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Terese entered to find Rowena, Hester, and Piper crowded in the small room all laughing and sharing the morning meal with Megan, who was sitting up in bed and looking her usual rosy self.
Piper bounced to her feet, holding her bowl of porridge tight. “What’s wrong?”
Terese sighed. “Nothing, though Andrew—”
“That big idiot arrived here looking for Megan,” Rowena said. “And as soon as I mentioned fever, he turned deathly pale and took off running.”
Terese smiled. “He’s worried senseless. He believes Megan is about to meet her demise and had me believing it as well. Burning with fever, he told me.”
“He truly is worried about me?” Megan asked.
“Like a fool in love,” Rowena said.
“I agree,” Hester piped in. “The man is besotted.”
Piper added her agreement. “He follows you around like a love-sick pup.”
“I haven’t noticed it,” Megan said, though a hint of a smile told otherwise.
“Then you’re either blind or a fool,” Hester said.
Megan’s expression turned hard. “I was a fool once; I will be one no more.”
The women turned quiet and then Hester spoke.
“Perhaps it’s a man’s turn to be foolish in love with you.”
Hope sprang in Megan’s face though only briefly. It vanished as fast as it had appeared. “I will not be hurt again. The last one almost killed me.”
The women remained quiet, not knowing Megan’s past but knowing, from the way she had been badly beaten when they found her, she had suffered greatly at the hands of a man. A man who had claimed to love her.
It was Piper who suggested, “Why not give Andrew a chance?”
Hester added her opinion. “He seems like a good man.”
Before Rowena or Terese could offer their own thoughts, a rapid pounding sounded at the door, followed by two more bursts until it suddenly stopped.
Terese laughed. “I bet Lachlan grabbed Andrew’s hand before he could pound again.”
The women all grinned and suddenly made excuses to take their leave.
“What are you doing?” Megan demanded with a note of panic.
“Giving you time to get to know Andrew,” Hester said and scooted out the door, followed by Piper. Terese was about to take her leave, Rowena having already gone to answer the door, when Megan grabbed her hand.
“I’m afraid,” she said.
Terese sat on the bed beside her. “What have you got to lose by getting to know him? You are safe here. No one will let any harm come to you.” She smiled. “Andrew cares for you and would kill anyone who dares to hurt you.”
Megan pulled Terese closer to her and whispered, her voice breaking with fear, “A man told me that once and I believed him. I trusted him. I loved him.” Tears filled her green eyes. “He kept me isolated, beat me senseless, and nearly killed me.”
Terese took firm hold of her hand and listened.
Megan choked on her tears as she said, “I had no choice. I had to do it. I had to kill him.”
Megan burst into tears and Terese wrapped the sobbing woman in her arms, her own eyes filling with tears for the horror Megan must have suffered.
“You did what you had to do to survive,” Terese assured her. “It is over now and done, has been for years. He can hurt you no more. Unless…”
Megan turned wide, frightened eyes on her.
Terese pushed the dark curls off Megan’s forehead. “Unless you allow the fear he instilled in you to stop you from finding and loving a truly good man.”
“I don’t know if—”
“Give Andrew a chance,” Terese encouraged and laughed. “Good lord, the man offered to shrink himself down when you said he was too tall, and he’s forever there to help you and not once has he raised his voice or spoken badly to you.”
“I am safe here,” Megan said wiping away the last of her tears.
“You know not a one of us would let any harm befall you. You may still have trouble accepting it, but you are safe here and will remain so.”
Hester peeked her head in. “Andrew would like to see you to ascertain for himself that you are well and not burning up with fever.” She giggled. “He’s beside himself with worry, Megan. You have to put him out of his misery.”
Terese looked to Hester. “What of Talon? He is only two doors down.”
“Rowena went to sit with him, since he seems to fancy her company,” Hester said. “I told her I’d let her know when Andrew was gone.”
“I could go outside and visit with him,” Megan suggested.
“No,” both women said.
“Rowena said at least two, maybe three days, off that foot,” Terese said.
Megan threw the blanket off her. “Then just get me to a chair near the hearth in the common room. It’s not wise for us to take a chance of Talon being discovered.”
“She’s right,” Hester said and Terese agreed.
The two women supported Megan with their shoulders under her arms, lifting her off the ground, their heights a good four to five inches over her petite one.
