Tamsin shot her oldest son a reproving look, but she couldn’t quite suppress the harsh sound that escaped her throat as if summoned by his words.
“It’s a cold,” she insisted, but her voice was hoarse.
Suzie moved closer, her earlier anger completely forgotten.“How long have you had that cough?”
“A few days.It’s nothing.”
“In this damp?”Suzie shook her head.“Mrs.Teague, I’m not a doctor, but I know enough to recognize when someone needs to get warm and dry.”She looked around the campsite, taking in the water pooling despite their best efforts, the steam rising from wet clothes, the way everyone unconsciously hunched against the cold.“This isn’t safe for any of you.”
A fierce gust of wind sent water cascading through a new gap in the tarp, and Jamie, who’d been silently helping Calan secure their gear, looked up, strands of hair plastered to his wet face.
“At least the hearts are safe,” he said, patting a waterproof container.“We finished the new batch yesterday.”
“Hearts?”Niall asked.
“Pottery,” Jago explained, unconsciously moving to shield the container from the worst of the rain.“Papa, Calan, and I design them.Jamie and Kitto paint them.We sell them at markets.”
“They’re beautiful and popular with the tourists.The family has done well with them,” Liam said.
Niall’s eyebrows rose with interest.“Really?We get coachloads of tourists every year.I’m always looking for authentic Scottish crafts.”
“These aren’t Scottish,” Calan said quickly, as if he was worried about being accused of false advertising.
“No, but they’re handmade by skilled artisans,” Niall replied.“That’s what people want.Something genuine, made with care.”
Another violent gust shook their shelter, and this time, part of the tarp tore free entirely.Rain immediately soaked the area where they’d been standing.
“Right,” Hedrek said, his decision made.“Boys, start packing the essentials.Quickly now.”
“What about the rest?”Tamsin asked, looking around at their carefully organized camp.
“We’ll come back for it tomorrow if the weather clears,” Niall said.“Bring what you need for tonight.”
The efficiency with which the family moved spoke of long practice.Within minutes, they’d gathered personal items, secured their pottery, and dismantled what they could of their camp.Liam helped Jago wrestle a tent into submission while Suzie assisted Tamsin in gathering cooking supplies.
“Travel light,” Hedrek instructed his sons.“We can always return.”
But Liam caught the way he said it, as if he didn’t quite believe they would.As if this was another temporary stop in a series of escapes.
As they loaded the last of the immediate necessities into the vans, Tamsin paused beside the driver’s door, looking back at what remained of their campsite.Her expression was unreadable, but Liam detected a flash of something like grief.
“Mrs.Teague?”Suzie appeared at her elbow.“Are you all right?”
“It’s just…” Tamsin’s voice was barely audible over the rain.“We’ve been running so long.Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever have a proper home again.”
The raw honesty caught Suzie off guard.For a moment, she stood in the downpour, staring at a woman who’d lost everything yet held her dignity.
“You will,” Suzie said, her voice fierce.“I promise.”
The castle emerged from the rain like something from a fairy tale, its ancient stones darkened by water but somehow more imposing for it.Warm light spilled from dozens of windows, casting golden rectangles against the lead-colored afternoon.
Liam heard Kitto’s sharp intake of breath from the back of the van.“Is that where we’re going?”
“Aye,” Jamie whispered in awe.
Even Sienna was stunned into silence as they neared the main entrance.She’d been here before, but arriving now seemed different.
Niall had radioed ahead because the massive front doors opened before they’d even stopped.A small, energetic woman with silver hair hurried out, accompanied by two younger staff members carrying umbrellas.
