Kinsey held him to her for longer than was necessary. “If ye hurt her, I’ll hunt ye down and kill ye.”
“Kinsey,” Mum cried.
Faye opened her mouth to protest her sister’s violent claim, but Ewan spoke first, his gaze meeting the wildest of the three sisters directly in the eye. “I’d expect nothing less.”
He reached out and tenderly stroked Faye’s cheek with one calloused hand and departed to join Monroe and Ross. Though the touch was brief, it said so much more than words ever could. A pleasant warmth hummed through Faye. Not physical desire, but something deeper, more meaningful.
“I think ye could fall in love with him,” Mum said softly at her side. “If ye let yerself.”
Faye lifted her brows. “If I let myself?”
Mum rolled her eyes in a very Kinsey-like manner. “Dinna look at me like that, ye stubborn lass. Ye know well what I mean.” She reached for Faye’s shoulders and leveled a stare at her as she spoke, the same as when Faye was a bairn. “Dinna push yer emotions away for the sake of fighting. Ye’ve done that yer whole life. Let go and allow yerself to be happy.”
It was on the tip of Faye’s tongue to say she already had, that she’d made her choice to stay at Sutherland, after all. But there was a truth to Mum’s words that echoed within a cavern inside Faye. One she knew was still raw and open.
“I know ye’ve seen my hurt at losing yer da,” Mum continued when Faye didn’t reply. “I know it scares ye.”
Faye glanced away rather than confess the truth her mother apparently already knew.
“I would love him again with the same intensity if I had to do it all over again,” Mum said vehemently. “Even knowing I would lose him in the end. Such pain was worth the glory of so much love. Dinna fear it, aye? Let yerself be happy.”
“I’ll try.” Faye slid her gaze back to her mother.
Her mother smiled. “That’s all ye can do, my girl.” She pressed a kiss to Faye’s forehead.
The stable lad appeared in the Great Hall and gave a small bow. “The horses are ready, my lady.”
Faye braced herself against his words and what they meant. Her family’s visit had come to an end all too soon.
She tried not to think when she might see them next and instead led her family from the Great Hall, out into the sunshine of a perfect spring day. One by one, she embraced each of them, her sisters and her mother, each of whom she loved with the whole of her heart.
She stayed there as they rode off and did not turn to leave until they disappeared in the distance. An emptiness rang through her.
Had she made the right decision?
And if she had, could she release the fight as her mother had suggested, and allow herself to fall in love?
If such a thing even existed.
She had avoided it for so long that now, unlike before, not only did she hope love did exist, but that she could find it with Ewan.
18
Ewan’s temper blazed hotter with each step he took toward his solar. Where Ross was waiting for him.
By the time he pushed through the door, he was practically ready to kill the other chieftain. Peace be damned. Ross glared at him as he entered, evidently of a like mind.
Monroe stood off to the side with measured patience that indicated he’d rather be nearly anywhere else but there in a room with two irate chieftains.
“Ye’re lucky I dinna throw ye out right now,” Ewan growled.
Ross leapt up from the chair he’d been sitting in, his body tense for a fight. One Ewan would gladly give him.
“They’re my family,” Ross protested. “My daughter. My granddaughters. Ye’ve no right—”
“No right?” Ewan repeated, incredulous. “Ye lost all rights the moment ye shackled yer own granddaughter and dragged her against her will to yer castle.”
Ross narrowed his eyes. “Ye still married her.”
Ewan grabbed the other man by his leine and shoved him back against the wall. Fire lit in Ross’s eyes, but the older man’s strength was no match for Ewan’s.
“Because ye threatened her family,” Ewan spoke in a low, even voice that made Ross’s protests go silent. “If ye ever get near any of them, ye’ll live to regret it.”
“Are ye threatening me now?” Ross demanded.
“Aye.” Ewan put his face directly in front of Ross’s and shoved him away.
Ross managed to catch himself before sliding to the ground. He staggered to his feet and angrily adjusted his clothing back into place. “Where’s my property? Ye said ye’d sign Berwick over to me.”
“I said I’d comply with the agreement,” Ewan amended. As much as he’d been dreading telling Ross what he’d done with Berwick, he was now anticipating it with renewed gratification.
“I’ve deeded the land to Drake,” Ewan said with great satisfaction.
Ross blinked in shock. “My…grandson?”
“And Faye’s rightful guardian.”
Ross’s jaw clenched, and the familiar vengeful red blossomed over his face once more.
“Ye’ve done enough to that family,” Ewan said. “Do ye have any idea what they’ve been through?”
Ross’s gaze slid away.
“Ye knew, dinna ye?” Ewan demanded, his anger doubling.
“All they had to do was come back to Balnagown, and I’d have cared for them,” Ross erupted.
“Aye, so ye could manipulate them and auction off the lasses for marriage.” Ewan shook his head. “For once in yer miserable life, do some good for this family. Allow Drake to have Berwick.”
Ross pressed his lips together and remained silent so long, Ewan thought he would refuse. Finally, Ross sighed and nodded. “Aye, I’ll let the lad keep it.”
Ewan nodded. “Now remove yerself and yer men from my castle.”
Ross speared him with a look and shoved past Ewan on his way out the door. Monroe immediately followed him out to ensure he departed without issue. While Monroe was sharp with numbers, he was also incredibly skilled with a blade, enough to handle
