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“Well, you’re welcome to make your home with the clan MacAlpin,” Mara said, and the others sang out their agreement.
Tara smiled. “Thank you all so very much. I know this will be a good place for me.”
“There’s a cottage not far from the keep, with a sizeable kitchen garden beside it,” Mercy said. “I think you would like it.”
Reeve knew Tara would prefer to be a distance from others, but for some reason he preferred she remain close to the keep. He supposed his feelings were thus because he had been protecting and saving her ever since crossing her path. Besides, who else was there to look after her?
“There’s also old Alan’s place,” Bryce suggested. “It’s close to the keep—”
Mara interrupted shaking her head. “It may sit close to the keep, but it sits alone, removed from the closeness of others, and it has fallen in disrepair.”
“I’ll take it,” Tara said.
Reeve grinned. He knew she would; it was perfect for her and for him. It was what she was hoping for, and it was close enough for him to keep a frequent eye on her.
“Have a look at both first before you make a decision,” Mara suggested, handing Tara a tankard of hot cider.
“Thank you, I’ll do that,” Tara said, wrapping her hands around the offered mug.
She may have agreed with Mara’s suggestion, but Reeve knew that her mind was made up. She would choose the secluded cottage.
“I can take care of any repairs that need doing,” Reeve offered, knowing that none of them would be going on any lengthy missions until Trey returned from his.
“We all can give a hand,” Duncan said, and nods rippled around the table.
“Thank you,” Tara said. “I am grateful for your generosity.”
“It is you who have been more than generous,” Carmag said.
And more than tired, Reeve thought, noticing how her shoulders slumped, and her head rested slightly to the side. She was exhausted and probably in pain though she would not admit it.
“She needs sleep,” Reeve said, going around and scooping her up in his arms. “I’ll put her in my bedchamber.”
He was surprised when she didn’t protest. She simply sighed, and, before resting her head to his shoulder, she asked, “I don’t wish to deprive you of your bed.”
“Reeve can sleep in my sewing room,” Mara said.
All heads turned to Mara, her sewing room a sacred sanctum that one could only enter with her permission. Reeve repeated, as if he hadn’t heard her correctly, “Your sewing room?”
“Yes,” Mara snapped. “And you’ll be careful not to mess anything.”
Reeve nodded vigorously.
“Now go,” Mara said, shooing him off. “There are clean linens on your bed, and I will have hot water and towels fetched for Tara’s use, and I will bring a platter of food to her.”
“Thank you again, and I am pleased to have met you all,” Tara said cordially.
“After you have settled Tara, meet us in the solar,” Carmag said.
Reeve knew he needed to advise the others on the status of his mission. He would do as Carmag said though he wished he could linger with Tara for a bit. He had found her company pleasing. And he greatly favored the feel of her in his arms. Missed her when she wasn’t there, and the thought startled him.
“You are lucky to have such a loving family,” Tara said, as he climbed the spiral stone staircase.
“They are your family now too. Clan is family.”
“Unless your clan is not pleased with you.”
“My family is pleased with you,” Reeve said, the lonely ache in her voice disturbing him.
