Chapter Twenty-Seven
Swiping the bottom of her apron over her sweating brow, Nora shielded her eyes against the midday sun to inspect the freshly planted rows of grain and vegetables in the fields. With spring’s arrival, ’twas no better time for the MacNabs to plant their crops. God willing, the harvest would fill a portion of the holding’s dwindled stores.
Nearly a sennight had passed since her and Will’s return. She’d thrown herself into her work, toiling hard to help the clan begin the planting season. With the damage Tavish’s negligence had inflicted, ’twas hard to know where to start at times.
Even with the injury to his shoulder, Will had fallen into his role as laird with little difficulty. He labored as hard as the rest of the clan to bring the keep to rights. He’d catalogued the numerous projects demanding immediate attention and directed the clan which tasks needed tending first.
To her surprise, he’d gone as far as to reach out to neighboring clans such as the Sutherlands, kindling old alliances Tavish had severed. Within the first few days, the clans answered with tokens of goodwill, sending along dozens of cows and sheep, a pair of pigs, several chickens and sacks of grain.
Though Laird Fraser departed with his men a day after their arrival, Liam and his kin remained, freely offering their aid to the MacNabs. From hunting with the some of the clan’s men, stocking the stores with fresh game, to repairing cottages and buildings in the village and within the keep’s walls, the men worked tirelessly alongside the MacNabs.
Several of the women set about scouring the keep from the floors to the rafters, clearing out any trace of the misfortune that befell the hall a sennight ago. Others took to the fields with Nora, anxious to tend to the overgrown grounds that had stood abandoned for too long.
The promise of a brighter morrow shifted the dismal, downtrodden mood. A renewed hope—a rebirth of sorts—pervaded the air throughout the holding. From the clan elders’ beaming faces to the children’s excited laughter, the MacNabs had proven their resilience. Her mother and father would be proud.
Dropping her arm to her side, Nora knelt on the ground and gathered the gardening tools she’d used, tossing them in a bucket. Though the swift-moving changes pleased her, a certain sense of melancholy hung around her shoulders. Of course, her poor mood had everything to do with Liam. She would be lying if she said otherwise.
Since that morn in the great hall, when he’d risked life and limb to save her and Will, she’d seen little of the man. Aside from exchanging a handful of words, here and there, he’d been as scarce as her shrinking confidence.
At the Fraser holding, he’d often made a point to seek her out, if for naught else than the mere pleasure of her company. Frankly, she missed Liam and his silly grin. She missed gazing into his shining, blue eyes and, mayhap, she even missed the ridiculous comments he spouted at the oddest of times.
Nora straightened from her crouch and dusted the dirt away from her knees. In truth, she was utterly exhausted. With Liam’s absence and her brother attending clan affairs, she’d had little choice but to retreat to her own solitude. As a result, she’d released her building frustrations the only way she knew how—gardening and working in the fields.
Alas, doubt still managed to creep in her wandering mind. Over and over, her thoughts circled to Liam. What if he’d come to his senses and realized he did not truly love her? With the thought, she lifted her hand to rub at the ache in her chest. Was it possible for a heart to break in two?
“Ho there, Nora!”
Will’s bellow startled her dismal musings and her hand fell away. She spun on her heel to watch her brother limp across the clearing from the courtyard. “Holy Mother, you gave me a start.”
When he drew near, his brows lowered with concern. “What has you looking so pensive?”
She waved away his worry. “’Tis naught. Merely foolish thoughts.”
Pausing beside her, he gazed out over the fields. “Saints, you’ve been busy. No doubt the clan shall reap a bountiful harvest this year.”
“I should hope so.” She nodded, thrilled with everyone’s efforts. “The clan’s toiled hard right alongside me.”
“Well, the cottages in the worst condition have been repaired.” He beamed his pleasure. “Now, some of the villagers can actually return to their homes without fear of the roof caving in around their ears.”
With a grin, Nora shared his happiness. “That’s outstanding, Will. I’m truly pleased with our progress.”
His smile deepening, he shifted to face her. “Then it should please you to know, a few of the clan arrived earlier this morn.”
Astounded, she clutched at his wrist. “In truth?”
Merriment sparkled in his eyes. “Aye, as word of Tavish’s imprisonment spreads, I am confident more shall return to rejoin the clan.” He swept her in a firm embrace. “The path may be long and winding, but I feel as though we’ve succeeded, Nora.”
Contented with his enthusiasm, she pulled away to meet his bright gaze. “We never failed. Remember that, Brother.”
“You’re right,” he agreed with a nod. As he released her, the smile slid from his lips. “Are you going to tell me what’s amiss or do I have to pull it from you?”
“I’ve said ’tis naught.” Nora glanced away from his probing eyes and bent to retrieve the bucket at her feet. Starting for the courtyard, she glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll see you back at the keep.”
“Liam and his kin plan to leave soon.”
The words catching her off guard, Nora managed a few paces before her steps faltered. Striving to wipe the shock from her features, she pivoted toward him. “I thought he might. He has a clan of his own to look after, you know.” She tried to maintain an unaffected air, though the thought of Liam leaving lanced straight to her heart. “When?”
Perceptive as ever, Will watched her through narrowed eyes, gauging her reaction. “On the morrow.”
So soon?
Nora’s mind scrambled to process the truth. He was truly leaving? Without her?
“Oh.” ’Twas all she could manage to spit out in her present frame of mind.
Will latched on to her fumble. “Is that all you’re going to say?”
A tide of anger, borne from days of Liam’s silence, washed over Nora, mounting her agitation to a breaking point.
“What would you have me say?” Frustration yanked the words from her in a near shout. “If he wishes to leave, then so be it. He has a life of his own.”
A life that did not include her, it would seem. Uncaring of her foolishness, she reeled in her own wretched self-pity.
Moving closer, Will’s unyielding stare never wavered from her features. “Tell me what’s amiss, Nora.”
Air pushed from her deflated lungs while unruly thoughts clamored in her head, eliciting a pounding throb in her temples. Emotion burned in the back of her throat as she tried in vain to banish the hurt welling inside her. Despite her best efforts to remain impassive, she failed miserably.
When she met her brother’s gaze, a stray tear ran unchecked down her cheek. “We’ve hardly spoken a handful of words in a sennight. I did not even know he planned to leave so soon.”
Will lifted an arm to reach for her, but she raised a hand to ward him off. Saints, if he embraced her in that moment, she’d bawl like a bairn.
Brow tucked low with a frown, he searched her gaze. “Have you considered he might’ve given you space to understand your own feelings?”
“Why the devil would he do that?” Nora hissed. “He never has before.”
’Twas a part of his character she’d grown accustomed to—his dogged relentlessness. Many times when she would’ve withdrawn to her solitude, he remained firm, drawing a steady stream of speech from her and, at times, even a smile. ’Twas truth his absence stung.
Shifting awkwardly, Will grimaced. “I’m sure he must’ve had good intentions.”
“His intentions are glaringly clear.” She shook her head. “He’s changed his mind and no longer wishes to wed me.”
Her brother’s features twisted with confusion. “How the devil did you arrive at that notion?”
“What else am I think?” She pressed her balled hands into her sides.
“And what of him? I do not recall you going to him one time in these last few days.” Will let out a derisive snort. “Hell, have you even bothered to tell the man you love him?”
The question hurtled through Nora, swiping the legs from beneath her affronted indignation. Her mouth flapped open and closed as she floundered for a response, but she could not muster an acceptable excuse.
She scanned her memory, searching for the moment she’d confessed her love to Liam. The night of the spring harvest feast, surely, she must’ve spoken the words. ’Twas the night he’d asked her to wed him, but she’d begged a reprieve, one of the many he’d kindly offered her. With a jolt of startling clarity, she realized she’d never uttered a sound of her true feelings for Liam. What little she might’ve admitted, he’d practically had to pull from her.
Closing her eyes, she released a harsh breath. “Saints, I am a fool.”
What was Liam to think? She could’ve kicked herself for not being clearer.
Will gripped her shoulders, giving her a slight shake. “Look at me.” Nora did as he bid, meeting his piercing stare. “I understand your reticence. ’Tis the life you’ve had to lead, biting your tongue and keeping your emotions under lock and key, but there’s no longer a need to hide yourself away, Nora. I pray to God you shall no longer sacrifice your own happiness for my sake, as I know you’ve done for years. You said so earlier—we’ve succeeded.”
Biting her bottom lip, she absorbed his words. Mayhap, she had sacrificed a portion of herself for the sheer sake of his protection, but she never blamed Will. ’Twas not his fault or hers their uncle was a vile fiend who deserved to languish away in the MacNab dungeons for the rest of his days.
She mumbled, “I understand.”
“Do you truly?” Will searched her gaze. “I’ve never desired anything more in my life than for you to seek your own happiness. Do not let this opportunity pass you by. You’ve upheld your vow to protect me a thousand times over. Now, ’tis time for me uphold my vow to you. We both know if you remain here, you will never truly live for yourself.”
Nora could deny his words all she wished. The fact remained, her clever brother was right. Once Liam departed, she would throw herself into mindless work, keeping her head down, while life swept her by without so much as a nod farewell. ’Tis what she’d done the last five years. Though, she’d always had Will around to ground her to the present.
She lifted a hand to brush away the lock of dark hair that had fallen in his eyes. “Do not let this swell that big head of yours, but you’re right.”
“Good of you to notice.” Snorting, he settled his palms flat on her shoulders. “Speak to Liam. Tell him how you feel. When he leaves on the morrow, I hope you will leave with him. ’Tis time for you to find your own happiness with Liam, Nora.”
Struck by what she would leave behind, she wrapped her arms around his middle. “I shall miss you.”
His arms enfolded her in a tight wring. “And I you.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head. “It shall be an adjustment for the two of us, but we are MacNabs. Our resilience is boundless. What’s more, ’tis not as if we’re a great distance from each other. If you chuck a stone my way, I’m sure I shall hear it land from here.”
Despite the tears gathered in her eyes, she laughed at his ridiculous comment. Stepping free of his embrace, she lifted her work apron to dash away her tears.
Saints, lately she’d been naught but a blubbering mess which she blamed solely on Liam. The man had awakened a slew of dormant feelings in her, drawing them closer to the surface.
“I suppose I should visit Mother and Father’s graves.”
Will nodded his approval. “Would you like me to join you?”
“Nay.” She shook her head. “I think I could do with a bit of privacy.”
A playful grin teased at his mouth. “Take in as much as you can. For once you wed Liam, I suspect the man shall not spare you a moment alone.”