Slatter threw a blanket over him and left the room.
“My father doesn’t wish to be disturbed until morning,” Slatter said to the first servant he saw and left the MacBlair keep without a backward glance or an ounce of regret.
Willow stood by the window in the bedchamber watching the snow accumulate against the window, the dark night obscuring everything else from view. It had been over a week since she’d last seen her husband and each day he didn’t return home, her worry mounted.
She had told everyone that her husband had an important matter to see to and he’d be home soon. No one questioned her explanation, but she knew many didn’t believe her. All except Snow.
“He’ll be home soon,” Snow would say every day.
And every day that he didn’t return, she feared he had died.
She pressed her hand to her stomach. She prayed and prayed that wasn’t so since she had something important to tell him.
The door opened slowly and she didn’t turn to look since Seanmhair had a habit of stopping by at night to see how she was.
“Pining away for me?”
Willow turned, tears rushing from her eyes as she rushed to her husband’s open arms.
She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his chest sobbing.
Slatter scooped her up and carried her to the bed and sat cradling her in his lap. Her sobs tore at his heart. “All is well. I’m well. Don’t cry, mo ghaol. I’m home and home is where I’ll stay.”
She couldn’t stop sobbing as she spoke. “I… thought… I…lost you. My fault.”
“No. No, not your fault, mo ghaol. It had to be done.” His grandmother would have explained everything to her so she wouldn’t think he had left her and would never return. He knew if he had explained it all, his wife would have either insisted on going with him or have followed him and he hadn’t wanted that. “It’s over, finished. We’re free. No more past to haunt me.”
Her sobs eased. “You’re never to go away like that again. You can never go anywhere without me.”
She wanted to know that he would be the Slayer no more. That it was done and over and that was fine with him. He’d served as the Slayer for enough years. Now he wanted something else. He wanted a good life with his wife.
He kissed her wet cheeks. “I have no problem with that, wife, though,” he said with a twinkle in his dark eyes. “You do owe the Slayer.”
She couldn’t keep a small smile from surfacing. “And what is it he wants from me?”
He brushed his lips across hers and whispered, “Your love always and forever.”
“You already have that, though there is something I can give you.” She took his hand and placed it on her stomach.
He looked at her oddly then his eyes turned wide. “Truly?”
“Aye,” she said.
He pressed his hand protectively over her stomach. “I don’t think I could be any happier than at this moment.”
Willow grinned. “I think I can make you happier.”
Slatter chuckled and lifted her as he stood. “Let’s see you try.”
They went down together on the bed and made each other both very very happy.
Chapter 29
Two weeks later
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Chaos reigned in the village. Slatter’s people had arrived and what was left of Beck’s people had arrived two days ago, having been given a choice of remaining with Tarass’s clan or residing with Slatter. They had all chosen to stay with Slatter.
Gray skies and cold weather promised a winter storm. They had to get everyone settled fast. They didn’t need any interruptions, which was why Willow got annoyed when Tarass arrived with a troop of his warriors.
Willow sent Eleanor to alert Snow to Tarass’s arrival, but Snow was a distance away, Thaw busy playing with some children so she didn’t think there’d be a problem. At least she hoped not.
James came forward to greet Tarass.
“I want to talk with Slatter and Willow. I have a proposal for them,” he said after dismounting.
James waved Slatter and Willow over.
Tarass didn’t give James a chance to explain. “In appreciation for seeing Rhodes killer caught and the other information you provided me with, I’d like to offer you and Willow a keep of your own where you can start your own clan with your people. Of course, I’d expect you to pledge your allegiance to me like the old laird had.”
“Where is this keep?” Slatter asked, knowing his wife would not want to be far from her sister.
“The McHenry keep—”
“A short ride from here,” Willow said, turning to her husband with a smile. “It’s a small keep, but the fields are fertile and the woods that surround it teem with healing herbs.”
“I brought a troop with me to help move your people there today. I prefer the few people who remain there not be alone through the winter. So what say you?”
“It’s up to my wife,” Slatter said.
Willow looked ready to say, aye, when she caught sight of her sister.
“Go talk with her,” Slatter said when he saw his wife’s smile fade.
Tarass shook his head. “It’s your decision not hers.”
Slatter laughed. “I can’t wait until you wed.”
“My wife will obey me,” Tarass said as if there was no other option.
Slatter laughed harder. “We’ll see about that.”
Tarass turned to James. “A moment with Slatter.”
James nodded and walked off.
“This offer is because of what you gave me,” Tarass said.
“I didn’t give you anything. I simply alerted you to the fact that MacBlair land was ripe for someone to claim it.”
“Are you sure you don’t want it?”
“I made it clear when I told you about it that I wanted nothing to do with it,” Slatter confirmed.
“I left Owen there to oversee the transition and establish a firm footing on the isle.”
“I’m glad, since I’m sure you’ll treat the people well,” Slatter said and cast a glance at his wife, hoping all was going well with her.
“How wonderful for you,” Snow said with excitement and hugged Willow. “And you won’t be far from me at all.”
“But I won’t be here with you,” Willow said, feeling less excited about the prospect of her own home.
“Nonsense, Eleanor is here and is of great help and I can visit and stay for days on end if you’ll have me.”
“That would be wonderful,” Willow said, not having thought about that.
“You need to live your life with your husband just as Sorrell has. I have Thaw and we’re very happy together.”
Thaw gave a bark, agreeing.
Snow hugged her sister tight, a tear running down her cheek. “I will miss you terribly, but I want this for you. You deserve it. You deserve to be happy. Sorrell will be happy for you and be happy to learn that, though you exchanged vows again, you have delayed the celebration until she can be here.”
“She probably got that message by now and hopefully it’s helped calm her since the message Ruddock sent after his men returned home made it clear he was having a difficult time keeping her from riding off on her own to return here.” Willow giggled. “I wonder if he had to tie her up.”
Snow laughed. “She would have escaped. I think she was wise enough to listen to her husband this time.”
They both laughed at that.
Willow wished with all her heart that her sister’s sight would return and she could fall in love like she and Sorrell had done and start a life of her own.
“Go, I will be fine,” Snow insisted.
“Come with us and help us,” Willow said.
“No, I will only be in the way. I will come when you are settled and I can learn to navigate the keep. Besides, you and Slatter deserve some time alone. Now go, you have much to do. I can feel a winter storm brewing and you need to get settled before it hits full force.” She gave her sister
a little shove. “Go and tell that pigheaded man that you accept.”
“I heard that,” Tarass said as he approached with Slatter.
Thaw started yapping as soon as Tarass got close to Snow. She didn’t wait, she scooped him up.
“I’ll go start getting your things together, Willow,” Snow said and turned to leave.
“Apologize for calling me pigheaded,” Tarass demanded.
Snow turned. “Since it doesn’t matter if I mean it, I apologize.” Snow went to turn and stopped. “And I apologize for the next name I call you and the one after that, since I’m bound to insult you again.”
Slatter laughed and got a jab in the ribs from his wife.
“She’s an impossibly stubborn woman,” Tarass said.
“Thank you for the compliment,” Snow called out and kept walking.
Tarass shook his head as he walked off. “There isn’t a man alive who would wed her.”
Willow felt a sting to her heart.
“Don’t listen to him,” Slatter said. “Snow has a lot to offer the right man and she’ll meet him someday.”
“I want to believe that.”
Slatter took his wife in his arms. “Then do. Believe she will one day find a man who loves her and who she loves as much as we love each other.”
“That would be a miracle,” Willow said.
“No, that would be fate, just like what happened to you and me. And your sister is right. It’s time we go start our life together.”
“There is much to do,” Willow said excited again. “Your grandmother is fit to go with us, but Walcott will need to remain here for a while yet. He improves day by day, a miracle for sure. and Carna takes good care of him.”
“I’ve noticed that he doesn’t complain around her. I even caught him smiling the other day, another miracle,” Slatter said with a chuckle.
Willow took hold of her husband’s hand and tugged him along. “Come, there’s much to do to get our clan settled before the snow starts falling.
It wasn’t until hours later that Slatter, his wife tucked in front of him on his horse, sat at the top of a slight rise to look upon the small keep and village where they would build a future together.
A teasing smile played at the corners of Slatter’s mouth. “We’ve come a long way from that whole in the ground we shared.”
“It’s a memory I’ll never forget and will always cherish since it brought us together,” Willow said her own smile growing.
“Extremely close together,” Slatter said playfully.
Willow’s smile faded. “Beck may not have been a good man, but I’m grateful he forced us to wed. Otherwise, we may have never seen each other again.”
Slatter’s smile vanished as well. “Married or not, I wasn’t about to let you get away. You were mine from when I first saw you and mine you’ll stay for always.”
Slatter kissed her as they rode through the light falling snow to their new home.
About the Author
For a complete listing of Donna’s books visit her website.
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Also by Donna Fletcher
Cree & Dawn Series
Highlander Unchained/Forbidden Highlander
Highlander’s Captive
My Highlander
Cree & Dawn Short Stories
Highlander’s True Love
Highlander’s Promise
Highlander’s Winter Tale/Highlander’s Rescue
The Pict King Series
The King’s Executioner
The King’s Warrior
The King and His Queen
Macinnes Sisters Trilogy
Highlander’s Stolen Heart
Highlander’s Rebellious Love
Highlander: The Dark Dragon
Macardle Sisters of Courage Trilogy
Highlander of my Heart
Also by Donna Fletcher
Highland Warriors Trilogy
To Love A Highlander
Embraced By A Highlander
Highlander The Demon Lord
Warrior King Series
Bound To A Warrior
Loved By A Warrior
A Warrior’s Promise
Wed To A Highland Warrior
Sinclare Brothers’ Series
Return of the Rogue
Under the Highlander’s Spell
The Angel & The Highlander
Highlander’s Forbidden Bride
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For a complete list of Donna’s titles, visit her website.
Desired by a Highlander Page 27