Page 76 of Highland Storm

“I love ye, Hawke. And I believe ye,” she said, running off to help Orrick to try to heal her father before she lost him as well.

Chapter 23

Hawke rode back to the MacKeefe camp with Phoebe sitting in front on him on his horse. He wrapped his arms around her, never wanting to let her go. Leaning forward, he kissed her atop her head.

Ian rode with them and so did Ethan, followed by his hound. Orrick and Logan stayed at the MacNabs’ castle for now. It had taken a good part of the day to bury the dead and clean up. Things were over now, but Hawke still felt unsettled.

“I am glad the herbs we collected from the isle are already helpin’ my faither,” said Phoebe. “Orrick said my faither will live, although his recovery will be slow.”

“I am so happy for ye, Phoebe. And I am sorry about Osla.”

“She dove in front of Euan’s blade to protect me, Hawke. And because of it, she died.”

“It was her choice, lass.”

“I made her a promise when she was dyin’, that I intend to carry out.”

“Of course,” he told her. “A promise to a dyin’ person should never be broken.”

“We’re goin’ to be raisin’ her children as our own,” she said, causing Hawke to go speechless.

Phoebe waited for Hawke to respond, but he was much too quiet. “Hawke, did ye hear me?”

“I did,” he finally answered.

“Well, what do ye think about the idea? We’ll have an instant family even before we are married.”

“I dinna like the idea of raisin’ Euan’s children, because I have a lot of hatred for the man.”

“But they are also Osla’s children, Hawke. Her boy is auld enough to be . . . to be yers from when ye were married to my cousin.”

“I ken that, Phoebe. And it bothers me that the only two people who can give me the answer if Oliver is from my seed or not are dead.”

“Does it matter?” she asked. “Raise him as if he were truly yers.”

“I suppose.”

“I talked to some of my faither’s men who ken what happened with Osla,” said Phoebe.

“I heard what Euan confessed.”

“Aye. I guess it started out as a plot to frame ye and keep the feud goin’ between our clans. My faither had nothin’ to do with it. Euan carried it out, and then hid Osla on the Isle of Kerrera because it was said to be haunted. He was sure no one would go there except for the people who lived there.”

“I canna believe what a fool I was to no’ have kent about this for ten long years.”

“No one but a few of Euan’s men were aware of it. No’ even my faither. I also learned that even though he wouldna admit it aloud, Euan really did care for Osla. That is why he kept it a secret so long. It worked in his favor since she hit her head and lost her memory. He could tell her anythin’ and she’d believe it.”

“Well, it’s over now, lass. And I am no’ lookin’ forward to tellin’ Osla’s children that they lost both of their parents.”

“I’ll do that,” offered Phoebe. “And think of it this way – they’ll have two new parents now.”

“And someday, we’ll have more bairns of our own makin’.”

“Of course we will. Hawke, tell me somethin’, honestly.”

“What is it, lass?”

“If Osla were still alive . . . would ye have lived with her since ye were still married to her? After all, we couldna be married if ye already took yer vows with my cousin.”