Elspeth rode inthe saddle with Logan to the house beneath Ben Nevis. She didn’t want to stay at Tor Castle and see her brother and Helen hang, so Logan took her home.
Home. She hadn’t had a home in six long years, but the house just out of the shadow of the mountain was her home, and the Camerons and MacDonalds were her family.
It still astounded her to think the man sitting behind her, one arm snaked around her waist, holding her close, wastheCameron she had planned on killing someday. Now, she would kill anyone who tried to hurt him.
The cousins rode beside them. The lads really were not so bad. Apart from eating all the food in sight, they loved Logan. Now Elspeth understood why. He was a natural leader, and he led with justice, patience, and mercy. Hefeltthings, maybe even as strongly as she did. Things like compassion and empathy. Things she had stopped believing in.
Like forgiveness. Elspeth believed she could never forgive again. But Logan fought all her demons to win her forgiveness. And win it, he did. Before she knew her brother was the guilty one, her heart was lost to this brave Highlander, who showed her with gentleness how to remember kindness, with patience, how to let go of anger, and with love, how to vanquish hatred. Logan was a good man, the only man. She would never find another like him, and he was young and very kind on the eyes.
Ealar passed them on his horse and gave her a knowing smile when he noted the dreamy look in her eyes.
Aye, if these men loved Logan for the kind of man he was, then they had to be good men too.
Ewen and Steafan would bring Ismay MacPherson back to Tor, where she would reunite with her husband—and Steafan could be reunited with his dear Alina. Ealar and Jamie had whined and pouted about riding all the way back to the castle tonight. They pleaded to stay and Logan gave in, knowing, as Elspeth did, that they were likely doing his mother’s bidding.
She smiled and closed her eyes, feeling safer in his arms than she had in years…mayhap before the murders.
Mayhap she chose not to remember her father and the fire in his eyes when he looked at Roderick. Elspeth had no idea why her father was so hard on his son. It had begun from before a time she could remember, which was from roughly age eleven to sixteen. How many beatings had her father given him before that?
She felt a chill go down her back, lifting the hairs off her neck.
She opened her eyes. “Logan?”
“Aye, my love,” he said, behind her. “What is it?”
“I fergive him. I fergive my brother. My father made him who he was. ’Tis not to excuse him, but to remember that before he became a monster, he was a human being.”
He was quiet behind her, giving her time to count his breath against her back.
“It pleases me to hear,” he finally said in his lowest voice against her ear. “’Tis less weight on yer shoulders. More room fer my kisses.”
He dipped his face to her shoulder and pressed his warm lips there.
“Logan!” she scolded, fighting the urge to laugh. She looked around at the others. They were all watching with amusement. “Stop it this instant!”
He straightened in the saddle and cupped his hands over her ears. “Lads!” he shouted, “Go on ahead. Why are ye loiterin’ aroond me?”
“We’re no’ loiterin’ aroond ye, Logan,” Jamie defended with a pout.
“Good, then go.”
Jamie stared at him as if Logan had just pulled out his dirk and stabbed him with it.
“Verra well,” Jamie brooded and flicked his reins.
Logan watched him and then raked his gaze over the rest. “What are ye still doin’ here? Why is Jamie always the first to obey me?”
“Obey ye?” Ewen mock with a chuckle.
Pressed to him, Elspeth felt his body grow taut. His breathing slowed. He dropped the reins into her hands and lifted both arms over his head to stretch and loosen his muscles. “When we reach Tor—”
“Verra well! We’re goin’! Come now, Steafan,” Ewen warned. “Before the last thought in yer head is of a lass.”
Steafan raced his horse out of there before Logan called him to the practice field. Ewen followed.
Logan shook his head and sucked in his teeth, watching them flee. Elspeth giggled into her hand.
That was another thing. Since when did she giggle into her hand? Since never, that’s when! Was this virile, rock-solid man turning her into a simpleton? She felt like giving her cheek a little slap to knock her back to her senses.
