The Highlander's Secret(37)

“She’s a Norseman,” Alan said, confirming what he already knew.

Eamon cleared his throat and asked. “Does this change anything fer ye?”

Alan’s body tensed. “Nae,” he snapped. “I love her, nothing could change that.”

Eamon closed his eyes and expelled a long, quiet breath. “I cannae tell ye how much relief yer words bring to me.” An instant later, Eamon’s expression hardened. He grabbed Alan’s arms. “If the Norsemen are coming back fer her, she needs to be protected. We must protect her.”

Alan stood tall. “With my very life,” he vowed.

Jain’s father smiled, saying, “I ken ye will. Ye’ve always been a friend to our family. Even though Jain may not realize it, she needs ye now more than ever. Jain has a wild heart and wants to take care of herself, but she had to grow up way too young and still needs to be cared fer from time to time.” He paused to let out a tired sigh before continuing. “I’m not as strong as I used to be, so I cannae protect her the way I did before. It’s good to ken there someone else that cares about her as much as I do. She’s been blessed with fortunate company.”

“Eamon…I’ve seen the way Conrad has been harassing her. If he finds out—”

“He won’t,” Eamon insisted. “Ye and I are the only ones who ken the truth.”

Alan breathed out a sigh of relief and a moment of silence passed between them.

“I would ask yer permission to let me marry her,” he stated calmly.

Eamon rested his hand on Alan’s shoulder. “Ye have my permission, and I give it wholeheartedly, but I will not press Jain. Her heart ye must win yerself. Let her ken that she has a voice that can be heard and respected.”

Alan nodded. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I just wanted to make my intentions known to ye.”

“Thank ye, Alan. I’d be honored if she took a fancy to ye, if I was being honest. Ye’d make a fine husband fer her. Promise me something though, if things go badly…if they come fer her, make sure that she gets out safely.”

The words settled Alan like a mantle of armor. Eamon trusted him enough to protect his child. The magnitude of that responsibility hit him and Alan nodded. “I swear to ye, nothing will ever harm her.”

Eamon smiled, turning back down the road ahead and called back over his shoulder, “I’ll hold ye to that.”

*

As Eamon passed through the village gate on his way home, a sense of urgency overtook him. After the news Keenan shared with them at the meeting, he was frightened for his daughter. After all these years, he never imagined the secret of her lineage would come back to haunt them. Although he couldn’t be sure it was them to begin with, Eamon was terrified at the prospect.

Jain had to be warned, she had no idea that her kin might be coming for her.

As fast as he could, the tired farmer hurried down the road on his way down the hill. The moon shining overhead cast a ghostly sheen on the rocks and shrubbery. Cold air hit his lungs, gasping for air from the exertion.

For so long, he and Jain were the only ones who knew the truth about what happened on the coast. They guarded the secret of her Viking origins from everyone, including his beloved Moira. All this, because he wanted to save a child.

But now there was another who Jain had brought into their circle, Alan. Jain told him what really happened, which meant she trusted him enough to keep her secret. More importantly, he cared about her enough to keep it. It brought Eamon a sense of comfort knowing there was at least one other person who loved Jain enough to risk his own safety to protect her.

God bless Alan and his kind heart.

God bless Alan, and may he truly be the man that Jain deserved.

Eamon’s heart pounded with every step he took, racing back towards the farm. The sound of his shoes beating against the dirt road was the only thing that he could hear. All Eamon knew was that he had to keep Jain safe, he had to tell her. If anything happened to his sweet child, Eamon would never forgive himself.





Chapter Seventeen


Aileen smiled weakly from the bed as Jain changed the wet cloth upon her head. “Thank ye, Jain.”

“Hush,” she soothed her calmly. “Ye’re goin’ to be fine.”

She frowned at the flush that had risen in her cousin’s cheeks and set the rag down in a basin on the floor. Aileen’s cough had gotten worse and they had sent her to the sick bed for most of the day. Moira had taken it upon herself to make some broth to help soothe her throat and smeared a mustard plaster across her chest. The common remedy was used to stimulate healing especially with respiratory ailments. Jain brought some broth in a bowl for Aileen to drink and helped her cousin to sit up.

“Thank ye, Aunt Moira.”

The woman’s brow line furrowed with concern. “Drink up now. It will help.”

Aileen took the bowl from her and drank. The piping hot liquid filled the home with the scent of herbs and spices. Even Jain appreciated the aromatic smell as it wafted through the house. She drank it slowly, but finished the entire batch before looking back at them and saying, “Mmmm! Thank ye, Moira. ’Twas delicious.”

Without a word, Moira took the bowl from her and stepped over to the wash bin. Jain could tell from her expression that she was worried, even though she didn’t say it. She guessed that Moira didn’t want to frighten them by letting on about the depths of her concern. It was in her nature to worry.