When Logan let him go, his body slumped to the floor.
He hurried to the door and opened it. When he saw Elspeth, holding a dagger, he wondered where she’d gotten it. He took her hand, finally allowing himself to breathe. “Come, we need to get Ealar and Jamie some help.”
“Not Roderick?” she asked.
“Nae.”
“Good,” she surprised him by saying. “He didna deserve to live after the lives he took.”
They hurried past Roderick’s body with Elspeth under Ealar’s arm, and Logan under Jamie’s.
They almost didn’t make it up all the stairs before Elspeth’s legs gave out. Thankfully, they had reached the first landing, where everyone was waking up for the day.
Logan’s loud voice got them the attention they needed. Ealar and Jamie were carried off to the castle physician to have their superficial wounds seen to.
The Lochiel was, of course, unhappy about not being awakened to fight with his sons. He was happy, though, that no one was seriously hurt and that Roderick was finally dead.
Plans were made for Helen to be hanged after her confession. None of the Camerons spared her a second thought, though the Lochiel did post four extra guards at her cell door until her sentence was carried out, which took place during their supper. They did not stop eating, or living, or even laughing.
Elspeth and May were, as they enjoyed reminding him, perfectly fine. He would confess, his wife looked bonnier than ever before. Mayhap it was because he was so thankful for her life. Her eyes were brighter, bluer. Her cheeks looked to be constantly dusted with rose petals.
The last thing Logan wanted to be doing was eating supper with her and all his kin. He wanted to carry his wife to bed and—
“Logan!”
They all turned to Jamie sitting at the table. His wound turned out to be a completely harmless flesh wound.
“What are yer plans on goin’ home to Ben Nevis?” So innocent was Jamie at times that he completely missed the murderous glares that at least three Camerons were aiming at him.
“Elspeth and I were discussin’ it, and we decided to stay fer a bit.”
May squealed and clapped her hands. Elspeth bounced up and down in her seat with her. A few of Logan’s cousins looked as if they, too, wanted to bounce with glee.
“’Twill be good to have ye, son,” his father said, then washed his supper down with some water.
“Aye,” his mother joined in. “Twill give us time to get to know our Elspeth better.”
“Aye!” May chimed in. “Och, Elspeth, I have so much to teach ye!”
“May,” Logan warned his sister. “I will lock ye away. Somewhere no one knows,” he warned her when she flicked her gaze to her parents for help. “I willna let ye oot until we leave Tor. Teach her one thing and I will do it.”
“So then,” she crossed her arms across her chest and smirked. “I canna teach her archery? Or chess, cards, reading? Sister,” she asked, turning to Elspeth, “can ye read?”
“Teach her nothin’,” Logan warned for the last time.
May cast a frustrated gaze heavenward. “Fine.”
“Dinna fear, Elspeth,” Ealar said smoothly from his place at the great hall table. “I’ll help keep ye busy with—”
“Ealar,” a low, rumbling growl. “If I see ye near her, I will—”
“Now, Logan,” their father said. “Dinna threaten yer brother. Ealar, keep yer charms to yerself.”
“I wasna handin’ them oot,” the youngest Cameron said.
Ismay nodded and patted her son on the back. “Good fer ye, Ealar. Ye do well keeping yer charms beside ye.”
Supper went much the same way all season long, until Logan knew Elspeth was comfortable enough to laugh and even argue at times with them.
