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His craggy face was ravaged, his blue eyes swiret, and it was at that moment that Alison decided she would not hold on to her bitterness and anger any longer She had justice on her side, perhaps, but as the use of being right if it ht she just ood ht ether, now, and put the past behind them?

If he came back to her from Abercauldy

Alison kissed his rough cheek And then kissed the other He went still, staring at her in wonder, and she kissed one eye closed and then the other, and then she kissed his otten how soft his ed-looking man

“Alison,” heher closer “Oh, Alison”

“Malcolhean, I’ve missed ye so much Oh, so much”

And then she couldn’t say any her too desperately And besides, what else was there to say?

Chapter 26

Meg woke abruptly

Gregor was already up, dressing, buckling his belts about hi his sword into its place He looked at her, his expression gri froether

“Rest,” he said softly, atte a smile

Meg sat up, pushing her hair out of her eyes “There will be tio and see to your food and drink” She swung her shawl about herself and, on bare feet, moved past him toward the door

His arainst hi hard, feeling hi hurried out of the room, her face streaked with tears, down the stairs to the kitchen

Alison was already there, with a pot of porridge stea over the fire,of ale on a tray She looked up, and Meg saw that she was pale and tired, as if she, too, had had little or no sleep There was also a bruise upon her neck

Concerned, Megin Alison’s avoidance of her eyes, so in the way she became suddenly very busy, stopped her

“The ,” Alison said over her shoulder “Is the laird up?”