Free The Country Wife by Temple Hogan

the rogue outlaw?
    His musings had soured his mood, so he merely grunted when Lilli pointed out the village ahead. The cluster of humble cottages was little more than a way station with no castle nearby to offer protection. An inn and tavern with stables in the back dominated the square and offered rough comfort for the wayward traveler caught here. But in the sunny fields beyond, a stretch of tents had been set up beside farm carts selling wares from the back. On the other side of the meadow, rough stone fences marked off enclosures for livestock. Men gathered around them to haggle and test the quality of cattle.
    “There’s a good spot beneath that tree,” Lilli directed and Callum obligingly pulled the little cart into the shaded area, making sure it was in line with the other carts. Jumping down, he steadied Lilli as she descended.
    “I’m perfectly capable of taking myself out of the cart,” she exclaimed as if displeased, but he saw the flash of something about her that said otherwise. Her refusal to meet his gaze told him something more about the beautiful Highland girl. She was not as immune to him as she would have him believe.
    “Aye, I know you are, lass. You’ve no need for a hand from anyone, I can see well and plain but you’d grow angry with me if I don’t treat you like the fine lady your mother wished you to be. You can’t put on airs with me, then fuss at me when I act accordingly.”
    She stood nonplussed as to what to say without giving herself away. Now her face reddened even more in embarrassment and she opened her mouth to answer, but no words came. How she longed to fling her true identity in his face and watch his fluster of consternation. But she bit her lip to stay silent. She couldn’t risk such a luxury as spite for the danger it might bring to her and Rose. Seeing her struggle within herself, he spoke harshly.
    “Don’t fluster yourself to cut me down again,” he snapped. “If you’ve a need for me, I’ll be at the pastures looking at the animals and swigging a beer like the wretched lout I am.” He strode off across the meadow toward the cluster of gathering men.

 
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    “Don’t fret, lass, they’re of a like mind, the whole lot of ‘em,” the woman at the next cart called out.
    “Who?” Lilli asked caught off-guard.
    “Why, men, lass. Have you not been wed long enough to learn their ways, yet?” She was a plump, cheery sort with two little ones running about her skirts while she quickly set up her wares of woven cloth and brown eggs. “My name’s Addie and these are my two littlest ones, Patty and Wynn.”
    “I’m Lilli, but I’m not—”
    “Aye, you’re a new wife. ‘Twill take you time to figure them out, but you will then you can set the tone of what you want in your marriage. Remember, lass, a man may think he’s the head of the household, but ‘tis the clever woman who lets him believe it.” She spied Rose and leaned over to coo at the baby. “Ooh, you’ve a bonnie, wee bairn. You wasted no time. They’re a wonder, they are.”
    The woman spoke so rapidly jumping from one topic to another that Lilli gave up trying to follow or even respond. Taking out a clean white cloth, she spread it over the back of the cart and displayed her cheese and milk.
    For the next hour, she was busy and her store of cheese quickly sold. As she poured out the last of the milk into a waiting pail, the sound of approaching horsemen brought a shiver of alarm. Absently taking the coin, she added it to those already jingling in the bottom of her pocket and watched the riders approach. They ogled her as they rode past. The farmers ducked their heads and busied themselves with their carts and wares. An ominous air had settled over the assembly. The riders dismounted and swaggered along the row of carts, stopping now and then to sample the goods, uninvited. Their leader remained astride his horse, laughing at the antics of his band. No one uttered a word of