She glanced away to fiddle with a bowl of herbs, as if she wanted a distraction. But she said, “My nan cares for the laird and his daughter in the city. I remain here in the vale, to care for the shepherds and the crofters.”

“And for stupid men like me, I suppose.”

Sidra’s smile deepened, awakening a dimple in her left cheek. “Aye. And for men like you.” She seemed to remember her grandmother’s presence, because she said, “Here, let me walk you to the door.”

Torin followed and asked how much he owed her.

“You don’t owe me anything,” Sidra replied, leaning against the doorframe. “But perhaps a basket of carrots.”

The next day Torin sent two baskets of carrots to Sidra’s door. To atone for the ones his horse had eaten and to express his gratitude to her.

That was how the isle brought them together.

Sidra stirred in the bed.

Torin listened as she turned on her back. He felt the warmth of her body as they touched. She stiffened in response.

“Torin?” she whispered, uncertain.

“Yes, it’s me.”

She was quiet, but her posture relaxed against him. He believed she had fallen back asleep until she whispered, “I’m ready.”

“Ready for what, Sid?”

“For you to bring me a guard dog.”

Chapter 13

Jack spent the next day studying Lorna’s music for the earth. He gathered pieces of nature, holding them in his hands, breathing their fragrance, studying their intricacy alongside her music. She had written a stanza for the grass, for the wildflowers, for the stones, for the trees, for the bracken. There were many different elements to this ballad, and Jack wanted to perfect them all, thinking that so long as he respected the earth and strove to honor it, there would be no need for him to be worried when he played.

But there was one problem.

His hands still ached, down to his fingertips.

“Jack?” Mirin knocked on the bedroom door. “May I enter?”

He hesitated, wondering if he should hide the strange harvest on his desk. In the end, he let it be, although he turned over Lorna’s music. “Yes. Come in, Mum.”

Mirin stepped inside, holding a bowl. She approached his desk, and while she noticed the stray pieces of nature scattered before him, she said nothing until she set the soup down.

“You need to eat.”

Jack eyed the nettle soup. “I’m not hungry, Mum.”

“I know you’re not,” said Mirin. “But you still need to eat.”

“I’ll eat later.”

“You should eat now,” she insisted. “It’ll help you recover faster.”

Jack glanced up at her, sharply. But when he saw the worry lining Mirin’s expression, he let his protest fade.

“You thought I wouldn’t notice?” she said. “Oh, Jack.”

“It’s nothing to fret about, Mum.”