A Highlander's Reiver by Aileen Adams

Author:Aileen Adams
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Highland
Publisher: 0
Published: 2018-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

15

“What do ye think?” Drew waited, arms folded over his chest, for his cousin to offer an opinion. Or at least to acknowledge that he’d spoken.

After enough time had passed without either of them speaking, Rufus glanced up from the saddle he was in the act of rubbing oil into. “What did ye say?”

Drew blew out a short, frustrated sigh. “Did ye hear a word I said?”

He attempted to recall, at least, putting his work aside for a moment and furrowing his brow in concentration. “Ye were speaking of the twins. Needing help with them, which we all know.”

“Aye. You’ve started well.”

Rufus opened his mouth—then, after a moment, snapped it closed. “I must admit, I remember no more past that point. Forgive me. My mind is in so many places at the moment.”

“Just one place.” Drew jerked his head toward the main house, clearly visible from the stables.

“Dinna blame me for it.”

“I never said I did. I dare say I would be the same.” Though he might at least grant others the courtesy of listening to them when they spoke, especially after the person in question had already stated the importance of what they had to share.

“I ask myself whether I shall be able to make it through this.” Rufus laughed at himself. “And myself sitting out here, while she is the one in the house, suffering.”

“It does not seem as though she suffers. I only told myself yesterday that she looks and sounds much better. Innis claims she’s been holding down her meals.” Indeed, it appeared as though the tonic did as the healer promised.

This was not enough for Rufus. “That does not make her well. Nor does it mean the bairn is well.”

The way his brow furrowed, the circles beneath his eyes, tore at Drew’s conscience. He had hoped the tonic, and the change in Davina’s condition, might bring his cousin a measure of peace.

Instead, he now waited for some new calamity to befall them. Drew clapped his shoulder. “Ye must cease tormenting yourself. All will be well.”

“Would that I had your confidence.” A faint smile played over his lips. “I can rely on ye, at least.”

“On me?”

“Aye. We’ve had no further theft on the farm, and I am sure ‘tis in no small part thanks to ye.”

His stomach turned over in a full flip, sending bile rising in his throat. It was very nearly the worst thing Drew could hear, for the truth was something entirely different while also being somewhat the same. He was to thank for there being no further theft, but not for the reason Rufus believed.

Which brought him back around to the matter he wished to discuss. “Perhaps ye shall keep that in mind, then, when I tell ye I have brought on a lass to mind the twins on my behalf. Davina will not be able to do it for much longer—not that she can now, which weighs heavily on me.”

Rufus frowned. “Who is this lass?”

Another lie. “From Avoch. She lost her parents, and her younger brother went to live with someone elsewhere in the Highlands.

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