Kyla opened her eyes to look over the head of the baby at Finlay and the children playing throughout the room. She kept her ear to Moira as she listened to the news of the day and all that was happening around the village.
She watched Finlay, his serious face dissolving into laughter, the children clutching onto his legs. As she smiled with him, a realization hit her as suddenly as if she had been punched in the stomach. She loved him. She loved this man and the possible future he could provide her. A home like this, with children and family around them. It was something she had never known, and never dreamed could be possible.
Finlay McDougall, the love of her life? She would never have guessed it, but here she sat, pining over him in both lust and love. Could he find room in his heart to love her back with equal measure? She hoped so, as she suddenly wanted nothing more. She could see a future with him, the chance to build a life.
She just didn’t know if she could live with him without such a love returned.
18
The next few weeks went by in relative peace. Finlay asked for her opinion now and again on clan business but didn’t move forward on any major decisions or changes to how he did anything within the clan. Kyla tried to have patience with Finlay’s acceptance of her as a business partner, as well as with any declaration of feelings toward her. She now spent most nights with him, though he never spoke a word of his feelings to her.
Nevertheless, Kyla enjoyed the McDougalls and maintained her spirits.
Kyla was humming a bright tune on a cool December day as she hung laundry on the line in the yard. She worked quickly as her fingers were numb in the cold air from the damp clothing, but the sun was bright and she smiled as she welcomed its warmth in her face.
Finlay and his brothers were out collecting rents. They had decided with recent disturbances at nearby holdings—including the MacTavishes—it was best they go together, not only for safety but also for added incentive for crofters to pay what was owed. They didn’t anticipate any trouble but it was best to be prepared.
Kyla’s tune was broken when she heard someone insistently calling her name. She looked up to see Hamid, her father’s man, riding into the yard looking for her.
“Kyla! Kyla MacTavish, you must come at once!” he shouted from some distance. “You are needed at home!”
She wiped her hands on her apron and wondered at the urgency as she crossed the yard to meet him. What could possibly be wrong? Was it her father, or her brother? She hurried to Hamid, fear pumping adrenaline through her.
“Hamid, whatever is the matter? Is Father all right?”
“Oh yes, child,” the man said, out of breath from the exertion he had spent on his journey here. “He is in Glasgow with your brother.”
“Then who is looking after everything?”
“Me and Campbell. Your father trusts him as well. We must get back,” he said hurriedly, glancing over at Peggy as she came out of the house to see what the commotion was.
“Take a moment and tell me what has happened.”
“We were collecting rents, but the people are still refusing to pay,” he told her. “Not only that, but they have gathered in front of your father’s home, and are demanding the chieftain come out himself to face them and not rely on his men. They say they are moving back to the land from where he moved them, whether he wishes it or not.”
“Why did Father and Rory both leave?” she said, lifting a hand to her head in frustration. “Could not one have stayed behind?”
Hamid cleared his throat and didn’t quite meet her eyes.
“It seems your brother had gotten himself into some sort of trouble while down there on his own,” he said, cringing as he did. “Something happened in one of those seedy money-betting establishments. Anyway, your father had to go bail him out.”
“Bail him out? You mean out of prison?” She was astonished. Rory had done some stupid things before, but never anything that went this far. Her father must have been furious. She heard a noise behind her and glanced back at Peggy, who seemed crushed. Kyla had little time to feel sorry for her sister-in-law, however.
“I believe so, lass,” Hamid replied. “I hope all is well for the lad, but for now we need you. You’re the only one I believe the people will listen to. You have to come quickly, as they’re getting fairly reckless, beginning to make trouble in the yard.”
“I’ll come right away, Hamid, but I must first find my husband.”
“No time for that. Ye must come now,” he urged her. “They won’t stand down until you arrive. Campbell and I will look after you, I promise you that.”
Kyla could hear the desperation in his voice. She told him he had to wait at least a couple of minutes, and she quickly conferred with Peggy. She explained the situation and asked her to find Finlay and tell him where she’d gone. If she couldn’t find him, at the very least tell Duncan. At first, Peggy begged to come with her, to see what the excitement was all about, but finally relented when Kyla told her the importance of her task. Peggy nodded and took off with bounding steps.
Kyla followed Hamid on horseback, trepidation building as they rode. She knew relations had soured, but this sounded extremely dire. That her family continued to leave things in the hands of someone unrelated, as effective as he may be, just caused additional discontent.
She sighed. She wished she could continue to remain involved with the MacTavishes, even though she lived as a McDougall now—for the time being, anyway. They were nearly at the agreed upon three months, and she needed to talk to
