“As soon as we get to the castle, all will be well,” Jamie tried to reassure them.
“All will be well right now, Jamie,” the Lochiel’s wife corrected. “We have my mighty sons and my nephews protecting us.”
Elspeth nodded, but apprehension drummed the steady litany of what-if scenarios in her head. What if Roderick kills Logan? What if he kills Ismay and all the clan hates Elspeth forit? What if he kills Jamie or Ealar and Elspeth must live with her brother doing such a thing? What if he kills her?
While everyone was packing things away, Elspeth looked around for weapons. Knives were the most readily available. She tied some around her calves, at her hips, in the folds of her skirts. She wanted to be ready.
When they left, Elspeth promised herself they would return. Just as soon as they were free of Roderick. She rode with Logan again, this time leaving the house she had come to love.
She kept her eyes peeled on the surroundings, not sure what it was she was looking for. Would Roderick be on a horse, on foot?
It kept her from thinking about what Tor Castle would be like. Now that she was Logan’s wife, would she be welcomed in? He promised her she would never be alone. But now, she wanted more than just not to be alone. Now, she wanted to be with him.
“I’m no’ goin’ anywhere, Elspeth,” he promised her on the way to his castle.
“What about fighting for the king? I thought ye wanted that the most?”
He shook his head. “No’ anymore. Now what I want the most is a life with ye and our bairns.”
She blushed, thinking how much she would like to make them with him.
When they reached the castle, Logan helped her out of his saddle and then greeted his father, who had come out to welcome his wife.
“There has been no word of him?” Logan asked.
His father shook his head. “He is clever and strong. He fought his way oot of a half dozen men and made it oot alive.”
“No’ fer long,” Logan muttered, keeping his eyes off Elspeth.
Elspeth wanted him to speak and feel freely. Roderick did not deserve to live. She was no fool. She took Logan’s hand, and when he finally looked at her, she smiled.
“Show me inside,” she said to him.
He left his father with a quick farewell for now and pulled her through the enormous gateway that led to two equally enormous wooden doors.
He stepped inside with her and grinned, clearly enjoying the wonder that made her blue eyes bluer and wider. There were three staircases leading up three landings high. The center, where they stood, rose to a tower, while west and east, and north and south wings were closed off into private rooms. The castle was huge and clearly built for a family and their kin. She imagined Logan and Ealar as young children running up and down the stairs, laughter filling the halls.
She had the unfamiliar feeling of her heart being full. She would like to have children here.
“What a surprise to see my brother Logan at Tor,” came the voice of a beautiful redhead with springy curls dangling around her like a cloak. Her eyes were the color of blue ice, and her skin, like snow-covered glens. Her gaze met Elspeth’s, and Elspeth was sure her eyes twinkled. “I am May Cameron of Lochaber, and who are ye?”
“Miss Elspeth Woodburn of Dunley,” Elspeth told her, ready for the judgment that was sure to follow.
“Miss Woodburn, what have ye to do with my brother visitin’ Tor?”
Elspeth didn’t want there to be any secrets she kept out of shame. If this was to be her family, she would rather they hear about her family from her own lips.
“My murderous brother wants to kill Logan, and likely me, as well.”
“Och!!” May leaned in closer. “What makes ye say that?”
“He killed our parents and brother.”
If Logan’s sister could go any paler without turning blue, she just did.
When a bit of color returned to her face, her eyes shone like oceans under the brilliance of the sun.
“If he dares show his face here, I will help in whatever way ye need.”
