By the time she caught up, he was already inside their chamber, spreading his cloak on the bed. Breathless, she caught him by the arm. “I want to go with you.”
He spun to face her. “No. We’ve been over this before.”
“You’re not going to play the highwayman this time, Trick. I’ll worry—”
“And I’ll worry more if you come.” He caressed her cheek with the backs of his long fingers, then moved away to root through the clothespress. “Stay with Hamish,” he said, pulling out a black shirt and breeches. “He needs people around him.”
“He has Duncan and Annag, and his grandchildren.”
“Aye?” He tossed the garments on the open cloak. “Then where were they today?”
“At their own homes,” Niall said behind them, “packing up their lives.” They both turned to find him standing in the open doorway, holding a roll of parchment. “They’ll return tonight. Seems they’re moving here for good.”
“Good?” Kendra asked incredulously.
“Bad choice of words.” He half-grimaced, half-grinned. “But I don’t want to upset Da by questioning this. Not until he’s stronger.”
“I understand.” And she did. But that didn’t mean she wanted to stay here with Niall’s brother and sister. Left to deal with them alone, she could picture herself tearing her hair out. She’d be bald by the time Trick returned.
Suddenly she realized they were her husband’s brother and sister as well. “They’re yours, too, Trick,” she blurted.
“Pardon?” He buckled on his sword belt.
“Duncan and Annag. They’re your brother and sister.”
In the act of shoving a pistol into his boot top, he stilled, the gun dangling from his fingers.
Niall leapt into the room to catch it. “Halfbrother and sister,” he corrected.
Trick’s face had gone pale. Kendra wished she could see the expression in his eyes, but his hair hung in the way.
“They’re my half siblings, too, and I manage to survive,” Niall joked weakly. “It’s not all that bad.”
“I just hadn’t thought of it.”
“Then have you thought about the fact that you’re Scottish?” Niall handed over the gun.
Trick stared at it as if he’d never seen one before. “Scottish?” he repeated.
“One-hundred percent Scots,” his brother said in an exaggerated burr. “Both your parents.”
“I hadn’t thought about that, either.” Regaining his color, he shook his head as though to clear it, but the hair fell right back into his eyes. “I thought Mam was half Irish?”
Niall shrugged. “I suppose. But either way, you’re not English, aye?”
A small smile tugged at Trick’s lips. “I never did feel very English.”
“Well, that’s because you aren’t.” His brother returned his grin. “But you up and married a Sassenach, aye?”
“Guess I did, at that,” Trick said, reaching an arm to pull Kendra close.
Seeing he was over the shock, she relaxed. He felt warm against her side, and she wished he wasn’t leaving. She looked down, twisting the bracelet on her wrist.
Trick jammed the pistol into his boot top. “Are you ready?” he asked Niall.
“I brought a map.” Walking to the desk, Niall unrolled the parchment. “I thought you’d like to see the way.”
Trick helped him smooth it on the scarred oak surface. “We’re here, are we?”
