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“Leave him to me. I’m the strongest,” Reeve said.
No one argued, and Reeve carefully slipped his arms beneath his brother’s prone body and lifted him. He cradled him like a precious babe, and his mother draped clean linen over Trey.
“Tara,” Mara said, “come help me settle him.”
Mara led the way, Reeve followed, and Tara trailed behind.
Tara noticed that there was a woman’s touch to Trey’s bedchamber when she entered. A trinket box lay on a slim table next to a cushioned red velvet chair. And over it was draped a pale blue shawl with braided fringe. White silk ribbons were tied in bows around the pewter candlesticks on top of the mantel, and the hint of roses permeated the air. Remnants, she supposed, of the woman he had loved and lost.
She watched Mara fight back tears as she helped settle Trey comfortably in bed, but she retained her composure. No doubt she knew that it was more important to doggedly help her son rather than succumb to defeat.
“We’ll need to take shifts and watch for fever,” Mara said, tucking the ends of the soft wool blanket under the mattress.
“I’ll sit with him now.”
They looked up to see Mercy, followed by Duncan, Bryce, and Carmag entering the room.
“And don’t bother arguing with me,” Mercy said. “Since I’m feeling tired, it is the best chore for me. I can rest and be useful at the same time.”
“I agree,” Duncan said, taking the armless, red velvet chair in front of the fire and placing it next to the bed.
“We can all take turns,” Bryce offered, and everyone nodded in agreement.
“It is time to talk to the Picts and see if they know what happened to Trey,” Carmag said, “and to offer them nourishment and shelter.”
That spurred Mara into action. “Tara, we best get the hall cleaned and food set out.”
Reeve stepped behind Tara and massaged the tops of her shoulders. She nearly sunk against him, it felt so good.
“Tara is exhausted, mum,” he said.
“When all is done, I can rest,” Tara said.
Mara nodded. “Tara’s right.” And as she walked past the couple, she gave a slap to Reeve’s arm. “She’s a keeper. See that you don’t lose her.”
Everyone smiled for the first time since Trey had been brought home.
Reeve turned Tara around and moved his hands to massage around the back of her neck. “I will ease the soreness from your muscles later.”
“Promise?” Tara asked with a sigh, his touch exquisite.
“Aye, it is,” he said, and kissed her cheek.
Realizing his family was around, her eyes flew open, and her cheeks flushed.
“Only Mercy remains,” Reeve said, “and her eyes are intent on Trey.”
Tara’s shoulders slumped in relief. “I must go help your mum.”
He took her face in his hands. “Thank you for what you did tonight. Your hands and concentration never wavered. You remained focused and gave thought to nothing except my brother. Mum saw it too, and she was wise to step aside and leave Trey in your capable and skillful hands.”
He stopped her protest with his lips. Though it was a brief kiss, it contented her, and she simply smiled when it was done.
“We must go,” Tara reminded, and they did, though not before she checked on Trey one more time. She didn’t like what she found. He already felt feverish to her.
Chapter 15
Reeve listened along with Tara and his family as the Pict Roan explained how on their return home they had found Trey lying in a pool of blood.
