Iain spun around and glared at Adair before he thought better of it. “What for?”
“For fixing me up the way she did. I owe her a bit of gratitude. What should I bring to her as a thank-ye offering?” There was a twinkle in Adair’s eyes, but Iain didn’t know if he was jesting or serious, and he didn’t like the thought of Adair visiting Cait.
“I’m certain she doesn’t expect a gift for healing you.”
Adair shrugged. “Maybe I want to give her something. Maybe I’ll ask if I can court her.”
Iain growled and Adair laughed.
“Are ye certain ye can deny yer feelings for her?” his friend asked.
Iain turned back to the window; he didn’t want Adair to see the truth. He was normally very good at hiding his emotions, but Cait had him all out of sorts. Could he deny his feelings for her? Did he want to?
“She’s not what I need,” he said.
“I disagree.” This time Adair was serious.
“She likes her simple life. My life is complicated even for me.”
“She might surprise ye.”
Iain shook his head and changed the subject. “What are we to do about MacGregor?”
Adair hesitated, and Iain prayed the man had taken the hint. “I think ye need to call Graham into this.”
Iain looked at Adair over his shoulder. “Graham?”
“He’s the most powerful Highland chief, and if ye meet MacGregor on neutral land, he might be more amendable to speaking to ye. Graham can help.”
Unfortunately, Graham was not speaking to Iain at the moment. He believed Iain a traitor who wanted to bring Scotland closer to the English ways. However…“It’s a good plan,” he admitted. Graham was the only one whom MacGregor would accept as a mediator, and Graham was the only way Iain would have a chance of talking to MacGregor.
“I know.” Adair grinned, and Iain couldn’t help but grin as well.
“Graham is not one of my best allies,” Iain said. “I’m afraid he’ll not be amenable to helping us.”
“What if I speak to him and tell him you are willing to end this feud with MacGregor?”
“Me end it? I’ve had nothing to do with it. It’s all been on MacGregor’s end.”
“Let me try,” Adair said. “I can at least find out if he’s agreeable to leading the discussion.”
“Go then. I want this ridiculous feud to end so I can concentrate on more important things.” The worst Graham could say was no.
—
Cait was mucking out the stable when Rory came for a visit. She was happy to see her cousin, although he seemed a little off as he followed her around while she did her chores. They talked of mundane things. He updated her on some of her Graham clansmen. As pleased as she was to hear the stories, they made her sad that she’d missed out on so much.
“Ye should move back home,” Rory said into a silence that had stretched for over fifteen minutes.
Startled, she straightened and stretched her back. “I am home.”
“Ye know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t. This is my home. If ye’re speaking of Graham’s, that hasn’t been home for a long time. Grandfather made it perfectly clear when I left that I was no longer welcome there.”
Rory waved his hand in the air. “That was years ago. He’s changed. I think he regrets his rash words.”
“Maybe his regret comes too late.” She was irritated at Rory for bringing up the subject and at her grandfather, who felt remorse only now, eight years later.
