Bethoc took Laurel’s hands in hers. “That is good news. And does he love ye?”
“Aye and I didnae e’en have to pry it out of him. He freely told me. And I can tell by the sadness clouding your eyes that ye wish for such words to come from Callum.”
“I do but ne’er think that I am nay happy for ye.”
“I ken it. My opinion? I fear ye may have to open your heart to him ere he gets the courage to speak.”
She sighed for she had begun to think the same. “I dinnae ken why he needs courage. Mon has that in abundance.”
“Mayhap nay when it comes to something that matters to him, someone he needs to gain something from—like love or acceptance. Dinnae e’er forget what his childhood was like. I dinnae ken how much he has told ye but it was bad, Bethoc, verra bad. He is a wounded mon e’en if he thinks he is fully recovered. To, weel, expose himself so may be too hard.”
“Aye, I ken what ye are saying. Do ye ken, I thought of just staying here but I left the boys at Whytemont. Then I fear if I do that he still willnae say anything and I will be left alone. For the moment, I just stay and pray he will eventually give me the more I want, I need. ’Tis nay a good situation and certainly nay a good solution.”
Hooking her arm through Bethoc’s, Laurel said, “Then I best tell ye that I am moving here. I will sell my house or mayhap get some tenants so that we will still have a place when the lads get older. The lads asked if I would move in ere Robbie did. ’Tis their house, aye? But, if ye wish me to wait . . .”
“Nay, dinnae wait on what I will do. Aye, this is Colin’s and Bean’s house now. I dinnae think Kerr left anything saying just that but I believe he would have named them his heirs if only to keep his land from falling into the hands of a girl child. All the work that has been done is theirs.”
“T’was your mother’s parent who bought it.”
“Aye, to be rid of the embarrassment their daughter had become. Nay, do what ye will. If I decide, or Callum does, that I should leave him, I have a father and I suspicion he may have a cottage I could use if needed.”
“And that wouldnae trouble ye?”
“Only a little but if I take it as just another tenant, nay. All I ask is an empty house he would have given to some other tenant. ’Tis nay so much to ask of the mon who fathered me.”
“Nay, it isnae. I could wait until ye ken for sure ye need one and then rent ye mine.”
“Nay. If ye can find someone to take it, I suspicion ye could use the money.”
“Weel, I wish ye luck.”
“Oh, weel, I dinnae doubt Sir Murray . . .”
“Nay, I mean with getting Callum to tell ye exactly what he wants, what he feels, too. From the tales Robbie told me of what happened when they were lads, it willnae be easy. I truly think he may fear ye will reject him.”
“Robbie wasnae afraid.”
“Robbie is a mon who kens what he wants and doesnae let anything stand in his way. He wasnae calm, nay at all, but kenned he had to speak his heart if he was to win me.”
“And he did.”
“Aye, he did, and we will marry next month. I expect ye to attend.”
Bethoc readily agreed. When they reached the house it was obvious Robbie had told the boys. Their pleasure decided Bethoc; she would consider the house out of her reach now. It was not until she stood outside waiting for Callum to ready the horses that she remembered to ask Laurel about Lorraine.
“She is to wed Walter next week,” she said as she stood holding Robbie’s hand.
“Ah, that is good, I hope.” She watched Robbie kiss Laurel on the cheek and then go join Callum.
“’Tis. She told me she doesnae ken when their childhood friendship changed but it had. I think some of Walter’s guilt has eased as weel. No one blames him for the women who were hanged but they did blame the sheriff and his men. They have all been hanged, ye ken, and Walter did all he could to make sure what was done to me was kept a secret. I went to the hangings but although a part of me was eased, I didnae get any joy out of it. It was all rather sad.”
“Aye, ’tis. I hope Walter continues to lose his guilt as he doesnae deserve to suffer.”
“Nay. And he spoke up to Lorraine quickly,” Laurel said with a pointed look at Bethoc. “Ye need to be firm and brave, my friend.”
“Dinnae nag,” Bethoc murmured, and briefly grinned. “I will think most seriously about it.”
* * *
