“Your husband is finished and a bath awaits you,” Eleanor said. “I will sit with Sara until Slatter arrives.”

Willow didn’t argue. She longed for the hot water to soak away her aches and wash away the dirt of her journey. She thanked Eleanor and hurried up the curving staircase to her parents’ bedchamber.

The door opened as she reached for it and she almost fell into her husband’s arms, but righted herself before she did. His appearance stunned her speechless. She didn’t think he could look more handsome than he already was, but he did. He was dressed in a Macardle plaid, a tan shirt beneath and his dark hair was damp from its recent washing, the shoulder-length strands curling some at the edges.

“Your turn,” he said, drawing her out of her musings and he stepped aside for her to enter.

A round wooden tub sat near the hearth and Willow almost ran to it.

“I will return after spending some time with my grandmother,” Slatter said. “She does well?”

“She does. Her fever hasn’t returned and she rests comfortably. Though, she did speak, repeatedly saying, ‘not safe, not safe’. I assured her she was, but you might want to reassure her yourself.”

Slatter reached out, his arm circling her waist. “There are no words to let you know how much I appreciate what you’ve done for my grandmother. She has been a vital force in my life and continues to be. I don’t want to lose her.”

“I understand and I’ll do all I can to make sure that you don’t lose her.” Willow couldn’t stop the yawn that slipped out.

“You need to rest. You’ve done enough,” he said, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes that appeared to fight to remain open. “I will see you later.” He released her and stepped past her out the door.

Willow shook her head, fatigue fogging it, but recalling what she wanted to ask him. “What did you say to James?”

Slatter turned, a grin surfacing. “It’s not what I said but what your brother asked of me.”

“And what was that?”

“He asked if there was a strong possibility that you were with child.”

Shock turned her eyes wide. “What did you say?”

His grin grew. “I told him there was a very strong possibility.”

Willow’s response stole his grin. “Then you best get started to make it so.”

Chapter 14

Slatter stood, staring at the door his wife shut in his face, and mumbled several oaths. What game did she play with him? He shook his head. Willow didn’t play games.

He’s my husband and he’ll stay my husband.

Did she mean that? Or had she said it to protect him until they could absolve their marriage? What difference did it make? He couldn’t remain wed to her. Could he? He was better off asking… could he let her go?

He shook his head as he took the stairs down. It was as if she had become part of him and there was no existing without her.