"You're a healthy, strong woman. I'm certain you will be able to birth many bairns." He prayed she could, for he wanted no one else to be the mother of his children. He'd been imagining her as his wife for months. He'd even wondered what their children might look like. Would they have a son with flaming red hair, or chestnut brown like his? 'Haps several with each. Lasses, too. He'd imagined them living a long, happy life at Munrick.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Jessie asked.

"'Tis me, Mariana, m'lady. I had a question about supper."

"I'll be right out."

"We'll continue this discussion later," Torrin said in a hushed tone so the maid wouldn't hear.

"'Haps." Jessie gave him a warning look, but he wanted naught more than to kiss her and carry her to that bed and prove to her she was not barren. But this was a tricky situation he'd never imagined before.

What if she truly was barren? Would he marry her anyway and give up the chance of producing an heir?

Chapter Seven

Torrin stood on the castle's battlements overlooking the sea, his mind consumed by what he'd learned earlier. The bleak sky with the low-hanging gray clouds and cool, damp air that followed the storm didn't help his mood. He glanced aside when Iain came up the steps.

"What's wrong with you?" his friend asked.

Torrin was unsure if he wanted to reveal how he felt at the moment.

"Your frown tells me the lass is proving impossible to seduce." Iain grinned.

"She is a wee bit stubborn, but so am I."

"'Tis true. Once you set your mind to something, you never give up until you have it."

Torrin nodded, for he meant to have her. "I'll tell you something if you promise not to tell her or anyone about it."

Iain sobered and leaned an arm against the shoulder-high merlon of the stone battlements. "Of course. When have I ever been a gossip?"

Torrin drew in a deep breath of the cool salt air. "She thinks she is barren and refuses to marry me because she knows I need an heir."

"Damnation," Iain muttered, frowning. "She thinks this because of the trial marriage to MacBain?"

"Aye. They were intimate for three months and no bairn resulted, so MacBain abandoned her for someone else."

"What if 'tis true? You cannot deny that you need an heir."

"Indeed. The clan elders may have my head if I knowingly marry a barren lady. But at the moment, I want her more than an heir."

"Saints! You've gone and fallen in love with her, as I feared." Iain gave an amused smirk.

Torrin shrugged, but deep down he was certain his friend was right. "I know not. I have never felt this way before."

"I have," Iain admitted, though he did not appear comfortable doing so.

"You? In love?"

"Aye, she was a lovely lady, but she loved someone else and went off to marry him instead. End of story." Iain shrugged.

"When was this?"

"Years ago. It amounts to naught now. I've almost forgotten her, but at the time, 'twas hellishly hard to give her up."

"I'm surprised you've never told me about this before. We've known each other since we were lads."

"Aye, but there were times we didn't see each other for many months at a time. Besides, 'tis not something a man likes to talk about."

"You're right." Torrin sucked in a deep breath of the fresh air, trying to clear his head. "I know not what to do."

"The answer will come to you, I'm certain. 'Haps in the middle of the night. Or in the morn."

Torrin nodded as he gazed down at the beach where they'd spent several enjoyable moments talking and shooting the bow. And wrestling. That had been his favorite part, aside from the kiss. He relished anything that put him into physical contact with her.

"Did you at least steal a kiss?" Iain asked.

Torrin's gaze darted to his. He wasn't the type to brag or share too much of his exploits.

"Ah, you did, aye?" Iain guessed. "I trust the kiss measured up to your expectations?"

"Surpassed them by miles." That kiss was the single best thing he'd yet experienced in his life. When he imagined taking her to his bed, he could scarce breathe. He was certain the physical pleasure would be astonishing, but the experience would be about far more than that for him. 'Twas as Iain had said—he was falling for her. He only hoped she would feel the same way. If that kiss was any indication, she was strongly attracted to him. That was a start. Now, he but needed to show her how he felt about her, prove himself trustworthy and convince her to not worry about the future.

"I'd rather not think about the problems anymore," Torrin said. "I just want to… spend time with her."

"Aye. 'Tis what you should do, then," Iain said.

Torrin wanted to make her forget all about this hindrance, if that's what it truly was. It could be a lot of worry for naught. He wanted to learn everything about her. And, aye, he had to admit he wanted to explore every inch of her body and make love to her for hours. After that kiss, 'twas clear to him they could set the bed sheets afire.

He wanted to make her smile and laugh and sigh and cry out his name in pleasure.

"I have to figure out how to make her forget her troubles and have some fun," Torrin said.

Iain grinned. "'Tis the best solution I've ever heard."

"I have an idea for a gift that might cheer her up."

***

"I need for you lads to do something for me," Torrin said in a low voice to three of his men, Sim, Luag and Gordon, in the courtyard that evening.

"Aye, Chief," Sim responded, his dark eyes glinting curiously in the dim glow of the sunset.

"Tell no one of your assignment," Torrin warned them.

They nodded in a very solemn manner.

Torrin lowered his voice even more. "One of my distant cousins in Scourie raises deerhound pups. His name is Angus MacLeod. I want you to go get one for me. A healthy pup with a lot of gumption." He held out his hand, filled with silver coins.

Luag quirked his brows as if Torrin had gone daft, but accepted the money.

"'Twill be a gift for the lady. She lost her beloved dog not long ago."

"Ah." Luag nodded as did the other two.

He hoped the pup would make her smile. She didn't smile nearly often enough.

"Also, while you're out, make sure MacBain and his men haven't returned. You may run into Struan, Fionn, and the MacKay guards who escorted them south. You can leave in the morn after breaking your fast. If anyone asks, you're simply going to look for your clansmen. I want the pup to be a surprise for her."

The three smiled and nodded their agreement. They were well aware that Torrin was trying to convince Jessie to marry him. He hoped this would work to soften her up a bit more. If not, he knew not what he would do next.

***

The following afternoon, Torrin walked along the battlements, his gaze scanning over Balnakeil Bay, the beach, and the sand dunes leading out to the headland. No one was about. He was disappointed to see that Jessie was not sitting on the beach today. He had scarcely seen glimpses of her since their serious discussion yesterday. She was well and truly avoiding him now.

Although Torrin liked Dirk MacKay just fine, he hoped the man didn't return soon. He needed time to grow closer to Jessie first. Dirk would wonder what in blazes Torrin was doing, staying this long. His excuse for now was that he was protecting Jessie in the event MacBain returned, wanting revenge. Once Dirk, Keegan, and the rest of them showed up, he would no longer have an excuse to stay for they could protect Jessie. Of course, Dirk had left Erskine and a garrison to protect both her and Dunnakeil, but Torrin wanted to help out.