Page 55 of The Plight of a Scottish Lass
“Tamsin, come in! The water is actually quite warm. Warmer than our loch in the Highlands,” Dyna shouted to her.
“It looks enticing. I’m considering joining you.” She was. Seriously. If there was anything she wished to learn, it was how to swim. After nearly dying twice in deep water, it was paramount that she learn how to swim.
“Would you like me to join you? I’d be happy to show you some easy maneuvers in the water.” The voice came from behind her.
Tamsin jumped, whirling around, surprised to see Thane approaching from the area where they’d left their horses. She gave him a swift hug because she was glad to see him. He’d saved her twice, and she hadn’t adequately expressed her appreciation for the second time.
Her arms wrapped around his neck and inhaled his scent of pine and horse, so much different from Raghnall. Tall and hard in most places, his chest felt like the side of a wall. His belly wasalso flat and solid.
Unlike Raghnall’s moving midsection.
Thane’s hands were soft and kind, and his hair was always clean, something else very different from her husband. She stepped back and blushed. “Forgive me for my forwardness. I wasn’t thinking.”
Thane brushed a stray hair from her face and said, “That makes the hug even better.”
“Why are you here?” she asked, hoping Mora and Brian were well. “Is something wrong?”
“Nay, naught specific. We’ve heard tales of Garvie attacking different places, and we still have not discovered who the second group was who attacked us, but we’ve heard gossip about both situations. I decided I’d feel better if the three young ones were here.”
“Three?” she asked, tipping her head.
“Mora, Lia, and Magni.”
She had a vague memory of two other bairns coming along on their last trip, but she didn’t recall actually meeting them. “I look forward to making their acquaintance. Where are they from? And do they live with you or are they visiting?”
“Magni found my boat on Ulva and decided to attempt to get away from there. He and his sister were to be sold, but he escaped from the mean old woman’s place, as he called her, and found me. They’ll stay with us for as long as they’d like.”
“So he might know where Alana is held?”
“He claims to know. We shall use his knowledge when the time comes.”
Tamsin sighed, knowing she wasn’t in a position to make any demands. She would learn how to swim, practice her archery, then ask her new friends how they would suggest getting Alana back. “You also mentioned you were attacked by an unknown group? When did this happen?”
“When we returned to our land, a small group came upon us in the forest, looking for a specific lass. We have yet to determine who they were or whom they sought. I thought to ask Maitland if he has any new information about that. He seems to be the one who ferrets out tales of the isle. More than we ever hear.”
“My lord, I hope I have not caused any trouble to fall upon your clan. It was certainly not my intent.” She would feel horrible if Raghnall attacked Thane’s clan. Had her husband attacked other clans? Not to her knowledge, but then again, she knew little of his activities outside their home.
“Not my lord, but Thane…” He brushed the back of his hand across her cheek, his touch so gentle she nearly grabbed his hand to hold it there.
She blushed and said, “Thane. I’m sorry if my husband is bothering you.”
“It is not your fault. It is your husband’s. He does not wish to get along with any neighbors, but instead prefers to make demands. I am not worried about Garvie.” Thane glanced past her shoulder and smiled.
“They are enjoying themselves.” Tamsin’s heart swelled watching the loving interaction within the family, wondering how it would feel to have a husband who truly loved their bairn, and one who was kind. Derric and Dyna were wonderful parents. Tamsin often envisioned Alana playing with their wee ones.
Dyna hollered over the din of the bairns’ happiness. “Come join us, both of you. How do you fare, Thane?”
“I’m well. I saw your horses here, so I thought to check on your activities.”
“The water is lovely. Talk Tamsin into joining us. Though I’ll warn you to keep your distance, Tamsin. Derric has naught on.”
Fortunately, Derric was in deep water, so he gave no hint to being in the nude. Dyna turned back to her group, so Thane took Tamsin’s elbow and said, “I’m guessing you were hoping to learnhow to swim. I’d be happy to help in any way I can.”
Tamsin looked into his eyes, the kindness even visible there, something she truly loved about Thane. “I was hoping to learn a bit, but they are busy with their bairns.”
“Do you trust me? I could try to teach you to float on your back. That would be a great start. When in trouble, floating on your back will keep your head above water, and after that, the next skill to learn would be kicking your feet to move you to your target.”
Tamsin kneaded her hands in front of her, wiggling her thumbs. She’d worn a short tunic and leggings to swim in, something Eli had suggested and shared with her so she wouldn’t worry about her clothing. It was time for her to be bold and stop hiding from the world as she’d learned to do in Ulva.
