Two days later Jessamine pulled on a heavy shawl and slipped outside her print shop. Her paper was ready for the following day, and she had little to do. As she walked through town, it was largely quiet with most townsfolk inside as dusk arrived earlier as the winter solstice approached.

Tobias stood on the boardwalk in front of his General Store, a broom in one hand as he watched her approach. “Well, if it isn’t the town crier,” he said with a snide smile.

“Mr. Sutton,” she said with a lift of an eyebrow. “I hope you have a good evening.”

He laughed. “I hope you are as intelligent as you proclaim yourself to be. I’d hate to see you as disillusioned as the other misses in this town, played false by that rascal MacKinnon.”

“I’m afraid I neither need your warning nor care what you have to say.”

He laughed. “Then I suppose it makes no difference to the likes of you that your favorite newspaper subject is holed up at his latest project with his newest paramour.” He watched her with feigned sympathy. He called after her as her pace away from him increased. “I look forward to reading about their wedding announcement in the paper!”

She walked with such alacrity she was soon out of breath. After a few minutes she groaned inwardly to realize she had arrived at Ewan’s worksite. The small one-story home with glass windows on either side of the front door seemed cheerful to her just as it made her want to weep. She turned to leave but paused as she heard voices raised from inside.

The well-oiled front door eased open without a squeak, and she tiptoed down a hallway through the center of the house. The front room was empty, but she heard voices from a back room.

“Just imagine, Ewan. This could be our room,” said a youthful, hopeful female.

“Ye are as daft as a donkey if ye believe for one moment I’ll marry ye. I’ve told ye ten times already. Get out of my house!”

Jessamine shivered at the anger in Ewan’s bellow. She peeked around the corner just in time to see Helen Jameson throw herself in the direction of Ewan’s arms. Rather than catch her, Ewan sidestepped her, and she fell to the floor.

“I will no’ have ye fabricatin’ a story, sayin’ I touched ye. Sayin’ I wanted to be with ye. That we were alone in this house due to my desire for ye.” He glared at Helen as she began to sob on the floor. “I will never say I understand all that ye are sufferin’ at yer mother’s house, but ye have to know I’ll never wed ye.”

Jessamine’s sharp intake of breath was covered by Helen’s howl of rage.

Helen raised her tear-ravaged face to meet Ewan’s glare. “You and your family are not so special! Someday you will be brought low. Not everyone will love you.” She pushed herself to her feet and rubbed at her skirt.

“I ken not everyone will love me, Helen. I’m sorry to cause ye pain, but I will no’ marry where I do no’ love.” He met her pleading stare. “Nor should ye.” He sighed as she barreled out of the room, glancing up at Helen’s squeal of displeasure at the sight of Jessamine.

His shoulders stooped, and he pinched between his brows. “Of course ye’d be here to witness that.” His pleading gaze met hers. “Will ye please no’ write about that? ’Twould only harm Helen, and I will no’ marry her.”

Jessamine nodded. She swallowed as she took a step into the room. “This is a lovely house, Ewan.”

He nodded as he glanced around. “Aye, ’tis. I’ll find someone to sell it to.”

She shivered at his hopeless tone and at the fact he moved away, rather than toward, her. “I’ve missed you.” The anger in his gaze caused her shiver to turn into a shudder.

“Ye have no right to say such things. I ken ye have no regard for me. Ye never have, other than as a way to sell yer papers.” He ran a hand through his long blondish-red hair. “I’ll soon resume my disreputable ways, an’ ye’ll have plenty to write about.”

“Ewan,” she whispered.

“Never worry. I’ve a whore of my own now, so I’ll have no reason to bother ye further.” His bitter words sounded through the room as he turned away from her and stared at a bare wall.

He stiffened as she ran a hand over his back. “Ewan,” she whispered again. “I … I’m sorry.”

“For what?” he asked, his shoulder muscles tightening under her touch.

“For thinking you were like my father. Like my old editor. For not realizing you were a different sort of man.” She let out a deep breath. “I should have known. That first night you stayed to ensure no one broke in and harmed me, you gave me the clues to your true character then.”

He shook his head in confusion. “I dinna understand.”

“That night you told me that you’d thought about our earlier interaction. About what you could have done to have provoked my actions at the town dance. Rather than blame me, you looked to see what you could have done wrong and to fix it.” She let out a stuttering breath. “You are honorable.” She leaned forward and kissed him at the base of his neck. “You are loyal.” She kissed one shoulder. “You are trustworthy.” She kissed his other shoulder.

She squealed as he spun and hauled her against him. She barely had time to take a breath before he kissed her, his mouth moving over hers as pent-up passion and desire burst forth.

After a minute he pushed her away. “Dammit,” he rasped as he caught his breath. “Forgive me. I should ken better with ye.” He frowned with confusion as she smiled at him.

“No, I want your touch,” she whispered, flushing at the admission. “I can’t begin to describe how it pleases me to know how much you desire me.” Humor lit her eyes. “And I’m a journalist.” At his low chuckle, she relaxed marginally.

She shook her head as he moved to kiss her again, confusion clouding his gaze. “No, Ewan. I have to tell you something.” At his nod, she took another deep breath. “I’m terrified of putting my life in another’s hands. Of trusting that he will see me for me, not as a possession to be profited from.”

Her face tilted into his touch as though against her will as he stroked her cheek. “But I’ve been miserable without you. And it’s not only because I miss your touch, the passion you can evoke.” She raised fearful eyes to meet his. “I miss our conversations. Your jokes. You.” She blinked rapidly, but two tears slipped from her eyes. “I don’t want to live without you.”

He remained silent but shook his head in confusion.

“I … I love you.” She bit her lip and then cupped his face with her hands, running her fingers through his beard. “Will you marry me?”

He gave a small whoop before bending forward and capturing her lips in another kiss. He backed her until she was against the wall, his body bracketing hers as the kiss deepened farther. He raised his head, only to slip kisses along her neck. When she shivered as he nipped her earlobe, he murmured, “That’s yes, in case ye were confused.”

He pulled back when she burst into tears. “Jessie?” he whispered as his thumbs attempted and failed to swipe away her tears as quickly as they fell. He pulled her to him and cradled her.

“I thought you wouldn’t want me. Not after all the horrible things I’ve written about you.” She sucked in a stuttering breath.

He chuckled. “Ye’ve no’ said anything horrible, love. Ye were courtin’ me in yer own way. I was too stupid to figure it out in the beginnin’, but I did eventually.” His fingers tugged and pulled at her hair, freeing it from its pins. “This is our house, Jessie, if that is acceptable to ye. I built it for me, but, after only a few weeks, I couldna come here without thinkin’ of ye.”

He sobered as she remained quiet. “I ken ’tis not as grand as the homes ye are accustomed to. I ken ye are used to mansions. When I’m able, I’ll build us a bigger home.”

She slapped her fingers over his mouth and shook her head, sniffling as tears continued to cascade down her cheeks. “No, Ewan, you will not. You built this home for us. This is our home. Will be our home.” She leaned forward until her forehead rested against his. “I love it.”

He pulled her close, sighing with contentment to have her in his arms again. “It may prove too small once we have bairns,” he murmured.

“Let’s worry about that when the time comes,” she whispered.

After a moment he straightened, kissing her on the top of her head. “Will ye come home with me? Have dinner at the house?” He watched as trepidation clouded her eyes. “They will accept ye because I love ye.” He smiled as her breath caught at his declaration. “They will adore ye if ye promise to cease writing snide articles about the townsfolk.”

She smiled. “I make no promises.” She gripped his hand as he chuckled and followed him from what would be their home.

“When do ye want to wed?” he asked as they headed toward the home he had shared with his siblings since he had arrived in Bear Grass Springs three years ago.

“I don’t care as long as it is soon.”

He slipped her hand through his bent elbow as they walked from the smaller house he built near Alistair and Leticia’s. He led Jessamine to the boardwalk, rather than along the alley, as the pathway was muddy after a late-November snow squall had melted. He nodded, unable to hide his smile of contentment when the townsfolk watched in shock as they traveled arm in arm down the boardwalk. After they passed the Odd Fellows Hall, he helped her down the boardwalk steps to cross Main Street to Cailean’s house.

He paused as her steps slowed. “It will be all right, Jessie. I promise.” At his encouraging nod, she took a deep breath and walked beside him, up the steps through the front door. He helped her out of her shawl, hanging it and her hat on a peg. His eyes lit with joy to see her hair remained mussed after their kisses, and he stifled a chuckle as she hastily poked in pins to give it a semblance of order.

When Ewan entered the kitchen, holding Jessamine’s hand, the soft hum of conversation slowed to a halt.

Annabelle, who stood at the stove, was the first to approach and to smile at Jessamine. “Hello, Miss McMahon. What a pleasure to have you join us for our evening meal.”

Cailean shared a long, hard look with his brother before nodding. “Aye, welcome, Miss McMahon.” He stood behind Annabelle with a hand placed on her shoulder. “Alistair and Leticia are joining us tonight.”

Ewan smiled, ignoring the subtle warning in his brother’s tone. “Wonderful.” He gave Jessamine a gentle nudge, and she stepped farther into the kitchen. Soon she was seated at the table with Ewan beside her.

Sorcha burst into the room, her gaze on Cailean and Annabelle, ignoring those at the table. “Can ye believe the daft woman has yet to act?” she asked as though in the middle of a conversation.

“Sorch,” Ewan said in a deep voice.

She turned to him, her face reddened and her hands waving about as she expounded her point. When she saw Jessamine seated beside her brother, her eyebrows rose, and her eyes widened. “Oh, so ye did act!” She smiled as she sat beside Ewan and gave him a gentle nudge.

“We’ll talk later,” Ewan whispered in her ear.

“There’s nothin’ to talk about,” Sorcha said. “I advised the reporter how she was a daft fool, and it seems she’s come to her senses.”

Alistair and Leticia arrived with Hortence, Leticia’s gait hitching as she caught sight of Jessamine at the table. She turned to Alistair and shook her head. Alistair spoke soothing words to Leticia, before sending a searching look at Ewan. At his shrug, Alistair half smiled. “So ye finally convinced her?” He focused on Leticia who remained stiff as a board, any pleasure at the family meal diminished by Jessamine’s presence.

Alistair ran a hand down Leticia’s back and settled her far away from Jessamine, although that meant she was across the table from her. She leaned into his touch a moment before stiffening her spine and sitting with her shoulders back.

Hortence stared at Jessamine and scrunched up her face, as though deep in thought. “Why do you print lies?” She looked at her family members at their collective deep indrawn breath. “Jake at school says you can’t help it. It’s what all reporters do.”

Jessamine flushed, her hands gripped together under the table on her lap. “I am not a liar.”

“Is it because you have red hair? That’s what the boys tell me at school. They think I’m a liar too.” She fingered the end of her long braid, her red hair shimmering in the light.

Jessamine’s gaze softened. “Your hair color has nothing to do with truthfulness. Does having blond hair make Mrs. Jameson an oracle of the truth?”

Her question earned startled giggles from the adults and a puzzled expression from Hortence.

“I don’t know what an ore ankle is, but I know you wanted to print lies about my mama,” Hortence said. “I heard Mama and Papa whispering about it when they thought I couldn’t hear. Mama and Papa don’t lie.” She tilted her chin up in defiance like she’d seen her aunts do and stared down Jessamine.

“I never published anything about your mother. I was … persuaded to see another point of view.” She met the little girl’s eyes and smiled. “You’re very brave.”

“I have to be brave. If I’m to marry a chief’s son, I must be.”

Leticia sputtered, and Alistair’s eyes bulged as the others laughed. “Hortence, you just turned seven in September. You aren’t marrying anyone!”

“But Mama, Bears is wonderful! He’s as good with horses as Papa.”

“Yes, but he’s like an uncle to you. That’s all he is or can be, darling,” Leticia soothed. She speared Jessamine with a severe glare. “If you print any of this, you will wish you were dead.”

Jessamine shook her head. “No, I am here as a friend, not as a reporter.” Her flush heightened. “I know that I betrayed Ewan’s trust once when I told him that before, but I truly mean what I say here today.”

Hortence sat, deflated in her chair. “But Bears is wonderful, Mama. He listens when I talk and talk.” She frowned when her uncles laughed.

Alistair ran a hand over her head. “Someday ye’ll meet the perfect man. For now, enjoy life. Enjoy bein’ seven.”

Hortence grumbled her agreement, only perking up when Annabelle whispered she had apple pie for dessert.

Annabelle smiled at Jessamine. “We all know you acted as you did because you knew of no other way to maintain your courtship with Ewan.” She bit her lip. “I beg your pardon. I spoke out of turn.”

Ewan shook his head and smiled. He gripped Jessamine’s hand under the table. “No, ye are correct, Anna. Jessie and I are to wed. As soon as possible.” He and Jessamine shared a gaze filled with longing and love, missing his family’s shocked expressions. He faced Annabelle. “Will ye make us a cake?”

She moved to him and hugged him and then Jessamine. “Of course I will. We’ll have such a celebration for you both!”

Annabelle’s ready acceptance induced similar reactions from the rest of the family, and soon they stood around the table, embracing and laughing.

Leticia was the last to approach Jessamine. She met Leticia’s wary gaze and nodded. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I promise I will never publish that article.”

Leticia watched her with a concerned expression. “The fact it exists at all concerns me.”

“I know. It would worry me too.” She took a deep breath. “I will give you the proof copy. Give you my research notes. You can decide what to do with them. Keep them or burn them. It will be your decision.”

“Why?” Leticia asked, unable to hide the surprise from her voice.

“I’ve learned that I don’t need to be a heartless reporter. I can be something else and still be successful,” she whispered.

Alistair joined them and wrapped an arm around Leticia’s waist after she leaned into him. “If ye keep writing like yer last paper, ye’ll have the town excited to see ye.”

Jessamine grimaced. “Rather than fearful, you mean?” At his shrug, she smiled. “Well, as of now, that is my plan, although I will continue to report on local and national events.”

Alistair’s serious gaze met hers. “If ye are no’ serious about Ewan, dinna play him false.”

She took in a startled breath at his words, then looked at Ewan speaking with Cailean near the stove. “No, no. I cannot tell you how much I care for him.” Her eyes glowed with sincerity.

Alistair nodded. “Good,” he whispered. He turned as Cailean raised his voice in a toast to his brother and his fiancée, and Jessamine moved to stand beside Ewan. She tucked herself into his side.

“Are ye all right?” Ewan whispered. “I thought I should leave ye alone to speak with Lettie.”

“I’m fine.” She breathed as she pressed herself farther into his embrace. “It’s a little overwhelming being surrounded by your family.”

He chuckled. “Ye’ll accustom yerself to us.”

She heard the hope in his words and snuggled closer. “I will,” she promised.

Cailean cleared his throat again, and she focused on the eldest MacKinnon. “To Ewan and Jessamine. May you only know joy, health, and harmony in the many years you have together.” He beamed at his youngest brother and then at Jessamine.

The family raised their glasses and said, “Aye!” or “Hear! Hear!”

Cailean cleared his throat again, and the impromptu celebration paused. “I have it on good authority that Mrs. Jameson has left town for a few days. Seems a cousin is ill in Helena. If I were you, I’d wed while she is away.”

Ewan gave a grunt of agreement. “Aye. We’ll marry with all haste. The gossips be damned.”