“Is there a competition?” She arched her brow.
“Nay.”
It was her turn to wink. “I bet I can turn it into one.”
He threw back his head and laughed heartily into the sea breeze. “Of that, I have no doubt. Life is definitely more exciting with you around.”
Rose became aware of a roar, and at first she thought it was the pounding of her own blood. But as it grew in volume, she realized that it came from the Royal Navy patrol boats as they surrounded them. Soon sailors were shouting orders. Within moments, the spies were hauled on board the sleek military vessels and the enemy craft commandeered.
Thorfinn climbed back aboardThe Briarwith Rose, and the commander of one of the CMBs tipped his hat in her direction. “That was exceptional piloting there, miss. We wouldn’t have been able to catch them if it hadn’t been for you. Their boat was too far out to sea when we got a signal to follow.”
A rush of pride swept through Rose. Although she’d won races before, they hadn’t been like this. And for once, there was no mention of her having done a capital job ... for a lady.
“Thank you, sir!” Rose said, beaming at the man.
“Do you know what is going on? The signal from the flagship was rather brief,” another commander asked her.
“These men are spies,” Rose explained. As she and Thorfinn quickly recapitulated the espionage they’d uncovered, more and more of the British sailors gathered to hear. Instead of looking incredulous, they were all staring with various degrees of admiration. Theybelievedher. Finally.
Satisfaction washed through Rose. The men on the vessels gave her and Thorfinn a mighty cheer before their commanders ordered the CMBs to return to the harbor.
“Well, that certainly felt wonderful,” Rose said, smiling at Thorfinn. “I guess we’re credible after all.”
Thorfinn laughed, looking just as pleased as her. He winked and added, “You’d better believe it.”
Joining in on his mirth, Rose was just about to turnThe Briararound to follow the other craft when she spied British destroyers moving into the Atlantic in search of theEngel.
“Want to see this out until the very end?” Rose asked.
Thorfinn settled back in his seat. “Why not?”
Rose followed at a respectable distance, not wanting to disrupt the British Navy’s plans. Just when she was beginning to think she and Thorfinn would need to turn around for lack of fuel, she spotted another ship on the horizon. Cutting the engine, she reached for Thorfinn with one hand and her binoculars with the other. Trading the instrument back and forth, they watched as the destroyers surrounded the GermanEngel.
The surrender was uneventful. After a single warning shot fired well over its bow, theEngelsurrendered. But that made it all the more satisfying to Rose. They’d done it. They’d preserved the peace, and no more people had to die. No more shells tearing through limbs. No more mustard gas destroying lungs. No more bullets decimating organs.
“You never stopped fighting, Rose. Even when no one believed you,” Thorfinn said, his steady voice deep with emotion.
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Myrtle, Freya, Young Thomas, and Percy. It was time I started working with a family.”
She’d meant to end the sentence with the wordteam, but the wordfamily... it just felt right—strong, just like them. For love in all its permutations wasn’t a transaction or even a barter. It was essential. Itwasthe purpose she’d been yearning for all these years—the mission, themeaningof living.
Chapter 18
“Da’s asking for you,” Freya said quietly, the dark shadows under her cornflower-blue eyes making them seem even lighter than normal.
“Me?” Thorfinn asked in reflexive shock.
He, Rose, Freya, and Astrid had arrived at the croft late yesterday morning after Rose had freed Astrid from her bedroom and apologized for suspecting her. Due to the circumstances, Astrid had immediately accepted Rose’s contrition, and they’d all taken off to Frest to confront Sigurd and to decide how and when to report him to the authorities. When they’d arrived, he had been nowhere to be seen. After questioning the children, Thorfinn had headed to the byre and had found his stepda collapsed by the milking stool. Thorfinn had been able to rouse the older man, but it was clear that he’d suffered another stroke.
Rose had quickly offered to take off inThe Briarto fetch a doctor from Kirkwall, but even though Sigurd had trouble with his speech, hisnohad been emphatic. Unlike with the stroke after his wife’s passing, Sigurd wasn’t fighting death. He was not only accepting it; he seemed to be welcoming it.
Rose had stayed overnight at the croft, helping with the children, and Young Thomas had arrived in the morning. Astrid had gone home last evening to work with her grandmother to organize the islanders to bring meals. Myrtle and even Percy had dropped by earlier today. Over the last few hours, Sigurd’s breathing had become more and morelabored. Each intake of air triggered a terrible, rattle-like gurgle in his chest, and he grew ever weaker.
Thorfinn and Percy had moved him to the back room for more privacy, and Sigurd had asked to see each of the children separately, starting with little Alexander. It was clear that the older man knew his time was drawing to a close, and he wanted to make his last goodbyes. Thorfinn hadn’t expected, though, for his stepda to request a final audience withhim. After all, it was clear that Sigurd didn’t need to charge his stepson with the duty to care for the bairns; they both knew Thorfinn would.
“Aye.” Freya nodded. “Da said your name quite clearly.”
Thorfinn glanced around the small front room as he wondered if the children could spare him. Little Alexander was nestled on Rose’s lap, and Margaret snuggled against her side as Rose told the wee ones tales from her racing days. Thorfinn’s siblings were somber, their eyes red and puffy. Rose was not just distracting them but giving them the warmth, thecomfort, that they sorely needed. Thorfinn still did not know how long she would stay on the island once they finally discovered where Reggie had hidden the rest of his notes, but she was here now—for him and his siblings.
