“Shhh, he’ll be fine.Just rock him gently.”
Logan moved awkwardly yet the babe settled again, and a hesitant smile came across Logan’s face.He lifted him, mimicking Lorna, and kissed his head.She noted the mist in his eyes before he blinked it away.
“I-I thought I wanted things—land, riches...but now they dinnae seem important.”
“What do ye want now?”she inched closer, trepidation tangling her windpipe.
“I think I want ye, Lorna.And Ewan.”He nodded.“A family.”
Unable to hold back the tears that slipped down her face, she slid into his embrace, Ewan held between them, and buried her face against his chest.“Ye have one,” she whispered.
Chapter Seventeen
The darkness still came.He still jerked awake.But it eased rapidly when Logan turned to see Lorna sprawled on her front next to him.Her nose was pressed against the pillow, her hair splayed out around her.Those tiny noises she made forced a grin across his face and the shadows crowding his mind vanished.He peeked over at the crib and then at the light beginning to slip through the shutters.Ewan hadn’t awoken yet.Surprising, as the babe liked to wake them well before dawn.
Logan tucked his hands behind his head and peered up at the canopy above him.The days had been a whirl.Lorna’s brother and cousin had returned with many men and had greeted him like a brother.He liked their company and had joined them for ale for the past three nights but he still felt an outsider.They told tales of their adventures, some of which he’d been a part of, but he had no role here.To go from being in charge of a whole castle to being nothing more than an extra hand frustrated him to no end.
Luckily Lorna knew well how to deal with his frustration.He grinned again and studied her.She’d seen him at his worst and nothing seemed to daunt the lass.Not even his foul moods.
Swinging his legs over the bed, he tiptoed over to the chair in one corner and fumbled to pull his shirt and garments on.Logan slipped on his boots and eased open the door, stealing a quick peek at Ewan before he left.The babe slept on and the sight made his heart squeeze.But he needed a few moments alone.The past days had been about preparing for battle and trying to understand his past.He needed time to gather his thoughts and understand his feelings for Lorna.Did some part of him remember everything he felt for her?Because at times if felt deeper than he could comprehend.
He took the spiral steps down and paused in the Great Hall.Only a few servants could be heard in the kitchen and most were still abed.He stood in the centre of the room near the fire pit and gazed about.What to do?Energy burned through him.Mayhap he should have stayed in bed and awoken Lorna by stroking that beautiful body until she cried her pleasure out against his skin.But Ewan should be awake soon, meaning an early morning session of lovemaking was out of the question.
Instead of returning to his bedroom, he strode to the armoury.As he took the stairs down to the corridor, he savoured the scent of metal and smoke.He ducked under the beam and into the room to find it empty.Swords and daggers were laid out on the table and the torchlight glinted off the metal.Logan picked up his weapon and handled the hilt, giving it an experimental swing.Mayhap he should have killed Gillean when he had the chance.Killing a man when he was on his knees was not to his taste but might it have saved them from battle?
He laid the sword down on a table in the corner and snatched an old swatch of mail.Raking it up and down the blade, he sharpened it until sweat dripped from his brow and down the back of his shirt.
“Logan?”
He turned hastily, blade in hand, only to see Finn’s grinning face.Logan lowered the blade.“Forgive me, ye caught me unawares.”
“Aye, I can see that.What are ye doing up at this early hour?”
“I couldnae sleep.What of ye?”
“The same.I went for a ride.”The grin dropped from the fair-haired man’s face, and Logan’s stomach grew heavy.
“What is it?”
“Gillean and the Norse army will be here before nightfall.I saw them some two miles away from my position.They bring much weaponry so will be slow, but battle is upon us.”
“Hell fire, I should have killed Gillean when I had the chance.”
“Do ye believe that would have stopped the Norse army?”
“Nay.I do not.”He let his shoulders sag.
“I have regrets too.He tried to kill my wife and then my sister.I thought he had killed ye.I look forward to being able to meet him in battle and rectify that mistake, but I regret the battle should be brought to our walls.”
“As do I.I cannae help but think I should have done something sooner...”
Finn shook his head and clapped his hand to his shoulder.“And here I am regretting ever leaving ye at Kilcree.For being fool enough to believe ye dead.I should have known it would take more than a blow to the neck to cut down a warrior such as ye.Ye must forgive me, Logan.”
Logan eyed the man and though he still barely knew him, he felt their friendship must have been a strong one.“There is naught to forgive.”
“There is no point looking back,” Finn said.“Ye taught me that.Were it not for ye, I would never have realised what I had in front of me.”
Logan scowled.
