Page 62 of Highland Guard
“Did you tell the chieftain? He usually can find a thatcher to help?”
“Aye, I thought on it, but I dinnae want to disturb him, what with his wife and bairns at home.”
Kieran looked about the cottage for the lad but noticed he was not home. “Where is Timothy?”
“He is with friends this eve, tis just me at home, alone.”
Kieran frowned; this was the fourth time in two days that Clara had called him over to repair something in her cottage when her son was not around. Usually, once he was done, she would insist he stay for a meal. As he thought about what Rory said, and the way Naomi reacted earlier, he realized he was spending more time with Clara and hardly any time with his wife. Clara was creating reasons to keep him in her cottage longer.
“Please, I’ll make ye supper afterward and you can warm yourself by the fire,” she said.
“Clara, I’ll look at the roof, but then I need to go home. My wife will expect me for the evening meal.”
Kieran noticed Clara pursed her lips into a pout, then gave him a smile that did not quite reach her eyes. “Aye, of course. We would nae want your wife to spend the eve alone.”
He could’ve sworn her words had a biting edge to them. Kieran suddenly wanted to get the roof repaired and get home to Naomi.
***
NAOMI SPENT THE AFTERNOONpacking her things to prepare for her departure. But as she packed and thought about everything that had happened with Kieran, she became increasingly angry. No, livid. She began fuming. She wanted to go over to Clara’s cottage and beat the hell out of them both. Naomi was going to leave without saying goodbye but decided that was a coward’s way out. She was going to leaveaftershe spoke her mind and told Kieran why he was an ass. So, she waited for him.
The only problem was it was now two hours later, and Kieran still had not returned. Naomi was fuming and pacing the length of their bedroom. She did not bother cooking him anything because what was the point? He was living with another woman, enjoying her hugs and eating her food. Naomi cringed and did not even want to think about whether he was still faithful to her. Fool that she was to fall in love with a stupid man.
That thought enraged her even more. But Naomi reminded herself that she was a reasonable and calm Christian woman. After all, she was raised in an abbey and taught to temper her emotions. Naomi would speak to her husband calmy and peacefully like a good Christian wife should.
***
THE ROOF TOOK LONGERthan he had hoped, but once repaired, Kieran declined Clara’s invitation to supper. When she lunged for him and tried to kiss him, Kieran cursed his stupidity once more. He pushed Clara away and they exchanged heated words.
Kieran clarified he did not want to pursue any relationship with Clara, except regarding Timothy. He made it clear that he loved his wife, and she should ask the clan council for help in the future.
When Kieran returned to his cottage, the candles were lit and a warm fire going in the main room. He took that as a good sign that at least his wife was home. He quickly changed out of his muddy clothes and washed his hands. All the while calling out to Naomi. When she had not appeared, he made his way to the bedroom and instantly felt the ice-cold temperature hit him. He noticed her bags packed and realized something was very wrong.
Naomi was glaring at him, and Kieran had never seen her that angry before.
“Love? Are you all right?” he asked warily.
Naomi inhaled deeply and kept reminding herself she was a good, calm woman in control of her emotions. She exhaled then replied, “No, I am not all right, MacKenzie, because I am furious!” she screamed.
Then she picked up an empty pitcher and flung it at his head. Kieran caught it and placed it on the floor then dodged the hairbrush hurling towards his face. Naomi began picking up anything she could get her hands on and kept throwing it at him, shouting at the top of her lungs how he was an unfaithful wretch, and how could he humiliate her in front of his entire clan. She was ranting about how he should move into Clara’s cottage because she was leaving him.
“Love, calm down. Tis not like that, I was merely helping the woman and the lad but I—”
“I do not care what you were doing. You can go to the devil, Kieran MacKenzie, and rot in hell!” she yelled. Then launched a full-frontal attack. Naomi ran at him, and Kieran had just enough time to brace when she winded him with a shoulder charge to the ribs.
“Ouch! For fuck’s sake, wife. Calm down so we can talk about this. Ow!” he bellowed when she slammed her fist into his rib. Then began pounding on his chest with her fists. Shouting at him and trying to knee him in the groin.
“Holy hell, woman! Stop it before you hurt yourself, violent wench.” Kieran was now grappling with her to protect his manhood and the ability to sire children in the future. He was also afraid Naomi would hurt herself because he was build like a stone quarry against her tiny fists.
Eventually, he held Naomi still in his arms as he kept begging for her to calm down and listen to him. Something about the soothing way he spoke pierced Naomi’s temper and all the fight left her.
Kieran was now sitting on the bed, and Naomi was folded into his lap. He still held her wrists to prevent her from punching him again as he cradled her against his chest, kissing her forehead and murmuring, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Repeatedly.
Soon, Naomi’s anger turned to sadness, and she cried, letting the tears stream down her face. That was what broke Kieran completely, and he wanted to kick his own arse for being a daft prick.
“Naomi?” his voice was gentle now. “Why are you weeping, love?”
“Tis nothing I um... I think tis snowing.”
