Colin was shocked speechless for a long moment. "You're a good man, Ralston. I appreciate everything you've done to help Kristina… and me."
"I thank you, m'laird, and I was glad to help."
"Please, call me Colin."
"I would be honored." He bowed, then straightened and lifted a brow. "Will you be marrying my sister, then?"
"If she'll have me."
***
Kristina must have been dreaming, for she heard the most divinely beautiful music. Had she died and gone to heaven?
Nay, she recognized it now. 'Twas Anna's flute music. No one played the way she did. Kristina focused on it and imagined the lovely sounds saturating her body. On and on they went, swirling through her like glowing, spinning stars, touching every part of her being. 'Twas almost like an angelic healing power in the form of sounds.
She felt cocooned within the warm, downy embrace of two angels' wings, while pure unconditional love surrounded her. All pain disappeared from her body, and it seemed she was floating, suspended in the warm air.
The flute music stopped, but the love surrounding her remained.
And then she heard the whispered words in her ear, "I love you, Kristina. Please awaken and stay with me."
Who had said that? The deep voice was so familiar.
Colin!
Where was he? She wanted to tell him she loved him, too, but no words would emerge from her mouth. Her eyelids were too heavy to lift.
***
After playing another tune, Anna lowered her flute.
"'Twas the most beautiful music." Colin's mother sat in the chair by Kristina's bedside.
"I thank you."
Colin stood behind the chair. "I believe it will help her."
"I certainly hope so." Looking worried, Anna leaned over Kristina and kissed her forehead. "Rest well, sister. I will see you in the morn."
Colin bid her and Neacal good night as they left the chamber. After closing the door, he sat down in the chair beside his mother's.
"She is such a lovely, sweet lass, Colin," his mother whispered, then patted his hand. "You love her, do you not?"
His mother knew him too well. He'd never been able to hide anything from her.
"Aye. I wish to marry her, if only she will awaken and agree to it."
"Love matches are the best." His ma gave a bittersweet smile. "Although I didn't know your father before I married him—I had only seen him twice—I quickly grew to love him. And I thank God each day that I had a wonderful marriage to a good man. He was always kind to me and he made my life happy all these years. I wish the same for you."
"I believe Da approved of her."
Her eyes widened. "Did he say something?"
"One night while I was sitting by his bedside, I told him about her and the situation—how she'd been abused and injured. I didn't think he could hear me, but then he saidlove."
His mother drew in a quick breath, tears welling in her eyes. "He had not said a word since his injury," she whispered.
Colin nodded. "I think he meant that love was the most important thing when it comes to marriage. Not alliances or dowries."
