“Well, ‘tis part of my problem. The only thing my husband taught me before he passed was how to fish. I thought if we lived near the loch, I could catch and clean fish for you. Ashlyn loves to fish, as well.”
Alex nodded his head. “I see. And the second thing you wished to discuss with us?”
“The person who forced me has been searching for me. He followed us out of Glasgow, but Robbie and his men fought off his men. He was able to escape back to Glasgow. I fear he may come for me and I don’t wish to risk any of your clan being hurt by him.”
Alex turned toward his brother. “Robbie, the man got away?”
“Aye, he threw Caralyn on his horse while we fought off his guards. By the time I followed, he was far enough ahead to force me to use my arrow. I struck him in the shoulder and he pushed Caralyn off his horse down an incline. I had to make a choice, and it was more important to me to make sure she wasn’t in danger.”
Alex quirked an eyebrow, then returned his attention to Caralyn. “If he comes for you, you are safer here inside the keep than in a cottage.”
“But I don’t wish to endanger anyone here.” Her voice was firm.
Maddie returned to her chair in time to hear Alex whisper to her out the corner of his mouth. “Hmmm, where have I heard that before, wife?”
Alex stood. “Thank you, Caralyn. I will give some thought to your request. Until I make my decision, I expect you to stay in the keep.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Maddie and Alex give Robbie advice on how to help Caralyn adjust to Clan Grant and Robbie.
Later that night, the Grant brothers sat around the hearth drinking ale, along with their brother-in-law, Quade. The only female present was Maddie, fast asleep in Alex’s lap, resting in their favorite chair together, the one Alex had made special for them. He kissed her forehead and she sighed and cuddled closer to him.
“So, Robbie, do you want to tell us exactly what this lass means to you?” Alex asked.
Brodie smiled, “Aye, I see a bit more interest than is usual with you. Most of the time, you just ignore the lasses until it suits your needs. Your eyes follow this one everywhere.”
Robbie sighed. “’Struth, I am interested in her. But her past has been so difficult that I don’t know if we will ever suit. Her life is focused around her bairns, and I don’t know if she wants another man in her life.”
Maddie sat up, brushing the sleep from her eyes. “Your pardon. May I, Robbie?”
“Och, aye. I was hoping for your input, Maddie. I seem to say and do all the wrong things.”
“Based on what she has said, my guess is she won’t want to be touched for a while. She was forced for so long, she probably wants no part of a man’s touch right now.”
“She isn’t afraid of a man’s touch. But I don’t think she understands the way things should be between a man and awoman. Again, her experiences have tainted her view of the world.”
“Aye, because all she has learned is wrong. It has been five years for her since her husband passed. The years since sound like pure torture. I know this is hard, but you will have to be patient if you really wish to pursue her.”
He paused for a moment before he admitted the truth. “Aye, I do.”
Quade said, “Are you ready to be involved in her daughters’ lives? I think that would be important for her. She needs to see you interact with her wee ones.”
“Gracie accepted me right away, long before Caralyn did. So she isn’t an issue. I guess I am not sure about Ashlyn. They are so tied up with their new friends, I haven’t spent much time with them.”
“You must court her,” Alex said.
“What do you mean?” Robbie asked.
“Start from the beginning and do the things she has never had done for her. Take her for a walk, go for a picnic, go for a boat ride in the loch. She needs to know life with you will be different.”
Maddie nodded. “Aye, she has to learn what a good relationship is all about.”
“Mayhap we can set her up in a place so that she feels she has something of her own. What about the cottage by the loch? We could fix it up for her.” Robbie looked at Quade for support.
Alex said, “The family cottage is still there and it needs fixing up, but she can’t stay there alone until the issue with Murray is done. I don’t think it will be long before he’ll be here, so go ahead and work on it if you wish.”
Quade said, “I’ll help. Will give me something to do while we wait for our new niece to be born.”
