The proud jut of Glencolum castle above the hills made Lorna smile.She gripped Logan’s hand, aware of the tension in his body.Things were not yet settled.She still could not be quite sure who this man was but when he had made love to her, he looked at her like Logan had in the past.That, and the threat of war, sent coils of nervousness into her belly, but the knowledge her son was behind those thick, grey walls almost washed them away.They climbed the slope to the keep and found several men patrolling the castle.One caught sight of her and he dashed back into the building.
With her hand firmly clasped in Logan’s, she paused and drew in a breath as she eyed the tall mass of the castle and her gaze fell on the window of her chambers.Many months she had sat in that room and cried for Logan and then for the father her son would never know.But now Ewan had his father back.She glanced at the dark-haired man beside her, his features grim and wary, and wondered what it must be like to not know who you were.
Two women dashed down the short steps leading from the entrance door and she heard their exclamations as they hurried toward her.Alana, her cousin’s wife was the first to embrace her.The petite woman with her fiery golden hair and a lively manner did not surprise her but the warmth of Catriona, her brother’s wife, did.They had been close but both struggled with physical affection after what men had inflicted upon them.The elegant raven-haired woman only revealed her tender side with her husband.
“Where have ye been?”Alana queried, her voice breathless.
Catriona’s pale skin had grown ashen when her gaze fell on Logan.Alana had never met him, but Catriona knew him well.Lorna took Logan’s hand again and pulled him to her side.
“Logan wasnae killed,” she said quietly.“Nearly, but not quite.But he doesnae remember anything, Catriona.”
She blinked and her mouth opened and shut.“Naught?Not the battle or...”
“Naught,” he confirmed gruffly.
“Yer Logan?”Alana asked, eyebrows raised.“Oh my.”
Knowing they could spend forever trying to explain and make the women understand, Lorna waved a hand.“Where are my brother and my cousin?I must speak with them with haste.”
“They have gone to the villages,” Catriona told her.“To raise an army.They intended to break down the walls of Kilcree and rescue ye.”
“How did ye know I was there?”
“It took us some time to figure it out.We have been scouring the hills in search of ye.We thought ye dead.Ye didnae even tell yer nursemaid why ye left Ewan with her,” Alana exclaimed.
At the mention of her son, she felt Logan’s hand tighten around hers.
“He has missed hismàthair.”
“I have missed him,” she said, her throat constricting.For a while, she had thought she might never see her babe again yet here she was with his father in tow.
“Come,” Catriona said, with her usual practicality, “ye must be wearied.”
They followed her in and both women retreated to allow them to traipse up the spiral stairs to the chamber.She stopped outside the door and gave Logan a smile before pushing it open.
The nursemaid sat in one corner and her eyes widened when she saw Lorna.“My lady, I heard shouts but I didnae realise ye’d returned!”Effie stood and hastened over to pat her arm affectionately.“I am mighty glad yer safe.Ewan has been missing hismàthair.”
“And I have been missing him.Effie, this is Logan.”
Effie’s eyes grew even wider in the shadows of the room.Everyone in the keep knew of her grief over the loss of Logan.No doubt the news of his miraculous return would spread through the castle like wildfire.
The older woman dipped.“I shall leave ye be then.Ewan is sleeping.”She motioned with her head to the crib before offering another dip and leaving them.
Logan shut the door gently behind the maid and lingered by the door, his mouth stretched into a grim line of tension.Lorna lifted the babe out of the crib, grinning as he stretched his chubby arms and settled against her chest.She lifted his head to her mouth, inhaled his beautiful scent and brushed her lips over his dark, downy hair.When she raised her tear-filled gaze to Logan, she saw him swallow.His gaze was stormy, almost unreadable.Thick tension cloyed the air.
Sucking in a breath, she carried Ewan over.She tried not to smile when he shrank back against the door.This big bold warrior scared by a babe.But she had to feel sympathy for him.His whole world had been turned upside down and now he had friends and a child he knew nothing of.
But would he accept her and her son as his family?And did she want that?Logan would never be the same man he was, but was there enough of him left for her to love?
“Put yer arms out,” she said softly and he immediately obeyed.Lorna eased the babe into his hold and helped Logan position him in the crook.“Support his head.”
The stiffness eased from his posture as he gazed at the babe.“He’s still sleeping,” he said, surprise tingeing his voice.
“Aye, he loves his sleep, he does.He must trust ye.”
Logan gulped audibly and their gazes connected.She saw it then.The soft cast to his eyes that reminded her of the old Logan.He was in there, buried and confused, but this man was still the man she had once called a friend and lover.
Ewan wriggled and stretched again, his dark eyes coming open.Alarm flittered across Logan’s face.“What do I—?”
