“I am so pleased to meet you and tend to your care. With rest and some healing brews, you will do well. I look forward to talking with you about your grandson.”
“Many tales to tell,” Sara said with a soft chuckle.
“That’s not fair, two against one,” Slatter complained playfully.
His grandmother slipped her hand out of his and held up two fingers, then pointed one finger at Slatter. “Protecting one.”
His grandmother had always been there for him, had always listened to him, and had never preached to him. She had advised one thing over and over… heed your thoughts and your words, they make you who you are.
“I protect you now, Seanmhair,” he said.
Her eyes went wide. “Not safe.”
He was about to assure her that she was safe when she pointed to him.
“Not safe,” she said, jabbing her finger toward Slatter.
Slatter took her hand and leaned down as he brought it to his lips to kiss. “It’s all right. I understand. You feel it’s me who’s not safe.”
She nodded.
“Did the man who caused you harm come looking for me?” he asked, trying to keep his rising anger out of his voice.
Sara nodded again.
“He wanted to know where I was?”
Another nod gave him the answer and his temper flared even more. The man who had stolen his identity had caused her suffering and he couldn’t wait to get his hands on him.
Sara gave barely a shrug, her eyes starting to flutter with sleep.
He knew what she tried to tell him. What she told the ones who harmed her. She didn’t know where he was. He visited when he wanted, but where he went when he left her, she never knew, and he had purposely kept it that way. He hadn’t wanted her to know what he did.
Slatter felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at his wife, knowing what she would say, and agreeing.
“She needs to rest.”
Slatter laid his grandmother’s hand on her stomach, then leaned over and kissed her brow. “Sleep. We’ll talk again.”
Slatter moved off the bed and Willow followed him to stand near the hearth. He leaned down to add more logs to the fire.
“I don’t want her to get cold.”
Willow ached for her husband, seeing the worry and anger swirling in his dark eyes as he looked up at her.
He stood. “She suffers because of me.”
“She suffers because of the man who stole your identity. He’s the one who needs to be found and punished for what he’s done to so many.”
Slatter knew the man’s punishment… death, at his hands.
“Right now Seanmhair does well and that’s what matters. She will heal and grow strong and she will make her home here with us. And we shouldn’t waste a minute in seeing that happen. We need to send that message to Devin.”
Did he deserve this woman’s love? She put all else aside to help him. Deserve her or not. Wise or not. He finally admitted to himself that he never wanted to let her go. And he intended to seal their vows so nothing could keep that from happening.
“I’ll have someone sit with her,” she said and headed to the door, hearing a small bark and stopped, knowing any moment Snow and Thaw would appear. And they did.
“What is it, Thaw?” Snow asked and the dog brushed against her leg, his tail wagging, hitting the hem of her garment. “Someone we know is here.”
“He is learning well,” Willow said. “Slatter and I just finished speaking with Sara and I need someone to sit with her.”
“I was just coming to do that,” Snow said. “Go. I will keep Sara company.”
Slatter rested his hand on Snow’s shoulder after she sat in the chair by the bed, Thaw settling at her feet. “I appreciate your help with my grandmother.”
“She’s family,” Snow said with a pat to his hand.
Slatter followed Willow out the bedchamber door and as they descended the stairs, he said, “I think we should consult James on our decision before we send anyone to collect what little family I have. He is chieftain of the clan.”
“The Clan Macardle needs to grow. I’m sure he’d be only too pleased to accept them into the clan.”
“Let’s make certain of that before we send for them. I don’t want them to arrive here only to be turned away. They have suffered enough.”
They each slipped on a cloak, having been told that James was checking the storage shed.”
A cold wind whipped at them when they stepped outside the keep as did a light falling snow, and Slatter was quick to take his wife’s hand in his, covering most of it to keep it warm.
His considerate gesture did more than warm her hand, it also warmed her heart.
It wasn’t lost on them that not only a couple of Tarass’s warriors lingered near as they walked, but a few Ruddock’s warriors’ kept steady eyes on them as well. A good watch was being kept on Slatter.