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“Och, it’s not so bad. I’ll give her my handkerchief to bind it up.” Logan nodded toward Felicity and the children. “You and Samantha should get the bairns to the orphanage. Kade and I will help the police clean up this lot, then we’ll meet you back at your house.”
Four constables and a sergeant were now busy handcuffing MacGowan, his men, and Arthur.
“John will be waiting for you at the orphanage,” Kade added. “He and Bathsheba will look after the children tonight, so you can take Felicity home and get some rest.”
Samantha smiled at him. “Thank you for arranging that. John and Bathsheba will know just what to do.”
Felicity stood and came back to her, slipping her arm through Samantha’s and cuddling close. She smiled at Braden and Kade, tapped her lips, and mouthedthank you.
“Och, you’re welcome, lass,” Braden replied.
Then he pulled both Samantha and Felicity in for a long hug, cradling them in the shelter of his strong arms. The last dregs of Samantha’s fear slipped away, replaced by a sense of relief and gratitude almost too big to contain.
“It’s finally over,” she murmured, rubbing her cheek against the soft wool of his coat.
Braden dropped a kiss on the top of her head. Somewhere in the commotion, she’d managed to lose her hat.
“Yes,” he replied. “Felicity’s safe. We’reallsafe. And I’ve got you, my bonny lass, and I’m never letting you go.”
* * *
As Samantha closed the door to Felicity’s bedroom, she heard quiet voices drift up from the front of the house. It seemed Logan was finally going home.
Braden extended a hand as she came down the stairs to join them. “Here’s my brave, beautiful wife. How are you, love?”
She swallowed a yawn. “Feeling neither brave nor beautiful at the moment, although I thank you for the compliment.”
“Lassie, you’re a true heroine,” said Logan as he pulled on his gloves. “The rest of us could barely keep up with you.”
“I think you mean to say that I tend to be a trifle impetuous,” she ruefully replied.
“That’s more or less a requirement in our family.”
“With at least one exception, I hope,” said Braden.
Logan scoffed. “Oh, yes, you’re a veritable sobersides. As evidenced by the way you plugged that thug right in the chest. Excellent shot, by the way.”
“It certainly was,” Samantha said, patting her husband’s waistcoat. “I wouldn’t have had the nerve to take it, given the chaos.”
Braden shrugged. “I would have preferred to avoid violence, but it was the only way to save Donny.”
“I’m sorry you were forced to make such a decision,” she replied with a sympathetic grimace. “I, on the other hand, seem to have a regrettably bloodthirsty nature. If not for you, I probablywouldhave killed Arthur.”
When Braden and Logan exchanged a swift glance, Samantha’s heart sank. While she’d spent the last few hours with Felicity, talking to her about her ordeal and getting her settled, Braden and Logan had been dealing with the aftermath of the evening’s events. Clearly, they’d learned a few things from the police, likely including the precise circumstances of Roger’s death.
“Well, I’m off,” Logan said. “Donella will hunt me down if I don’t get myself home.”
Samantha glanced at the longcase clock. “Goodness, yes. It’s ridiculously late. I apologize for keeping you waiting, Logan.”
“No worries, lass. How is Felicity, by the way? Sleeping, I hope?”
“Yes. Mrs. Johnson is going to stay with her tonight. Felicity is remarkably brave, I must say. Even when that villainous woman held that knife to her throat, she was more infuriated than frightened.”
“She has a good role model,” Braden said with a smile.
Logan clapped on his hat and opened his arms. “Give us a hug, Samantha, and then get this brother of mine off to bed. You both need a good night’s sleep.”
With a smile, she gratefully entered her brother-in-law’s embrace. He hugged her tight and dropped a kiss on the top of her head before letting her go.
