Savage Possession by Margaret Tanner

Author:Margaret Tanner [Tanner, Margaret]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-02-26T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The weeks passed and Alistair continued his intermittent visits. Beth could not understand why grandfather still hated Martin. The Campbells had suffered at the hands of Black Jack, but why should a son be condemned for the sins of his father?

As Alistair positioned boxes he had made for the birds, Martin strode up. “What are you pair up to?”

Beth watched Martin sweep off his hat and run his hand across his forehead. “Alistair helped me put up these little houses for the birds,” she explained.

“What!”

“The birds lost their nests in the storm. I didn’t want them to be homeless.”

“Homeless!” Martin rolled his eyes. “They’ll build their nests again.”

“I know it sounds silly.” She came up to him and rubbed her head against his arm. The heat of his body seared through her clothes, she inhaled his male scent, and if Alistair had not been with them, she would have reached up and kissed her handsome husband.

“You always were soft in the head,” Alistair jeered good-naturedly. “Every stray creature on the farm got adopted by Beth. I’m helping so she won’t reach up.”

“I’m glad you did,” Martin admitted gruffly. “I don’t think your sister realizes the need to take care of herself now, there’s the child to consider also.”

“Lots of women have babies and still help run their farms, so why can’t I?”

Martin gave an exasperated snort. “You’re my wife, not an impoverished farmer’s woman. You should have asked me about the boxes if they meant so much to you, I’d have got one of the men to make them.”

“Alistair brought them over, don’t be angry.” She drew away from him and took a couple of steps back.

“I’m not angry. I just don’t want you tiring yourself out. I suppose you’re responsible for the little containers of food scattered around the place?”

“Yes, I didn’t want the birds to go hungry.”

A smile lit up her face, and Martin felt a strange ache in the region of his heart. Beautiful to look at, yet compassion gave her an inner exquisite glow that troubled him. Had guilt for the way he had treated her, make him unable to utter the words, instinct told him she wanted to hear, while they made love each night? Or, did the thought that she only pitied him because of his hellish childhood, hold him back from baring his soul?

She filled the castle up with flowers. Hardly a room did not have a vase as she tried to turn his grim mausoleum into a home. How did he repay her efforts? By procrastinating about hiring workers to start the repairs.

“It’s cold, take your brother into the castle and get Mrs. Irvine to make you a hot drink. I’ll get someone to finish this off for you later.”

“I want to finish it now in case the rain comes again, the poor birds might get wet.”

Martin muffled a curse. “All right, where do you want them?”

Alistair had to climb up on the lower branches with the boxes. Martin’s height meant he could reach up and position them with ease.

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