Highland Chieftain Read Free Page B

she murmured and Magnus nodded, breaking her heart. “And Liam and Georgie and Gavin.” He nodded again, still watching her closely. “Are they all waiting inside?”
    â€œAye, and being verra quiet. Quiet is good now.” He bit his lip. “Some food would be as weel, I think.”
    Bethoc nodded. “I think ye are right. I had nay realized it had grown so late. Come along then,” she said as she took him by the hand. “I had best get on with it.”
    He smiled briefly and nodded his agreement. Her father’s tempers settled some when his belly was full. The moment she stepped into the cottage she felt his glare on her but ignored it as well as she could while she let go of Magnus and removed Margaret from the sling. She set her bag over by her bed, handed Margaret over to Bean, and turned her attention to the making of a stew.
    When he stood up, she tensed but fought to keep all of her attention on the preparations of the meal. The man she still called Father was not tall, barely six inches above her own meager height of five foot two and he had gone soft. It could be seen in his expanding belly. Yet he was more than strong enough to do her harm. She had not fully recovered from his last show of temper.
    â€œWhere have ye been, lass?” he demanded.
    â€œI was just on a walk, getting some fresh air,” she replied.
    â€œWent to see a mon, did ye?”
    â€œNay. I have seen no mon. Just walked. Checked a few bushes for signs of berries but ’tis too early yet. May put some net over a few to keep the birds away so there will be some ripe ones to harvest.” The spoon she held flew from her hand when her father suddenly grabbed her and jerked her around to face him.
    â€œWho is he? Who is the mon ye met?”
    This was not good, she thought as she struggled to hide the fear threatening to swamp her. He was furious. She knew he had no idea where she had been or with whom so she did not understand his insistence that she had been meeting with a man. How could she argue with a suspicion he had simply plucked from the air? Bethoc was about to reply when he slapped her. She placed her hand over the spot and stared at him, not sure what to do or say to escape his fury.
    â€œI met no mon, Father. I ken no mon save for the few ye have brought home now and then.”
    â€œTell me who he is!”
    â€œFather, I . . .”
    He struck her again and she fell to her knees, dazed. She knew she needed to get up, that she was helpless, yet could not hold that thought in her head long enough to act on it. That last blow had come too close to sending her into unconsciousness. Then he kicked her and she cried out in pain. Before he could kick her again, she was suddenly surrounded by dirty feet. Blinking to clear her vision, she saw that the boys had surrounded her and she feared for them.
    â€œGet out of my way, brats,” their father growled. “She has been out with a mon. Rutting like a whore just like her mam.”
    Bethoc made a noise, a denial she hastily smothered as she struggled to sit up.
    â€œWith Margaret along?” asked Bean. “Ye think she could be rutting with a mon with a bairn strapped to her back?”
    Bean’s words appeared to stun her father as much as they did Bethoc. Not only was Bean ridiculing the man’s opinion but he did so in a tone that made it no secret. Fear for him gave her the strength to struggle to her feet.
    â€œYe watch how ye speak to me, boy.”
    â€œWe need her to make the food,” said Colin, and there was only a hint of scorn in his voice. “She needs to get back to cooking.”
    Her father grunted but his gaze was narrowed as he studied the boys. She had the feeling he was suddenly thinking too much on how they were growing. Both Bean and Colin would soon tower over him and they were visibly stronger. Bethoc accepted the sad fact that she was going to have to try to plot a safe escape for