Page 129 of Kidnapped by a Rogue
Margaret weeded her kitchen garden while Ella and wee Robbie played with the dog on the beach, under Una’s supervision. She found it immensely satisfying to see the new plants poking through the ground and putting down roots, just as she was.
She paused to take in the beauty of the landscape outside her door—the quiet, sandy beach across from the house at the base of their inlet, the grassy, windswept slopes of the headland dotted with sheep on one side, and the path to the village through green fields on the other side.
The house behind her was not a grand castle, but it was solid and always full of love and laughter. At the moment, Finn was inside settling a dispute over a cow between two of the villagers, who were their tenants.
In a few weeks, they would return to Dunrobin to meet Alex’s new bride, who was the Earl of Huntly’s older sister, and they would visit her sister Sybil’s family on the way. While Margaret looked forward to seeing them all again, she would always be happiest at home.
“Mamaidh!”Momma!Ella called as she ran up from the beach withCù-sìtheyapping at her heels. “Someone’s coming.”
Margaret shielded her eyes with her hand and examined the young man walking up their path with a bag over his shoulder. She knew all the villagers, and he was not one of them. Besides, the young man was better dressed and wore expensive leather boots.
She could not put her finger on it, but there was something familiar about him. Perhaps he was someone she knew from Dunrobin, a messenger from Alex.
Margaret was surprised when she noticed Ella sucking her thumb, something she’d given up a long time ago. Her daughter’s gaze was riveted on the young man.
The young man dropped his bag in the middle of the path and started running toward them. “Ella!” he shouted. “Ella!”
“Merciful God,” Margaret cried. “It’s your brother Brian.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. When Brian reached them, Ella retreated behind Margaret’s skirts, but Margaret threw her arms around him.
“Lady Marg—”
“I’m Maggie now,” she said, smiling and brushing her tears away. “Ella, come greet your brother. He’s come a long way to find you.”
Brian waited patiently while Ella first peeked at him behind Margaret, then slowly inched her way out. Finally, she raised her arms, and Brian swooped her up off the ground.
“You’re so big!” Brian said.
Brian himself had grown from a pale and skinny twelve-year-old lad to a strapping youth of fifteen.
“I was afraid she wouldn’t recognize me,” Brian said, looking at Margaret.
“We spoke about ye often so she wouldn’t forget,” Margaret said.
“This is my other brother, Robbie,” Ella said, pointing, as Una and Robin joined them from the beach. “And my grandmother.”
“I promise I won’t impose on ye long,” Brian said to Margaret. “But if I could sleep in your barn tonight, I’d be grateful.”
“I’ll not hear of ye sleeping in the barn,” Margaret said. Before she could say more, she saw Finn bid the two village men goodbye and start toward them.
“He’s my da!” Ella said, beaming at Finn.
Brian eyed Finn with suspicion as Margaret introduced them.
“Welcome!” Finn clasped Brian’s shoulder, but immediately released him when Brian flinched.
“Ye must be hungry and thirsty from your travels,” Margaret said. “The noon meal will be ready soon. Come inside, and I’ll show ye your bedchamber where you can leave your bag.”
Before going upstairs, Margaret asked the village girl she’d hired to help in the kitchen to put the food out and reminded Ella to set the table. Then she led Brian up to the small bedchamber at the top of the house.
“Thank you for taking such good care of Ella,” Brian said when they were alone. “I can see she’s happy here.”
“She’s a joy in our lives,” Margaret said. “Looks like you’ve done well for yourself.”
“I’ve sailed all over—to Ireland, France, even Spain,” he said, his face lighting up. “You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen.”
“How did ye find us?” Margaret asked.
