Page 81 of A Fearless Rebel

“Why did ye not go live with yer mother?”

“Because my mother left without telling me. My brother did not wish me to be there either.” At this point, Ava’s voice was loud. “My uncle would not allow me to remain unless Keithen was dead and then only if I married the new laird. Since my family killed my first husband and tried to kill Keithen, I wonder if the third would have survived unscathed.”

When Esme’s eyebrows shot up, and she started to say something, Ava cut her off.

“If given a choice of living elsewhere or being hated here, I would choose to remain here. I love my husband and he loves me. No matter what, I know he will always be there for me and I will die before I allow anything bad to happen to him.”

Esme opened her mouth and Ava put a finger up. “No one else matters. Ye can continue to dislike me for causing what I did. There is nothing I can do about it.”

She stormed inside, through the great room and up the steps. Once inside the bedchamber, she blew out a breath and clenched her hands into fists. Pacing from one side of the room to the other kept her from screaming with fury. Now she understood why Keithen did it. It helped.

“I found these,” Esme said from the doorway.

Ava whirled to find Keithen’s sister holding up the sack she’d been looking for.

“I have no idea what that is.”

“I planned to give them to Keithen.” Esme entered and put the sack down. “But it would be spiteful of me. He does not know, does he?”

Ava shook her head. “No. I planned to tell him.”

“I would not, if it were me,” Esme said and rolled her eyes. “My brother quite admires the man who has, on several occasions, interceded on his behalf. It could ruin the ‘Masked Hero’ image that the men have formed in their imaginations.”

Despite not being comfortable with Esme, Ava considered what the woman said. “Why would ye care? Keithen would probably not believe it anyway.”

“What would I not believe?” Keithen said, walking in and then moving directly to stand beside Ava. “Esme, what did ye do?”

Esme met Ava’s gaze for a moment and then looked to Keithen. “That two women said hurtful things about Ava, and I chastised them for it. I told them if they continued to be disrespectful to our family, they’d not be welcome to return.”

“My wife is right. I am not sure I believe it.”

“Well, it is true,” Esme said, glaring at Keithen. “Ava, I apologize for being less than civil to ye.”

Ava nodded, her gaze moving to the sack on the floor next to Esme.

Keithen’s sister bent and lifted the bag. “I must be off to take these to the servants to launder. I plan to wear men’s trews and a tunic for the archery competition.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Although it was cold, it hadn’t snowed in days. It was a clear day and, yet, Keithen couldn’t help but find the idea of an archery competition idiotic.

Only his sister and Ewan would consider it a good idea.

Thankfully, the splint on his leg had finally been removed. He’d been patient and waited as long as possible. Ava had insisted he keep it on and continuously inspected his leg.

He limped but, in his opinion, it wasn’t as bad as he’d expected. His wife, however, considered it a horrible outcome and massaged the leg every night. Not that he minded, as sometimes the massages turned into bedsport.

“Are ye competing?” Esme asked, walking up to him with a grin. “The more who compete, the more I can beat.”

Keithen could never beat his sister, yet the competition would be entertaining. “Why not?”

Keithen looked at Esme, contemplating his next words. “Esme,” Keithen started. “What happened to change things? Ye invited Ava to the sitting room yesterday afternoon.”

His sister pressed her lips together, considering what to say. “She has no one. I am fortunate to be able to come here and spend time with ye and our parents. Ava does not have any family to visit. Her mother prefers to keep her at arm’s distance.”

“True. She only has me. When ye are not here, Mother does spend time with her.”

“That is not fair.” Esme shook her head. “If I spend time with her around the clanspeople, they will be more accepting as well.”