Leith (Mountain Men 1)

“Aye,” he says, then he chuckles. “See, you’re doing it even now.”

“Doing what?”

“Being all fucking humble. It’s how I got over myself.” He sighs. “I realized you weren’t in it for the power or prestige. I suppose I reckoned you would be, with so many of us looking up to you as our leader. But I see now that isn’t it for you.”

I move the split logs to the pile and place another one on the chopping block. “Mac, I do what I have to for my family. If I could, I’d shrug this all off, let someone else lead.” I sigh. “But that’s not my choice.”

“No, Leith, it isn’t. And I know that now.”

He stands and smiles, stretching. “I want you to know you’re not alone. Tate and I’ve been talking, we think you make a cracking good Captain.” He scowls, though briefly. “Better than Dad ever was.”

He meets my eyes. “And I promise you, I’m going to make this work.”

I nod. “I know you will. We’re family, Mac. None of us does this alone.”

And from that day on, we’re on each other’s sides, as we should’ve been from day one. No man is a fucking island. We need each other.

One day, Cairstina comes back from Gran’s to find me lying on the sofa, finishing the first in the romance book series she and the other girls go on about.

“You didn’t,” she says with a smile. Though she still texts or writes from time to time, she’s becoming more comfortable with speech. She chooses her words carefully, though.

I fold the book and place it on the little end table. “Och, aye. I did.”

She giggles. I love that sound, almost as much as I love the sound of her voice, but not quite as much as I love the sounds she makes when we make love.

“Not so sure I think real men behave like that,” I say with a frown. “But it was a fun read.”

She giggles again.

“Leith, do you mind if I go into town with your sisters? The next in the series is out tomorrow, and we were hoping to get it.”

“Can’t you read the e-book version?” I ask with a frown. I don’t like them going into town. Though we haven’t had a word from the Aitkens, I don’t trust them. Rumor has it their mother took a stroke, and her recovery’s been difficult. So just because they haven’t done anything recently doesn’t mean they’re not biding their time.

“We could,” she says with a wink. “But… well, we’re hoping we can somehow spy the author.”

“Spy the author?”

“Aye,” she says. “We fancy she may keep herself hidden but there’s a good chance she’ll stop by. And we’re determined to find out who it is.”

I frown at her. “And who’s going with you?”

“Islan, Paisley, yer mum, Fran.”

“When?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

I mull it over. “Fine, as long as I go with you.”

She winces. “Sorry, but that’ll be awkward.”

I chuckle. She’s adorable. “Right, then, I’ll bring you to the bookstore, leave you with a bloody guard, then pay a visit to Father MacGowen until you’re done.”

She nods. “Deal.”

MacGowen’s taken easily to his guard, and it puts me at ease knowing our Clan Chaplain is safe.

“Oh, good news,” Cairstina says, sashaying past me. Her voracious appetite’s padded her beautiful curves. I fucking love it.

“Oh?”

“Yup. Paisley passed all her exams.”

“Excellent.”

She smiles. “She’s very appreciative you finally said she could travel.”

“Aye, on one condition,” I tell her firmly. “Same as the last.”

“What’s that?”

“I told her you and I come with her.”

Cairstina gasps. “We will?”

“Aye. I’ve got every detail already sorted.”

Her arms come around my neck and she gives me a firm squeeze.

“Thank you,” she whispers in my ear, and I know she isn’t just thanking me for this. “Thank you.”

I kiss her cheek and hold her to me. “Cairstina, I’m the one that ought to be thanking you.”

She smiles, snuggling into me like she belongs here.

“Before you came, I was so miserable. I was mourning the loss of Tavish, and convinced I’d never measure up to him.”

She lays her hand flat on my chest. “Och, I know it, Leith.”

I hold her to me and continue my confession. It feels so good to say it.

“I never thought I could be the man my father wanted, the leader my family needed. Until you.”

She shakes her head. “Wasn’t I who taught you that, handsome. ’Twas you.”

I smile, running my hand along the back of her head. Listening to the gentle sound of her breathing.

“Aye,” I finally admit with a sigh. “Sometimes, it has to be.”

She nods in agreement. “I wanted to please my mum. She wasn’t anyone who was even worthy of my attention, much less my eagerness for her approval. I wanted someone to validate who I was.”

“God, you know I understand that.”

She sighs. “Aye. Even when she was mean, even when she hurt me, I still craved the knowledge that she was proud, that I made her happy.”