Sadness touched his eyes, and he reached out a hand to squeeze William’s shoulder. “I’m sorry she dinna get the chance to know ye. She was too damn good for this world, and God knew it.”
William swallowed hard at the knot in his throat, at the regret that sat like a rock in his chest. “I dinna know anything about her.”
“’Tis my fault.” Laird MacLeod sighed and scrubbed the back of his head. “It hurts to speak of her, even now. I think…” His eyes glistened with more emotion than William had ever seen in his face’s face. “I think she would be disappointed in how I’ve raised ye. I dinna let myself consider that until now.”
“Will ye tell me about her?” William asked.
Laird MacLeod nodded and gave a hard swallow. “I hope ye can forgive me. That she can, too.” He looked upward, as though seeking her approval from the heavens.
His father opened his arms but did not move to William, letting him come of his own volition. William moved forward and embraced his da.
“I love ye, my lad.” Laird MacLeod patted William on the back, and they released one another. “And I’d like ye to introduce me properly to yer Kinsey. I have some apologies to make to the woman who will be my new daughter.”
His father gave a sheepish grimace, and William couldn’t help but scoff. “Aye, that ye do.”
Together, they joined the others in the great room. Kinsey met William’s eye, her pinched brows expressing her anxiety.
Laird MacLeod went to her first. “I owe ye an apology for many different reasons.”
Kinsey tilted her chin higher.
“I’m sorry.” He offered her a reverent bow. “I hope ye can forgive me for how I treated ye.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Mayhap ye should consider not making yer son give up his birthright—”
“Nay, he’ll still be laird.” Laird MacLeod slid his gray eyes to William. “And will wed for love over dowry.”
William reached for Kinsey’s hand as happy relief eased the tension from her beautiful features.
“Kinsey has a dowry,” Drake said.
They all turned to look at him.
“I do?” Kinsey asked.
“Ye’re granddaughter to the Ross Chieftain,” Drake replied. “Of course ye do.”
“The Ross Chieftain?” Laird MacLeod said, his eyes lighting up.
Kinsey scowled. “I want nothing from that bastard.” She cast William an apologetic look. “He’s a terrible man. I don’t want anything to do with him.”
“Mayhap ye ought to give him a chance.” William glanced at his father. “He might surprise ye.”
His da straightened, stony-faced save the twinkle in his eye.
“I can speak with him for ye,” Drake said.
Kinsey shook her head. “Nay.” She squeezed William’s hand. “I can do it myself.”
But William knew that before she could seek out her grandfather, she would first have to face her family. Something they would do together.
* * *
The ride to Castleton was short and uneventful despite Kinsey’s ragged nerves. Several days after they had all reunited at the inn, Laird MacLeod once more assumed control of the army and journeyed to Jedwood Forest to rejoin the king’s army, while Drake, William and Kinsey returned to her home. After stopping at Fennela’s cottage with her horse and payment, of course.
William and Drake discussed battle strategies most of the way to the manor on the outskirts of Castleton, but Kinsey, who had experienced enough war, was content to be alone with her thoughts.
Her chest still ached from her injuries, and apparently would for at least a fortnight or more, but her head had cleared enough for her to think properly again.
She had much to atone for with her family. Not only for the way she’d left but also for what she’d done to Drake. Her stomach twisted to think of what he’d given up saving not only her, but William and Reid as well. It was a debt she could never repay.
The stone manor came into view, and the talk of battles subsided. William rode to her side and reached a hand toward her. She accepted the gesture of support with a grateful smile.
A face appeared in the open window, and the door flew open as Mum ran out. “Kinsey. Oh, thanks be to God!” Her gaze found Drake. “Ye found her.” She looked between them and their battered appearances, her joy melting to shock. “Heavens! What’s happened to the lot of ye?”
Clara appeared in the doorway and put her hands over her mouth before joining their mother. “Kinsey, ye’re safe.”
Kinsey slid from her horse, wincing in pain as she landed. Her mother ran to her, thin hands fluttering as if she wanted to embrace her, but having seen Kinsey’s discomfort, was hesitant to do so lest she cause further injury.
“I’m so glad to see ye home,” her mother said in a choked voice. “Ye feisty, impulsive lass.” The chastisement was light, but Kinsey knew her mother well enough to recognize how badly her heart had been wounded.
“I’m sorry, Mum.”
Drake and William dismounted from their steeds as two men emerged from the manor.
Drake’s eyes narrowed. “Who are they?”
“Ach, Monroe and Bruce,” Kinsey’s mother replied with a wave of her hand. “Faye and Ewan sent them down from Sutherland to help look for ye.” She smiled back at the two men as they approached. “She’s returned.”
Kinsey recognized the tall man with his black hair smoothed back in a thong as Monroe, Ewan’s advisor, as well as the large man at his side with thick blond hair as one of Ewan’s warriors.
Monroe’s keen eyes found Kinsey’s, and he lowered his head with sincerity. “We’re relieved to see ye safely returned.”
“They’ve been looking everywhere for ye,” Mum said. “What would possess ye to leave like that?”
As Kinsey considered where even to begin, William cleared his throat and spoke up. “Me.”
Mum’s attention focused on William, apparently assessing him. “Well, I can see why he won ye over.”
Kinsey groaned in humiliation.
William gave her mother his most charming smile. “Aye, by complimenting her archery skills.”
“I think there’s a lot more to
