Page 33 of Highland Steel

“He doesna think it was a guid idea to bring Rhoswen and her siblin’s here,” said Logan.

“Mmm,” said Ethan. “And ye dinna agree?” He continued to pet the horse, looking back over his shoulder at Logan.

“I dinna ken what to think anymore.” He furiously whittled away at the wood.

“Storm is only tryin’ to protect the clan,” Ethan pointed out.

“And I am only tryin’ to protect Rhoswen and her siblin’s,” said Logan.

“I ken that.” Ethan gave the horse one last pet, then walked over and hunkered down next to Logan. “I also ken that ye have feelin’s for the girl. That is what is makin’ yer decision so hard of whether to let them stay or send them away.”

Logan stopped whittling and threw the wood to the ground. “Is it that obvious?” he asked.

“Well, I see the way ye look at her,” said Ethan. No’ to mention, Newell told me he saw ye kissin’ his sister.”

“The boy’s got a big mouth,” spat Logan, wiping off his blade on his plaid.

“He only does it for attention,” said Ethan.

“Ye think so?” Logan looked up in surprise. He’d never thought about that.

“Well, all I ken is that when my daughter, Isobel, wants my attention, she talks about anythin’ and everythin’ and often shows me her doll.”

“Ye made that doll for her,” said Logan, looking down at the wood he discarded.

“That’s right, I did. And ever since, she willna leave my side.”

“Mayhap, before I can make a decision, I need to get to ken Rhoswen and her brathair and sister better.”

“Mayhap,” said Ethan with a shrug. “But will any of that make it any easier when ye have to send them away?”

“Nay, I suppose no’. But because of their daft faither’s decisions, they have nowhere to go, Ethan. I had hoped to ask Storm to let them stay here.”

“Och, Logan, ye canna be serious.” Ethan stood up. “Ye ken as well as I that it’s only a matter of time before the Drummonds find out they’re here and it starts trouble.”

“Mayhap they’ll never ken. Besides, they have the sword they wanted, so why would they come after Rhoswen and her siblin’s?”

“Rhoswen is a strong lassie,” said Ethan. “But she’s lost everythin’ and almost everyone in the past few days. She’s learned her faither was a connivin’, murderin’ bastard and that is somethin’ that will affect her the rest of her life.”

“I ken.”

“Do ye think she is really goin’ to be content just stayin’ here when she kens her nephew is with the Drummonds?”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” said Logan with a sigh. “If I dinna help her, she and probably her brathair, too, are goin’ to do somethin’ stupid like go after the boy by themselves.”

“And if ye do help her?”

Logan bit his lip and looked the other way. “If I try to get that boy away from the Drummonds, I might bring an attack against the clan and that is somethin’ I could never live with.”

“Then there is no other answer, Logan. The girl and her siblin’s need to go.”

“I suppose ye’re right.” Logan shook his head, his heart not in this decision.

“I have to be honest with ye, Logan. Storm sent me over here to talk some sense into that wooden head of yers.”

“I figured. And I canna blame him.”

“So, what do ye want me to tell him?”