His considerate gesture did more than warm her hand, it also warmed her heart.

It wasn’t lost on them that not only a couple of Tarass’s warriors lingered near as they walked, but a few Ruddock’s warriors’ kept steady eyes on them as well. A good watch was being kept on Slatter.

Willow thought Slatter might complain, but he said nothing. His glance, while appearing to remain straight in front of him, took note of every warrior that marked their path, just as his eyes had seemed to take in everything around them when she had ridden with him.

James greeted them with a nod. “Thanks to Lord Ruddock finishing the building of the shed, lost to a fire, we have a sturdy food shed.”

“I know I waste my breath, but I will say it again. I didn’t set fire to your shed. Whatever possible reason would I have for doing so?” Slatter asked, having grown exceedingly tired of taking the blame for something he didn’t do.

“The offer of coin is a good reason,” James said.

“Aye, and when we catch the fellow he can tell us how much he was paid for his heinous crime,” Willow said.

She could see she perplexed James, but then he had always been able to count on her to see reason and do the right thing. He had lost her dependable nature and she hadn’t given thought to how it might have upset him. But she could see now that it did and while she felt a tug of sadness, as strange as it seemed, she also felt a sense of freedom.

“You’ve often said how you wished to see the Clan Macardle grow in size—”

“You’re with child already?” James asked not even trying to hide his shock.

Slatter smiled and rested his hand to Willow’s stomach. “It will be soon enough that Willow grows with child.”

“But not yet,” Willow was quick to say, seeing the teasing look in her husband’s dark eyes and brushing his hand away before someone saw and set off wagging tongues that would have her with child by nightfall. “Slatter has a small group of people that is like family to him and I’d like to send for them so they can make their home here with the Clan Macardle. I’ve met a few and they are good people.”

“Are they much like Slatter?” James asked, casting a glance at him.

“Life has treated them poorly, some more poorly than others, but they are honest, good people and would prove grateful for the opportunity to have a good, permanent home and be part of a good clan. There are young and old alike among them, and all will do their share,” Slatter said with a pride for the small group he had gathered.

“I will gladly accept them into our clan after your innocence is proven,” James said.

Willow turned such an angry glare on James that it had him drawing his head back in shock.