Nick suspected the old fellow had given her moonshine, likely home-brewed. “Tommy, I must borrow your cart and horse.”
“Whatever ye need, Laird. I’ll go hitch up the wee beastie.”
“No, I’ll do it,” Logan said. He slammed the door behind him.
Tommy looked at Nick. “Still at each other’s throats, I ken.”
“Sadly true,” Victoria said.
“Ye need to get over that, laddie. It’s past time.”
Nick gave Tommy his best chief-of-the-clan stare. “Why are you sheltering my damn brother in the first place? I ordered him off my lands weeks ago.”
The old fellow snorted. “Yer my laird, and ye ken I’d lay down my life for ye and all the Kendricks. But dinna forget I paddled yer wee bum when ye was a lad. And Mr. Logan’s, too.”
Victoria perked up. “You did?”
“Aye, hellions, they were. They let my cattle out into the kitchen garden. They earned that paddlin’, I tell ye.”
Nick winced. He’d forgotten that embarrassing escapade.
Tommy’s grizzled visage softened as he studied him. “But ye were good lads, ye and Logan both. Strong, true hearts. Ye need to remember that, Laird.”
Thankfully, he was spared a reply when Logan stomped back in. “The cart’s ready.”
Victoria rose and handed the cup to Tommy. “Thank you for your hospitality, sir. And for your words of wisdom.”
The old man gave her a courtly bow. “Thank ye, mistress. I hope to see ye again. Ye seem to be a grand lass.”
When she leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek, Tommy blushed and looked rather dazzled. Clearly, she’d won another admirer. They were all but piled around her feet.
Nick led her out to the farmer’s cart. The sturdy draft horse would be slow but would do the job.
After he climbed in, Logan helped Victoria into the cart, covering her with a thick tartan blanket Tommy handed him.
“Will I see you again, Mr. Kendrick?” she asked.
When Logan shot him a quick glance, Nick kept his mouth firmly shut.
“Probably not,” Logan said.
Victoria gave him her hand. “Then I thank you for your help, and I wish you most well.”
Logan bowed over it. “You’re too good for my pigheaded brother, ma’am.”
“I’m too good for any of you,” she said wryly.
Nick couldn’t resist giving his brother a smirk. Then he set the carriage moving.
Logan stepped back and lifted a hand in farewell. “Good-bye, Nick. Take care of yourself.”
Nick switched the reins to one hand and waved back, then stopped himself and gave a brusque nod instead. When Logan’s mouth dropped open in surprise, Nick scowled and snapped his gaze forward. He sure as hell hadn’t meant to wave.
“Are you cold?” he asked Victoria after several minutes of tense silence.
“No.”
“Sweetheart—”
