Willow thought Slatter might complain, but he said nothing. His glance, while appearing to remain straight in front of him, took note of every warrior that marked their path, just as his eyes had seemed to take in everything around them when she had ridden with him.
James greeted them with a nod. “Thanks to Lord Ruddock finishing the building of the shed, lost to a fire, we have a sturdy food shed.”
“I know I waste my breath, but I will say it again. I didn’t set fire to your shed. Whatever possible reason would I have for doing so?” Slatter asked, having grown exceedingly tired of taking the blame for something he didn’t do.
“The offer of coin is a good reason,” James said.
“Aye, and when we catch the fellow he can tell us how much he was paid for his heinous crime,” Willow said.
She could see she perplexed James, but then he had always been able to count on her to see reason and do the right thing. He had lost her dependable nature and she hadn’t given thought to how it might have upset him. But she could see now that it did and while she felt a tug of sadness, as strange as it seemed, she also felt a sense of freedom.
“You’ve often said how you wished to see the Clan Macardle grow in size—”
“You’re with child already?” James asked not even trying to hide his shock.
Slatter smiled and rested his hand to Willow’s stomach. “It will be soon enough that Willow grows with child.”
“But not yet,” Willow was quick to say, seeing the teasing look in her husband’s dark eyes and brushing his hand away before someone saw and set off wagging tongues that would have her with child by nightfall. “Slatter has a small group of people that is like family to him and I’d like to send for them so they can make their home here with the Clan Macardle. I’ve met a few and they are good people.”
“Are they much like Slatter?” James asked, casting a glance at him.
“Life has treated them poorly, some more poorly than others, but they are honest, good people and would prove grateful for the opportunity to have a good, permanent home and be part of a good clan. There are young and old alike among them, and all will do their share,” Slatter said with a pride for the small group he had gathered.
“I will gladly accept them into our clan after your innocence is proven,” James said.
Willow turned such an angry glare on James that it had him drawing his head back in shock.
“I can’t believe you would refuse us this,” Willow said.
“These people you speak of no doubt owe their allegiance to Slatter. They would protect him and possibly lie for him. There is enough lies being spoken and spread without more people to attest to them,” James said.
“Are you accusing me of lying?” Willow asked.
“You are an honest woman, Willow, but you have changed since being with Slatter and I must do what is best for the clan, and at one time you would have advised me to do just that.”
Willow couldn’t argue with his logic. She would have done what he said, advised him against it. And she would have thought the woman foolish for believing a man who was known to lie. She could beg him to trust her on this, but again there’d be no logic to it. James would be right in refusing her. So what did she do?
“I understand, James. Your clan counts on you to protect them, keep them safe as do my people,” Slatter said.
Willow heard a low warning in her husband’s voice that she doubted James recognized.
“Once your innocence is proven, I’ll gladly offer your people sanctuary,” James said.
Sanctuary, not a home, Willow thought and from the way her husband tensed beside her, he thought the same. Which meant that James didn’t expect Slatter to be proven innocent. He was placating her, letting her believe he would accept her marriage to Slatter, when he agreed with Tarass. Both men would see her husband dead.
“Now if that is all, I need to get done with this chore before the heavy snow falls,” James said, dismissing them.
Slatter nodded and Willow turned with him, their hands having remained joined, to take their leave.
“A private word, Willow,” James said, stopping the couple.
Slatter kissed his wife’s cheek. “Go speak with your brother. I will be in the keep.”
Willow didn’t want to leave Slatter’s side. He wasn’t pleased with what James had said and she wasn’t either. James and Tarass thought Slatter guilty and they intended to see him punished. That was why Tarass had sent for the Slayer.
Willow returned to James and didn’t give him a chance to speak. “You lied to me. You want my husband dead.”