Page 44 of Highland Steel

“Nay, that’ll never happen,” Rhoswen promised, grooming her sister’s hair with one hand as she continued to hug her. “You are never going to lose us, Blaine. We’ll always be together. We are family.”

“But Newell has Oliver now and you have Logan. Once you marry Logan and have children, you’re going to forget all about me.”

“Wait a minute. Slow down.” Rhoswen laughed and held Blaine by the shoulders, looking her directly in the eyes. “Where is this coming from? I’m not going to marry Logan.”

“But you have to marry him now,” she said.

“What does that mean?”

“I mean, we all heard you two making love in the shed last night. You’re no longer a virgin, Rhoswen. No nobleman is going to want to take you for his wife.”

“Oh, you heard that?” she said, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

Her sister nodded. “Everyone did.”

“Everyone?” Rhoswen covered her face with her hands, now regretting cutting loose like Logan had told her to do. “This isn’t good.”

“Does it bother you that everyone knows?” asked Blaine.

Rhoswen thought for a moment and then shook her head. “Nay, not really. That part doesn’t bother me, but something else does.”

“What?” asked her sister.

“Well, last night I mentioned love to Logan and he didn’t seem as if he felt the same way about me as I do about him.”

“You – you love him, Rhoswen? Already? You just met him. And he is a – a Highlander. You can’t marry a Highlander.”

“I can’t? Why not?”

“Because Ailsa married one and she ended up dead,” cried Blaine, terror in her eyes as she said it. “If you marry Logan, you will die as well.”

“That’s nonsense!” Rhoswen waved her hand through the air. “Now, I want you to get that idea out of your head right now, do you hear me? Because it is the furthest thing from the truth.”

“Aye,” said Blaine, biting her lip. “Rhoswen, I want to go home.”

Rhoswen’s heart went out to her little sister. Blaine was a shy girl who often was a loner, not coming in contact with a lot of people. Their mother told Rhoswen at one time that Blaine would never be like Rhoswen, and that they’d have to treat her like a child for the rest of her life. She really meant that Blaine needed a lot of attention and reassurance to help her build up her self-confidence. But Rhoswen, being outspoken for a lady, and one who knew how to use a sword as well, didn’t know how to give this kind of care to her sister. Rhoswen always felt that they should each strive to become someone who did something in the world to make a difference. But Blaine didn’t seem to be able to do that on her own.

“Blaine, we need to build a new home now. I don’t think we can ever go back to our castle in England.” She took her sister’s hands in hers as she spoke.

“Because of what father did?”

“Aye. Without the king’s sword returned, we wouldn’t be welcome. Even so, I’m sure there would be some sort of punishment for us if we did return. I’m not sure that’s what we want – to go back to England. I like being here in the Highlands with the MacKeefes. Don’t you like it here as well?”

“I guess so. But what about Lockie?” she asked. “Are were ever going to have a chance to be with our nephew?”

What about Lockie? she asked herself. That was a very good question. She’d been so happy being with the MacKeefes and so distracted by the time she’d been spending with Logan, that she hadn’t even thought how they’d save the boy, now that the sword was gone.

“I don’t know, right now. But I promise you, I will do whatever it takes to save little Lockie so we can raise our sister’s child for her. Ailsa would have wanted that.”

“Aye, she would.”

“Come on, let’s go see if we’ve missed the meal or if there is any food left.”

“If Newell’s been there, I’m sure it’s all gone. He eats so much,” said Blaine with a slight smile. “Mother always said that’s why he was built like a bear.”

“Yes, she did say that,” answered Rhoswen with a giggle. It was good to see her sister smile again, even if it was only for a moment.

“I miss Mother and Ailsa,” said Blaine. “I even miss Papa, although I know now he wasn’t a good man.”