Iain laughed. “The bastard must have spies in my house. How the hell did he hear about us so quickly?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Is that all he wanted?”
She hesitated again, and Iain’s attention sharpened.
“He has regrets. We’ve reconciled.”
“Ach, Cait. That’s a good thing,” he said softly.
She rubbed the horse’s nose. “It is. I don’t want to get too hopeful, though.”
“Not everyone leaves for good. Some people come back.”
The horse nuzzled her hand, probably looking for a treat. “I know.”
“No, you don’t. But you will. I’m glad you’ve reconciled with your grandfather.”
“I told him that ye helped me these last days and that ye aren’t a bad man. I told him ye had some good ideas about Scotland and he needed to listen to ye.”
Iain’s hopes soared. Who would have guessed that his greatest ally would be Cait Campbell? “And what did he say to that?”
“That he would consider it.”
It was the same thing Graham had said to Iain, and while it was frustrating that Cait hadn’t been able to convince Graham, it was encouraging that he was still thinking on the matter.
They put the horse in an empty stall and made their way back to the cottage, entering through the back kitchen door.
“He’s getting older,” she said, taking up the thread of the conversation again.
“He’s realizing that he’s run damn near everyone off,” Iain said.
“Rory is loyal to him.”
Iain grunted as they walked through the kitchen. “And did you forgive him?”
“I don’t know if I can forgive him, but I can move forward, and he indicated that he was willing to as well. We had a nice chat, and he invited me to visit him.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I’d like to give it a try. I never thought I would be welcome back in my childhood home. He’s…different. Softer.” She laughed. “Don’t ye dare tell him I told ye that.”
Iain grinned. “I’m glad he made an effort toward amends. Now all you need is for MacGregor to do the same.”
“I’ll no’ hold out hopes for that. Graham doesn’t like ye, but MacGregor despises ye.”
Iain shook his head. “All thanks to a ridiculous feud that happened over forty years ago.”
“He’s a stubborn man.”
“Sounds like someone else I know. Come here, Cait.” He sat in the chair in the sitting room and held his hand out to her. She came to him. There was really no question about it. She was drawn to him like Black Cat was to a warm patch of sunlight.
He gently tugged her onto his lap and she happily settled there, her arms draped around his shoulders.
“I missed you today,” he whispered. “I hate being apart from you.”
“Oh, Iain.”
