Callam.

    Holly was so excited. A horse. She had just been given a gorgeous black horse. Maybe living in medieval times wouldn’t be so bad. She hugged Callam again, excited. She eased away from Callam, but he seemed reluctant to let her go. She couldn’t believe the day that she mourned her parents had turned out so well.
    “Get yer hands off me wife, now.” The deadly steel in Duncan’s voice had her pushing at Callam’s chest and backing away from him, scared at what Duncan would do.
    “I was just thanking him, Duncan. I’m sorry if I acted inappropriately. I’m just so happy. I fell in love with Midnight as soon as he let me stroke him. I’ve never had a horse before. I can’t wait to learn more about them. Will you teach me what you know?” Even with his eyes narrowed, his lips set in a thin straight line, and his muscular arms crossed over his chest, her heart did its usual flips at the sight of him as she studied him.
    Duncan looked down at her and ran his fingers through his braid. “Is it me ye want to teach ye?”
    “Of course. Who else?” Holly could feel the tension thick in the air. She felt like she’d missed something, or should know what Duncan meant. “If you don’t have the time, could you tell me who I could ask? Maybe Callam could?”
    Duncan