“Ye and yer wee brother.”
“Aye.”
Evan ran his hand through his hair. “Even if the betrothal was signed by yer da, which I doubt, given what ye just told me about the mon, those things can be broken.”
“If he accepts that. I hate to say this because it embarrasses me so much, but he’s had his eye on Gavin for a couple of years. I think da being alive, even though he was absent a great deal of the time, kept him from doing what he wanted with the lad.”
“Ye have nothing to be embarrassed about, lass. ’Tis the mon’s shame, not yers.”
“What can I do?” It amazed her how quickly she’d grown to rely on Evan. Aye, he was her laird, and based on his actions so far, he was a caring man and a staunch leader of people. But she felt a certain connection to him that she’d never felt before with any man.
“’Tis my problem now. If the mon thinks he has a strong reason to fetch ye back home, he will come through the front door with his paper in hand. We will rely on that for now. But with all the others arriving from yer clan, he could easily slip in if he feels ye might naysay him. ’Twill be best if ye set up some method to check everyone arriving from yer clan.”
“Aye. That’s a good idea. I can have Colum and Meggie stay by the door. The rest should be arriving soon.”
Evan reached out and touched her hand. “Ye have nothing to fear. I will protect ye and yer brother.”
Katie felt as though a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Evan moved his hand from hers and cupped her face. “I won’t let any harm come to ye. Do ye trust me?”
She licked her suddenly dry lips and nodded. “Aye. I trust ye.”
“Good. Let’s return to the castle so ye can speak with Colum and Meggie.”
They turned their horses and made their way back, the sun a bit brighter, the air a bit sweeter, and her heart a bit lighter.
They were greeted by a group of people that Katie recognized as her clansmen. She smiled at Evan as he helped her from the horse. “’Tis Riley and Michael and their families.”
“I’m thinking we should send one of the men out to ask among the tenants and farmers if they ken of any empty cottages. Our visits are taking a bit longer than I had planned, and we cannot keep putting people in the castle.”
“Aye. I agree.” Katie hurried into the castle, hugging and welcoming the new families. All the little ones were crying and the older ones racing around, happy to have the long journey behind them. Evan trailed behind her, but after asking for Colum and Meggie to join him in the library, he made a quick escape.
Katie stood on the front step, addressing the group. “We’re still trying to find cottages for all of ye. Until then, ye can stay with us here in the castle.”
“Nay, Mistress. No need for that. Just point us to a piece of land, and Riley and I will put up our own cottage.”
“But the little ones? It will take ye a while to build something. It might rain.”
Hannah, Riley’s wife, looked up at her husband, her hands fisted at her waist. He was a giant of a man, and she a wee lass of no more than five feet. Yet she’d always stood up to the man, much to the delight of the other clansmen. “What are ye thinking, ye numbskull? The wee ones have been sleeping outside for weeks. They need a warm bed and some decent food. If ye and ye fool brother want to build yer own cottage, go ahead; Marilea and I will stay here with the bairns.”
“I think that’s a good idea, Riley,” Katie said. “The little ones look a bit tired.” All five of them turned to watch the children race around the area, run up and down the stairs, and slide down the bannister, screaming and yelling with delight.
“Aye, Mistress. They do look a bit worn out.” Michael smirked at her and reached out to snatch one of his bairns by the neck of his shirt. “Stop yer blasted running around, or I will take a switch to ye.”
…
Evan closed the door to the library, thinking the Battle of Culloden had been quieter than the crowd at the entrance hall. If they didn’t find cottages for these people soon, he would be forced to sleep in the stables. Which, given the chaos, might not be a bad idea.
The door opened and Colum and Meggie stepped into the room. “Ye sent for us, my laird?”
“Aye.” He waved to the chairs across from him. “Sit. I have an assignment for ye.” He rose and placed his hands behind his back and began to pace. Something that oftentimes helped him put his thoughts into words. ”Ye are both familiar with Richard Armstrong? He thinks he is betrothed to Mistress Stirling?”
“Aye,” Meggie snapped. “The mon is a monster. He tried to convince my mistress that she was betrothed to him. Her da would never have agreed to a marriage with that vile man.”
“That is what Mistress Stirling said. Ye believe her?”
“Aye! She wouldn’t lie about that.” Meggie shifted in her chair in her agitation. “Her da was a neglectful man in some ways, but he kenned that Richard was an evil man. A devil’s spawn, to be certain.” Meggie looked over at Colum, who nodded his agreement.
“Verra well; then this is what I want ye to do. Once this Richard discovers that Katie—er, Mistress Stirling—has left, it probably won’t take too much effort on his part to
