He let out a shrill whistle as they approached, crossing over a short field to a small drawbridge that was not lowered.
A man peered over the side and whistled back, then the drawbridge was lowered, and a door opened on the other side. Rhiannon’s skin prickled. Again, this felt too easy, but moments later, they entered the side bailey, and the doors were shut and barred, the drawbridge raised.
“Rhiannon!” The shrill cry came from Douglass, and Rhiannon whirled around in time for her very pregnant cousin to crash into her.
They clung to one another, sinking in, neither able to speak for several moments.
“Thank God, you made it.” Douglass’s voice cracked with emotion.
Rhiannon clung to her. The tears she’d been holding back burst finally with relief and joy. “I can’t believe I’m here.”
“I can’t believe you’re here either. I prayed all this time that Ian would find you. That you’d make it safely back.” Her words were spoken in a frenzied rush.
“We have made it, but I’m afraid not safely.” Rhiannon swiped at her tears. “They are here. They followed us.”
“Adam?”
“And the man he tried to marry me off to.”
Douglass nodded. “When Noah’s scouts spotted them, he knew you’d be here soon. They’ve been preparing.”
A man who looked like Ian and Alistair approached, pulling his brother into a hug. Noah. The eldest of the triplets. Following behind him were two stunning ladies—she guessed them to be Matilda and Iliana, the younger sisters.
“Glad ye finally made it,” Noah said, clapping Ian hard on the back.
“Are ye glad I brought ye some Sassenachs to play with?” Ian asked.
Noah grinned the same look that Rhiannon had seen on Ian right before he fought the large man in the forest. They were mad. Utterly and, without doubt, insane.
“Noah, this is my cousin.” Douglass tugged on her husband’s arm, and Noah faced Rhiannon with a welcoming smile.
“My lady, a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I’ve heard so much about ye, and I assure ye that your presence here has made my wife’s dreams come true.” Noah pulled her into a giant hug, and she smiled.
“And my sisters, Iliana and Matilda.” The two ladies also pulled Rhiannon into a hug, which she greedily accepted.
“I hear ye’re good with a dagger,” the youngest, Iliana, said.
Rhiannon glanced at Douglass. “We both are.”
“But how are ye with a sword?” Iliana raised a brow.
Rhiannon glanced at Ian. “I’ve yet to master the skill, but your brother has mentioned he’d teach me.”
Ian laughed. “May no’ be necessary, as any enemy of yours willna reach ye before your dagger pierces their heart.”
“Or their boot,” she teased.
“I need to hear this story,” Matilda declared.
“I will regale ye with Rhiannon’s heroics later when we’ve had a chance to clean up.” He picked at a fleck of mud on Rhiannon’s forehead to prove his point.
“Fair point,” Matilda agreed and hugged her brother. “So glad to have ye back, Ian.”
What a joy it was to have a family again.
Douglass gazed up at her husband with such love it made Rhiannon’s heart ache with happiness for them both, and also because she wanted to look openly at Ian the same way.
“Good job, brother.” Noah squeezed Ian’s, and Rhiannon watched the exchange with a smile. There was much respect between the two. And rather than be sad for the brother she had who didn’t show her as much affection, she was happy for them that they did.
