Page 93 of The Groom Wore Plaid
“It’s my fault, my fault,” he cried over and over. “She thought to avenge us, to rescue me, but I couldn’t—couldn’t—”
“What did she say to ye?” Owen demanded.
“It’s not what she said, it’s what I didn’t do.” Gregor threw his hands wide. “I didn’t protect her. I spoke of my rage at fate and blamed the McCallums. I blamed everyone but me and my stupid pride and my temper. I lost my business in the colonies when I couldn’t have the woman I wanted. I tried to punish her with my wild accusations and instead I impoverished mysister. And when I realized ye’d made peace with the McCallums, who’d been the cause of our flight from Scotland—” He broke off when he saw the chief of the McCallums himself. He hung his head and it was difficult to hear his words as he admitted, “I set the fires. I told my sister what I’d done. I was so angry. I had no idea she’d take it farther.” He collapsed onto his hands and knees, head hanging, and sobbed.
“Let him go, Owen,” Maggie whispered, taking his hand in hers. “Let him find his fate somewhere else. He’s a broken man.”
“If ye wish it, lass. Now come with me and let me take care of ye.”
MAGGIEfelt so exhausted, it was as if she was removed from herself. She hugged her family, both old and new, and then allowed Owen to lead her away, back to the room they would now share. Every trace of blood was gone, but she knew it would be a long time before it was erased from her memories, her very soul. He’d almost died.
“Go back to bed,” she suddenly said, worried that so much exertion was too much for him.
“Nay, I’ll sit here and be with ye. I’m no infant to lie there and drool.”
She finally gave a shaky smile, even as he slowly sank into a chair with a sigh. Once again, he pulled her onto his knee.
“Owen—”
“Enough of your worry, woman. I’ll touch ye as I want. Ye’re my wife and I didn’t even have my wedding night.”
She never thought she’d smile again, but she did so, even as she allowed him to tuck her head beneath his chin. They sat that way for several long minutes while she told herself all was well. Owen was safe and whole. She shuddered and pressed herself even closer to him.
“I believe in ye, Maggie,” he said after a while, his voice a rumble in his ribs beneath her ear. “Why did ye not wait for me to make things right?”
“I couldn’t,” she whispered. “I knew she’d get away, and it was my fault I didn’t see how twisted she truly was. She almost killed ye, Owen. I love ye so much, it was as if she stabbed me, too. All that blood. I thought—I thought—”
She felt his gentle hand tilt up her chin, and she saw through eyes blurred with tears that he was regarding her with sweet tenderness.
“I love ye, too, Maggie,” he said quietly, “more than I ever thought possible.”
She drew in a breath, searching his face with desperate eyes, listening to the beloved brogue of Scotland in his voice. “Ye . . . love me?”
“I do. I don’t deserve your love, but I’m humbled that ye offer it.”
Maggie’s eyes filled with glad tears. “Our love can be the start of a new life, where we celebrate the ways we’ve changed.You’vechanged. Ye sent for the physician!”
A corner of his mouth twitched.
“Ye could say ye were taking care of all possibilities,” she said, “but to me, it felt like yebelievedin me.”
“I do, lass, I do. I may never be able to explain or prove the things that’ve happened to ye, but it doesn’t matter. Maybe someday ye’ll tell me about your dreams of our childhood.”
“And that’s not looking for proof?” she chided.
He reared his head back. “Nay, it’s about needing to know everything about ye and experiencing again this connection we’ve had since before we even knew each other.”
She leaned up and kissed him, trying to show all her feelings because words alone didn’t seem enough.
“Maggie,” he whispered against her mouth, then kissed her cheeks and forehead. “Maggie, it scares me how much I love ye. When I knew ye’d left to confront a madwoman on my behalf, it was as if I’d been stabbed again. I can’t lose ye. I can’t lose your smile and your wit, and the way each of life’s experiences is something new to be understood and embraced. Ye tried to protect me, even when it meant risking your life. Your loyalty to your clan was something I never doubted, but you, Maggie, everything ye are—” Hebroke off, then bowed his head until their foreheads touched. “Ye humble me, lass.”
She was crying again, but this time she was smiling, too. “Oh, Owen, how could I have known what we could share? If I’d had a dream aboutthis, I’d have followed ye to England and back until I made ye see that what we have is—is—”
“Like magic,” he whispered against her lips.
She carefully put her arms around his neck and held on. “Aye, like magic, and I promise that we’ll never let it die. I never let myself get too close to anyone, afraid to reveal myself. But you and your family and your household have shown me I’ve been wrong. I’ve made good friends here, and I count your sister as the most important friend yet. I won’t stand on the outside any more, like a coward. I love ye, Owen.”
“I love ye, too, Maggie. I can’t hold back my emotions anymore because they spill out of me every time I see your face. Let me show ye how I feel.” He began to stand and move toward the bed.
