Page 25

“By Kenna?”

Ruairi’s gaze flashed towards Maura. There was something about the way she asked the question that set him on edge. She wore a playful smile. “Ye cannae hide anything from me, Ruairi. I heard the way ye spoke about her. She haes touched yer heart. It’s a good thing.”

“Aye, in another life, it would be. But we cannae be taegether.”

“Why nae?”

“For one thing, her da hates me and thinks I’m responsible for all that she endured, and for another, she deserves more than tae be the wife of a man who is at sea all the time.”

Maura stiffened at this. “Ye are still planning tae return tae sea?”

“It’s the only thing I understand, Maura. I hae lived there for sae long, it’s a part of me now.”

“We’re a part of ye, Ruairi. Did ye nae listen tae anything Da said? Are ye truly gaeing tae refuse his last wish?”

Ruairi pouted and shook his head. “He was just saying that because he was caught up in emotion. We both know that ye and Kevan should lead the clans. Unite them under one banner. Ye hae the experience, and people respect ye.”

“That’s nae the way it should be, Ruairi. I cannae believe that after all this time, ye would still walk away from us. All we’ve wanted is for ye tae come tae yer senses and come home. I haed held my tongue for all these years because I was afraid that if I said the wrong thing, ye would never come back at all, but ye cannae leave after this. Ma needs ye. Ye were always meant tae take over after Da died. This is what ye were born for. Ye cannae run all yer life, Ruairi, and I dinnae even know what ye are running taewards! From what ye tell me, ye hae no ship and no crew. Are ye gaeing tae stand on a piece of driftwood for the rest of yer life?”

The words were sharp, but they were ones that Ruairi needed to hear. He cupped his hands around his mug and stared into the wine, which was as dark as the sea.

Maura came closer to him and placed her hand upon his arm. “This is yer home, Ruairi. This is where ye belong. Please, stay with us. Da wouldnae hae made ye laird if he didnae think ye would be a worthy one.”

Ruairi considered her words and also thought about how fiercely Kenna had urged him to stay in the Highlands. In the back of his mind, he could hear the sea calling to him, but what kind of life would be waiting for him out there? One of loneliness? One where he was afraid to reveal his true identity to his crew? The sea had shown him no mercy, and it offered no comfort.

“Aye, well, perhaps I’ll stay for a wee while,” he said.

Maura rejoiced at this, and they toasted to new beginnings.