“Slatter,” she said, tears gathering in her eyes as she stretched her hand out to her grandson.

He hurried to her, his hand smothering her fragile one with tenderness as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“I knew you’d come and help me,” she said, tears running down her cheeks.

“Always, Seanmhair, I will always be there for you,” he said and kissed her hand. “You are safe now and you have a new home here with me and my wife, Willow.” He turned to his wife standing behind him and Willow stepped around him.

“You feel well?” Willow asked and rested her hand to the old woman’s brow, pleased it held no significant heat.

“Some pain and I fear I have little strength,” his grandmother said.

“Rest and food will help grow your strength and I will give you a brew that will ease the pain some,” Willow assured her.

“I am happy my grandson has found such a good and skilled woman,” Sara said. “I wish you both much happiness. But I don’t wish to intrude on your life together. When I am well I will return home.”

“No,” Willow said before her husband could. “Your home is here with us. You are family. Besides who will help me with the little ones when they come along?”

That brought a smile to the old woman’s face and another round of tears to trickle down her cheeks.

Slatter wiped her tears away with his thumb. “It is settled, Seanmhair. Here you are and here you will stay.”

“You are a good man, Slatter,” his grandmother said.

Willow looked at her husband and tilted her head with a defiant smile, daring him to deny what his grandmother had said.

He grinned that cock-sure grin of his. “You’ve always known me better than I know myself, so I won’t argue with you, Seanmhair.”

Her husband truly could charm, and she’d learned a thing or two from him.

“You’ll have to tell me all about Slatter when he was young. I want to be prepared for when we have a son and he turns out to be just like his father,” Willow said, looking to Sara.

The old woman laughed. “Heaven help you if he does.”

“I wasn’t that bad,” Slatter protested playfully.

Sara laughed harder, but it was abruptly ended with a sharp wince, her hand going to her side.

Slatter looked with haste and worry to his wife.

“You still have much healing to do,” Willow reminded, “and rest will help you do that.”

“Before I leave so you can rest and grow strong again, tell me who caused you harm,” Slatter said.

“I don’t know who the two men were. I never saw them before. They burst into the cottage and demanded to know where you were.” She cringed. “The big one pulled out a dagger and threatened me.” She shook her head. “How could I tell him what I didn’t know? He thought a stab to my shoulder might change my mind.”