Evelyn turned in the warrior’s arm. Her hazel eyesglistened with tears. “Are you certain about this? About everythingwe are doing?”
“Aye, my dove,” David assured her. “Just leaveeverything to me, and all will be well.”
Nothing that Flannan said affected Tess in theslightest…except to make her want to correct the problems here evenmore. She turned to her clan.
“I find this man lacks the spirit and the goodintentions my father had for our people while he was alive. I findthis steward grievously at fault for his treatment of you overthese past ten years. Now…who will help us restrain him and hismen? Who will help us take back Ravenie Castle?”
A deafening cheer filled the market square as theentire village stepped forward. The steward, having realized hismistake, scrambled to take shelter behind the Macphersons, the samepeople he’d accused only moments ago.
In moments, Colin had divided the villagers intogroups. Some were sent with James and handful of Macphersonwarriors up to the castle. Others were assigned to see to Flannanand his henchmen in the village. There were many, though, whoapproached Tess on their own. Young and old, men and women—thenoose around their spirits finally loosened—all were excited totalk to her and to make suggestions. All wished to know if sheplanned to stay.
Tess wanted to, but she had other things thatdemanded her attention before she could think about that.
Those remaining at Ravenie Castle who were loyal tothe steward gave way to the combined force of Lindsays andMacphersons without a struggle. Most that James and the othersencountered in the castle were from the village, anyway. To besure, all of the Lindsays were fed up with the steward’s treatmentof their people.
All that Flannan’s men asked for was permission toleave.
“I believe we should let all of them go,” Tess toldColin with conviction. “Flannan included. My family is the mostresponsible for the hardship and the damage that has been donehere. Though she has been absent all these years, my mother shouldhave had someone checking on the steward. But she didn’t.”
She shook her head and watched the celebration thathad been going on since midday.
“Don’t torment yourself about the past,” Colin saidfirmly. “None of that was your doing. You shall make these peopleforget their hardships. Anyone can tell that your arrival hasalready given new life to the Lindsay clan.”
Tess looked up and their gazes locked. “You make mebelieve in myself.”
“As you should.” He gave her a smile that warmed herblood and sent tingles through her body. “Everyone here sees howspecial you are. ‘Tis time you started believing it, too.”
Tess beamed at him. “You are…you are a truefriend.”
A few days ago the words Tess had just spoken wouldhave been enough for Colin. He would have been quite content to beconsidered her friend. But now, as he heard the words tumble fromher lips, he knew it was not enough.
He had seen her courage in action today. While hefought back his own fears for her safety, she had walked into themidst of a mob that looked like a pack of hungry wolves. She hadn’tknown it, but his hand had never left the hilt of his sword untilhe’d seen the first sign of acceptance by the Lindsays.
“I believe I’ve found my home,” Tess told him.“There is no doubt in my mind that this is where I belong.”
He nodded, working hard to hide his own feelings atthis important moment in her life. He gestured to where Flannan andsome of his people were being held. “I’ll make sure an escort ofLindsays and Macphersons convey these curs to the southern bordersof your land. I do not believe you will hear from them again.”
She looked around. “Having seen your village atBenmore Castle, I know there is a great deal to be done here.”
Colin followed the direction of her gaze. “Aye, butthis is good land. And James tells me that only a section of thecastle was burned. The rest is solid and livable. You shouldprobably take a ride up there and see it for yourself.”
She turned toward the celebrating crowds. “I wonderwhat it would be like to live here, in the village. ‘Twould be onlyright to find some use for this tower house.”
“Nothing is impossible. Perhaps with a few goodmasons, and…”
“Will you stay with me here? Will you help me tostart again?”
Colin abruptly stopped and looked at her. Tess’sbeautiful face was flushed. Her eyes were dark pools, so clear thathe could see his own reflection in them.
For the first time in his life he had come to therealization that no other plans, no other dreams, no grandadventures in the world meant a thing to him if he couldn’t haveTess. But at the same time, the uncertainty of his position as thethird son, andherposition as the sole heir to RavenieCastle was suddenly gnawing at him.
“Tess, there is a great deal that…that…”
“I mean…temporarily,” she said, dropping her hand inembarrassment. Her face was even redder than before. She hurriedlylooked away when the first tears slipped down her cheeks. “I neverintended to interfere with…with your plans. I just thought that ifyou have few days to spare, you might perhaps like to come backwith me and…and…help me get started.”
“Wait, Tess.” He took her arm before she could walkaway. “There is a great deal that you and I need to—”
Unfortunately, James took that exact moment toapproach them. “The afternoon is advancing, you two. If we are tomake it back to Benmore tonight…” He stopped, recognizing that hehad walked in at a bad time. “Am I interrupting something?”
