Rob escorted Slatter and Willow to stand behind Beck, who waited in front of the longhouse.

Two dismounted while the others remained atop their horses.

The shorter, though broader, of the two men approached Beck.

“We’ve got your coin, but I’ll hear from Slatter that he is unharmed,” the man said.

Slatter spoke up. “I am unharmed, Walcott.”

“Your coin,” Walcott said, holding up a small sack. He tossed it to Beck.

Beck caught it, opened it, and smiled. “He’s all yours.”

Slatter stepped around Beck, keeping a tight hold of Willow’s arm, though it mattered little since her grip was strong on him. He wondered if she worried that he would leave her there or if Beck would demand she stay.

Slatter barely reached Walcott when Beck called out.

“You can’t leave without my gift to you.”

Willow turned with Slatter.

“I feel responsible for throwing you two together, so it wouldn’t be proper for me to send you off in an improper manner.” Beck grinned, though his eyes narrowed. “I told you she belonged to you, but she has to belong to you properly if you intend to leave here with her.”

Willow moved closer to Slatter and his arm tightened possessively around her.

“What game do you play now, Beck?” Slatter demanded.

“A woman only belongs to a man if she’s wed to him. So if you want to leave here with her, you’ll wed her,” Beck commanded, leaving no doubt he meant what he said.

Slatter thought quickly, whispering to Willow. “It’s a handfasting he wants and we can see that easily absolved once we leave here.”

He was right. Handfasting was common among the Highlanders unless, of course, a cleric married a couple. It was more permanent in the eyes of the church. The handfasting could be done without difficulty.

She nodded.

“We’ll wed,” Slatter called out.

“They wed,” Beck called out and the people who had gathered to watch cheered.

Walcott cast a doubtful eye at Slatter.

“It will be done and undone quickly,” Slatter whispered to him.

“I would not trust Beck if I were you,” Walcott warned.

Willow’s stomach roiled, thinking the same.

“My gift,” Beck shouted out and a cleric stepped out of the longhouse. “Now you can wed properly.”

Chapter 5

“Are you hesitating, Slatter? If you are, I’ll gladly take the woman off your hands. I know how averse you are to having a wife. I can’t say I blame you with the way the lassies so eagerly chase after you. Why settle for one woman, when you can have many? So what say you? Will you wed the woman?” Beck challenged.

Willow felt fear race through her clear down to her toes. What did she do now? Wed and be stuck with a man who wants nothing to do with a wife? Or did she take her chances with Beck and hope that Ruddock’s warriors had managed to make it to her home and James had gathered enough men to come to her rescue? Or would word have been sent to Ruddock and his warriors were on the way to find her now. That meant time though and anything could happen before they reached her.