Tomas had never made a promise that he wasn’t certain he could keep, but as he’d lain in bed the previous night, he worried. What if, what if, what if. It made his head spin.

He believed his father would come. But what if something happened to them on the way? What if they were robbed and their coin was stolen? What if they didn’t get there in time?

What if, with Laird Ruthven gone, someone seized the opportunity to attack?

What if the sheriff acted quickly and Laird Lindsay rode on Cotharach tomorrow, with a writ demanding Vida be turned over to him.

The last “what if” had been the one that filled his heart with dread. It was a distinct possibility that Tomas couldn’t ignore. The only way to truly protect her from that horrible eventuality was to see her to an abbey first thing in the morning. She wouldn’t have to stay long. As soon as his parents arrived and the debt could be paid, Tomas could bring her home.

And if the worst happened, if the sheriff acknowledged the betrothal, as soon as he could Tomas would steal her away from the abbey and take her somewhere safe. Aye, Saint Oda’s was the best place for her. He’d see it done in the morning.

Unfortunately, that turned out to be much harder than he’d imagined. He had raised the subject while breaking their fast together and she flatly refused.

“Vida, my love, surely ye can see how dangerous it is for ye to just wait here?”

“If someone lays siege to my home, I will be here to defend it,” she declared.

“Does Cotharach have a bolt hole or some other secret way out that I don’t know about?”

“No.”

“Sweetling, I will protect ye with my life, but that’s what it might come to. Our men are much more prepared than they were two months ago, but I still can’t be certain that Cotharach wouldn’t fall.”

Her face softened and she caressed his cheek with her hand. “I can’t leave my people. Please don’t ask me to.”

“But if ye just go to the abbey for a few days, just until we know more about what’s happening with yer da…”

“Tomas, I have spent most of my life doing whatever I had to do to keep papa on an even keel. And perhaps because of that I have always done exactly what he asked of me and what other people expected of me. Including throwing chess games to avoid injuring men’s pride. But then you arrived and you wouldn’t let me do that. You tell me I’m smart and that you respect me. My darling, I know you want me to go to the abbey and I understand why. But please, let this be my decision. I will go if it becomes necessary, but it isn’t necessary today.”

He sighed, gathered her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I will allow it to be your decision today. I reserve the right to change my mind if danger is imminent and you are stubborn.”

She hugged him back. “I’ll take that answer for today.”

Well, if she wouldn’t go to the abbey ahead of trouble, he would have to make certain they had plenty of warning if trouble approached. December days were short and today was the shortest of them all. The sun would set in the middle of the afternoon, less than an hour after none. So, they wouldn’t be able to see anyone approaching the castle until it was too late to get Vida safely away. He wanted sentries posted far enough from the castle to ensure adequate time to prepare.

At this moment he missed Duncurra more than he ever had. Built on a crag that jutted into a loch, the castle was easy to defend and its elevation made it easier to see danger approaching.

His heart nearly stopped when one of the sentries he sent to the northwest was spotted riding back at full speed.

When the sentry arrived, he announced, “Sir Tomas, a hoard of Highlanders—at least thirty heavily armed men and maybe more—are approaching from the north.”

Tomas heaved a sigh of relief. “Well, thank God.”

The messenger and the other men nearby stared at him in horror. Tomas could only laugh. For the first time since the summons had arrived from Perth, the sentry bore good news…even if none of the Ruthven men knew it yet. “That hoard of Highlanders is my family, who I expect have the means to get us out of this mess.”

Soon enough, the riders could be seen emerging from the forest.

“Sir, I think you’ve made a mistake. Laird Carr isn’t among them,” said one of the guardsmen.

“Aye, well that would be because Sir Tomas isn’t a Carr,” said one of the older guardsmen.

Tomas arched a brow at him. “Ye know who I am.”

“Aye, sir. You’re the image of your father and I considered him a friend.”

“You don’t know any Highlanders, Archie,” said another man.

The man chuckled. “Tomas wasn’t born a Highlander. He was born a Ruthven. Ye played with him when ye were a lad.”

The other men’s shocked expressions amused Tomas, but they were wasting time. “To make a long story short, I left Cotharach with Lady Katherine when Ambrose married her to Laird MacIan. If ye don’t know that story, ask someone who’s been around a while. Laird and Lady MacIan adopted me and they are almost to the village. Archie, please go tell Manus and Moyna. They’ll pass the word. I’m going to find my betrothed so I can introduce her to my parents.

~ * ~

Katherine had been excited about seeing Cotharach again. Ethan had told her as much as he could about it and Clan Ruthven. Still, there was nothing like seeing it with her own eyes. The sun had set as they emerged from the forest, but it was still twilight and torches lit the top of the palisade. When she slowed her horse, Niall motioned for the company stop.

“Is something wrong, my love?”

“Nay, I just want to look for a minute.” It had been nineteen years since she’d seen Cotharach and then her life had been exceedingly difficult. But seeing it now brought to mind a better time, a happier time, when her parents were both living. Cotharach had been her home and Clan Ruthven her people. Looking down at the castle and village now, she let those memories wash over her.

“I know this must be hard for you.”

She smiled up at him. “Surprisingly, it isn’t. I thought it might be too, but most of my life at Cotharach was wonderful. It was only the last few years, after my father died, that things got really bad. And those memories have faded, in no small part thanks to ye.” She looked over at her husband, reached a hand out to him and he took it in his, squeezing lightly. “I’m ready now.”

“Good. Because just before we crossed onto Ruthven land, we saw signs suggesting men are encamped in the woods. I’m anxious to reach Cothararach.” Niall signaled for the MacIans to begin moving again.

“You believe men are encamped at the border and you didn’t check it out?” she asked, appalled.

“You clearly haven’t been married to me long enough if you think I would risk the safety of my family to approach an unknown group of men in the forest.”

She smiled. “I’ve been married to you long enough to know a handful of MacIan warriors is all it would take to rout an army.”

“I appreciate your faith, my darling, but sometimes caution has more value than bravery. But I did send two men to scout the area to see what we might be dealing with.”

It wasn’t long before the entire party reached the edge of the village. Very little had changed and seeing it awakened even more wonderful memories.

Forty people on horseback don’t go anywhere quietly, so as they rode into the village, clansmen and women came to their doors and opened windows to see who was riding toward the castle. Katherine’s heart nearly burst as recognition dawned on many of their faces.

“Lady Katherine, look its Lady Katherine.”

“Lady Katherine, child, we never thought to see you again.”

Katherine’s heart was filled with warmth and affection. She reached out to them, spoke, and called them by name. They were the people of her childhood and she still loved them dearly.

“What brings you back, child?” asked an elderly woman named Ana.

“Ana, how wonderful to see ye.” Frankly, Katherine hadn’t expected her to still be alive. She must be close to ninety years old now. “I’ve come at Sir Tomas’s request,” was all she could say. The truth of the full story would come out soon enough.

When the MacIans reached the gates, they were already opening. She rode into the courtyard and standing there on the steps of her old home, waiting for her, was her beloved son, Tomas. She could hardly dismount fast enough.

“Mam, welcome back to Cotharach.” He opened his arms for his mother and folded her in his embrace.

Niall wasn’t far behind her. He offered Tomas his hand, but pulled him into a hug with it. “Son, it’s good to see ye.”

Tomas guided forward a beautiful brown-haired lass who had been standing slightly to one side. “Vida, these are my parents, Niall and Katherine MacIan. As ye’re already aware, Katherine is yer cousin.”

Vida seemed shy and nervous. “Welcome to Cotharach, Laird MacIan,” she bobbed a curtsy. “Lady MacIan.”

“I’m not Lady MacIan. I’m yer cousin Katherine and I want a hug.” Katherine opened her arms to the lass.

Vida stepped into her embrace. “I’m so very sorry for everything that happened. My papa never told me about you.”

“Vida, there’s no need for apologies. None of this is your fault. I’m just glad we’re finally able to meet.”

Behind Vida and Tomas waited old friends. Manus had been the steward for as long as Katherine could remember and Moyna, the woman who ran the kitchens, had aged, but looked well and hearty. Emma, who had been Katherine’s maid, was there as well with tears in her eyes. When Katherine had left Cotharach, Emma had been barely fourteen and she had cried that day too. Katherine greeted them all with hugs and tears.

“My lady, I can scarcely believe it. I thought I’d never see you again,” said Emma, tears still streaming.

Katherine laughed. “If I recall correctly, you were certain the Highlanders would kill me.”

Emma chuckled. “Well, clearly I was wrong. You look wonderful. Happy.”

“I am happy. As much as it pains me to admit this, Uncle Ambrose, having arranged my marriage to Laird MacIan, was the single greatest blessing of my life.”

“Mam,” whispered Beitris who had dismounted and stood beside her.

“Oh, good heavens, forgive my manners.” Caught up in greeting her old friends, Katherine had failed to introduce her children. “Lady Vida, everyone, these our other children. Beitris, James, and Alex.”

Tomas ruffled James’s hair. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Laird MacLennan sent word to Laird Matheson as soon as he heard what was happening here. Laird Matheson intended for me to go home for the Christmas season, but knowing Mam and Da would be coming here, he sent me home a little early.”

Tomas glanced beyond them. “It looks like Drew and Ethan are helping sort things out with the men,” he motioned toward the doors, “so there’s no reason to take a chill standing on the steps, please come into the hall.”

Stepping into Cotharach’s great hall was like stepping into her childhood. The last few years she’d lived here, Uncle Ambrose had been miserly and refused to spend money on any comforts. But now the hall was once again well-appointed and brightly lit, just as she remembered it from when she was little. It warmed her heart.

“Mam, Da, please join us at the table. Supper is nearly ready to be served.”

Niall put his hand in the small of Katherine’s back, and guided her toward the laird’s table. He leaned down to her ear and whispered, “This is an entirely different reception than I received last time.”

She arched a brow at him. “That’s because last time ye were a huge stranger with a scowl that appeared permanently etched on his face and I was weak in the knees with fear.”

He chuckled. “And now?”

She grinned. “Now, you’re my huge husband who only has an occasional scowl etched on his face and who makes me weak in the knees for much more wonderful reasons.”

“Cheeky lass.”

She laughed.

When they were all seated at the table and before the servants started serving the meal, Tomas stood to address the clan. “I realize many of ye don’t understand exactly what’s happening, so if you will indulge me for a moment, I’ll tell ye. My name is not Tomas MacHenry. I am Tomas MacIan. I am the adopted son of Laird and Lady MacIan. Some of you may recognize Lady MacIan as Laird Ainslie Ruthven’s daughter, Katherine.”

A buzz of murmurs filled the great hall as those gathered for the meal processed what Tomas had just said.

“Furthermore, knowing that, some of ye may realize I was once a stable boy here until I left with Lady Katherine.”

The murmurs and exclamations of surprise grew louder.

“Have you come to take back what is yours, Lady Katherine?” the question was not asked with malice, rather the old man seemed excited by the prospect.

Katherine laughed. “Nay, Hamish, Cotharach it is not mine and I am very happy at my new home. I understand my Uncle Ambrose is currently in the midst of some financial distress and we may be able to help him.”

A huge cheer went up in the hall.

When it had quieted some, Katherine added, “And we’ve come to see our son, Tomas, married.”

Another huge cheer erupted.

Katherine looked with fondness at her son where he sat smiling, holding Vida’s hand.

“They look as if they’ll be very happy,” said Katherine.

The response to that statement was deafening. Vida dropped her head slightly, blushing, but looked exceedingly happy and that gave Katherine great joy.

During the meal, the men who Niall had sent to scout the forest arrived and were shown into the hall. They wore grim expressions and spoke quietly to Niall.

Niall, in turn, shared what he’d learned. “Tomas, son, we discovered something as we rode onto Ruthven land this evening that I must discuss with you.”

Katherine was pleased to see that Vida scowled at that and even more pleased with Tomas’s response.

“Da, Vida is Lady Ruthven and if something threatens her clan, she has the right to hear about it.”

Niall cast Katherine a sidelong glance. “Aye, well it’s rather clear then that she’s related to your mother. But, as ye’ve surmised we discovered something that concerns me. We saw signs of men encamped in the forest at the northern border of Ruthven land.”

“That would be Stewart territory,” said Vida.

“Aye. But I sent a couple of men to learn what they could. They tell me there were at least fifteen men and a Lindsay banner was spotted.”

Vida nodded. “Stewarts and Lindsays are allies.”

Tomas frowned. “It’s as I feared then. Lindsay is moving his men into place to either lay siege to Cotharach or make certain Vida doesn’t leave.”

“I suspect so,” agreed his father.

“I’ll send twice as many patrols out tonight. Better to know where they are, should we need to defend against them.”