Page 96 of A Highland Bride Taken

“Ye can flirt with yer wife later, Me Laird,” Magnus whispered behind him. “‘Tis freezin’ out here.”

Campbell glared at the man and closed the carriage door.

Yes, it was indeed time to return home.

38

When they finally arrived home, the front door was wide open as if it had been waiting just for them. The twins were inside, sitting on the rug by the cold hearth, their small shoulders shivering.

Connor looked up first, his eyes wide with surprise, and Ollie followed, their identical faces pale but so hopeful that it nearly broke Campbell’s heart.

Mabel didn’t wait. She let out a little cry and knelt down, gathering the boys into her arms. They didn’t even mind that Campbell was covered in blood. They reached for him too, clinging to his sides and burying their faces in his chest.

“Ye came back,” Connor whispered shakily. “Ye both came back.”

Campbell ran his hand through the boy’s hair, feeling the soft strands against his calloused palm. “Aye, lad. We wouldnae have left ye. Nae ever.”

Ollie rested his tear-streaked cheek on Mabel’s shoulder. “I thought… I thought ye wouldnae find us.”

Mabel planted a kiss on the top of his head, her lips trembling. “We would have searched the ends of the earth for ye,” she said softly. “Ye are our boys.”

Campbell looked at her then, and her gaze, so sure and open, eased the fear he had been holding onto.

They stayed like that for a long while, the four of them huddled together on the old rug, until the boys relaxed and stopped shaking.

Campbell looked around the room, seeing the plain wooden table by the window, the scuffed armchair that had been his father’s, and the small vase with dried daisies that Mabel had put together.

Everything felt different now. Everything felt right.

“Are ye hurt, Uncle Campbell?” Ollie asked, wiping his nose on the back of his sleeve.

“Just a few scratches.” Campbell tried to smile, though every inch of him hurt. “Nothing a bit of soup and sleep willnae fix.”

Connor straightened a little. “I’ll help make the soup.”

“That’s a fine idea,” Mabel replied. She smoothed the hair from his forehead, then glanced up at Campbell. “Ye’ll let me see to those cuts in a bit, won’t ye?”

“Aye,” Campbell muttered. “If ye insist.”

“I do,” she affirmed, her mouth curving just a little.

Soon, the boys went to wash up, their tired voices echoing down the hallway as they argued over who would stir the pot first.

The castle grew quieter. Campbell settled into the armchair, watching Mabel light a small fire in the hearth.

“Come sit,” he said gently.

She moved over to him and sat on the armrest, close enough that her skirt brushed against his arm. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, he reached up and placed his hand over hers where it lay on her knee. “Ye were brave tonight,” he remarked.

“I was so scared,” she whispered. “But I couldnae just stay home. Nae when ye needed me.”

Campbell swallowed nervously, feeling his throat tighten. “I dinnae deserve ye,” he said roughly.

“Nonsense,” she replied, her voice trembling. “If anyone doesnae deserve anything, it’s me. I… Campbell, I’ve been so scared ye will never let me in.”

His thumb rubbed small circles on her knuckles. “I didnae ken how.”