The Highlander's Woman (The Reckless Rockwoods #3) by Monica Burns Page B

Devin, but the scars she’d seen were a reality. She would never be the person she’d once been. Her scars would be her penitence. They would make her a monster to the children.
    Worst of all, she’d be pitied. It was no less than she deserved. She’d survive and two fathers had not. She had no children to leave without a parent to love them. Nausea rolled over her. How could she expect Julian or her family to look at her again without flinching? God how she wished they’d left her to die in the fire.
    “Do no’ ever let me hear you say something like that again,” Julian growled fiercely.
    Her eyes opened at his low rumble of anger, and she realized she’d spoken out loud. Patience met Julian’s gaze, which was dark with emotion. Pity? The thought was unbearable. She tried to pull her hand free of his, but he held fast to her fingers. The strength of his grasp made her heart ache while giving her the courage to do what was necessary.
    “Leave,” she whispered hoarsely. “I don’t want you here.”
    “I’m no’ going anywhere, Patience,” he said as he tightened his grip on her hand. “Everything will be all right.”
    “Liar.”
    The word was a soft condemnation, and Julian paled beneath her gaze. He was wrong. Nothing would ever be the same for her—or for him. Not only was she barren, she was now an object to be pitied. He was better off without her. Patience tugged at her hand, but Julian refused to let it go as a stubborn expression crossed his face. Angry that he refused to listen, she came up off her pillow to tugged viciously against his grip.
    “I don’t want you here,” she cried out. The movement of her mouth tugged at the burns on her cheek, and a scream of pain escaped her.
    Tears blurred her vision as the room erupted in a rush of sound. Her heart shattered as Julian did as she’d ordered and released her hand. Exhausted, Patience closed her eyes, barely hearing Julian’s harsh whisper as he argued with her aunt and Doctor Branson. Another voice joined the others, and she recognized Sebastian’s calm presence. Her brother would take care of everything. Sebastian always brought order to chaos. He would convince Julian to leave. The thought made Patience’s heart constrict painfully in her chest. She wanted to take back her words, but knew she couldn’t. It was the last thing she remembered as she slipped back into the depths from which she’d come.
     

Chapter 6
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    “S he’s my wife . She belongs with me,” Julian exclaimed out with angry frustration.
    “And she’s my sister ,” Sebastian said with an implacable coldness and stubbornness reminiscent of Patience’s temperament. “I’m abiding by her wishes. Patience has made it clear she wants to remain here at Melton House.”
    “For how long? It's been six months since the fire. She’s refused to see me since the day she—since the day she first woke up.”
    “I’m sorry, Julian,” Sebastian said with a disgusted shake of his head. “Our coaxing her to change her mind only seems to make her all the more adamant in her refusal to see reason.”
    “Aye, tis no’ a surprise,” he bit out. “She’s always been stubborn, but no more than I. If I thought it would help matters, I’d simply drag her out of the house and take her to Crianlarich.”
    “I am glad to hear ye have no’ intention of doing something as foolish as that.”
    Matilda Stewart eyed him with disapproval from her seat on the couch. Julian met the Scotswoman’s gaze and grimaced as her condemnation dissolved into sympathy. He didn’t want anyone’s commiseration. He wanted Patience to come home.
    “Staying locked up in her room isn’t healthy,” Julian ground out.
    “Don’t you think we know that?” His brother-in-law eyed him with irritation. “Aunt Matilda is the only one allowed in her room on a regular basis. She’s convinced herself she’s a monster people will run from.”
    “Bloody hell,” Julian muttered with frustration.