“You’re good at puzzles, but this is one puzzle that will remain a mystery to others. The only thing anyone needs to know is that it was a man from the far north looking for revenge against me for a previous battle fought.”

“What about Twilla? Are you sure she doesn’t know anything?”

“My da told me to trust her more than anyone, that she knew and kept family secrets. She kept the secret all these years about Fay and her son and she truly believed them in love. So, no, I don’t believe she knew the truth about her son. I think if she had, it would have broken her heart.”

The door to the bedchamber opened.

Willow stood in the doorway with tears in her eyes.

Slatter went to her and took her in his arms.

Tarass stood, placing Thaw on the floor beside him, and they both looked to Willow.

Willow choked back the tears. “Snow lost quite a bit of blood and if it wasn’t for her quick actions of ridding herself of a good portion of the brew they forced down her throat, she would not be alive now.”

Tarass went to enter the room.

“She sleeps and she needs rest,” Willow said. “Nettle and I will keep watch over her throughout the night to make sure there is no more bleeding. If it remains that way, I believe she will do well along with rest and food to replenish her strength.”

Twilla approached them. “There is little for me to do here. Snow is in excellent hands with Willow and Nettle.” She placed a hand on Tarass’s arm. “Snow is strong. I have no doubt she’ll survive this and you will have many bairns in the years to come. Your father would be proud of the honorable man you’ve become.”

Slatter sent a quick nod to Tarass as if acknowledging that he was right about Twilla. She didn’t know anything.

“I will sit with my wife as well,” Tarass said.

“There is nothing you can do for her,” Willow said.

“There is,” Tarass said. “I can be there with her.”

It was morning when Snow woke to see her husband sleeping in a chair as well as Willow. Tears filled her eyes in relief and sorrow. The memory of losing the bairn tore at her heart until she feared it would rip her in two. Though, she knew there’d be other bairns, it didn’t help ease her current heartache. The one thing that did soothe the hurt was to see her husband there, alive and well, and to feel Thaw cuddled against her side.

Thaw rose with a stretch, stuck his face in hers, and licked her cheek.