Journey to the Highlands: Robbie and Caralyn (Clan Grant Series Book 4) by Keira Montclair

thanked him, but after tending to these ravaged victims, her words seemed pitifully inadequate. He had not only saved her, but her girls as well.
    Aye, she had thanked him, too, but tremendous guilt had rocked her core after it happened. She felt guilty no longer. They had shared something beautiful. Unable to understand it at the time, she had allowed her guilt to overpower her. Now, she recognized their lovemaking for what it was—normal and special at the same time.
    He had given her a taste of what could be. Most of her past experiences with sex were tainted, but every moment she’d shared with Robbie had been beautiful, loving, tender, full of caring, and so different than her life. He was everything she had been missing since her husband had passed. One night with a stranger had given her something naught else had ever given her—hope.
    And while Robbie had saved her from the abuses of the Norseman, the toughest of realities had just hit her. The stories of many of the battered women sounded not unlike her life with Malcolm. They spoke of humiliation and degradation, something Malcolm made her feel every day. She was more convinced than ever that she had to do everything in her power to get away from him. Forever. All along, she had wanted to do this for her daughters, but now she grasped the truth—she needed to get away for herself.
    Aye, she was ready to be untethered to Malcolm, the man who had stolen her life. She needed to be free, free of hate and humiliation, free to love and care for her daughters. For a man who cared for her and honored her.
    Voices at the end of the corridor interrupted her thoughts. She glanced up in time to see Robbie enter from the staircase. One look at him and butterflies burst to flight in her belly. He was talking to Tomas and the lad who had brought Gwyneth into the sick room, but he stopped when he saw her. She swallowed, hoping he wouldn’t turn away. His gaze caught hers and he smiled.
    Robbie’s smile had a way of heading straight to her heart. His boots echoed on the stone as he made his way straight toward her. She couldn’t have moved if she’d wanted to, pinned to the spot by his handsome gaze.
    “Caralyn, I’m glad you’re still here.” He stopped in front of her and introduced his friends. “You remember, Tomas?”
    “Aye.” She nodded, her hands folded in her lap in an attempt to hide the trembling.
    “And this is Logan Ramsay of West Lothian. His brother is married to my sister.”
    Caralyn nodded. “Greetings, Lord Ramsay.”
    Logan laughed, “My lady, I am no lord, believe me.”
    She couldn’t help but smile in response to his smirk and his crinkled eyes. “Captain Grant,” she turned to Robbie. “My thanks for returning my friend, Gwyneth, to Glasgow. We had met at a Kirk not long ago. I was verra pleased to see her.”
    Robbie sighed. “I must apologize. Tomas and I had every intention of finding your daughters when we were sent on this assignment.”
    “Och, well, ‘twas a verra important task.”
    Robbie whispered, “So is finding your daughters.”
    Caralyn closed her eyes and squeezed to attempt to stop tears from falling. She nodded but didn’t speak.
    “Caralyn, now there are three of us. Logan is one of the best trackers of all the Scots. We will find them. Having completed all we need to do for our commander, I promise to focus on saving your daughters.”
    “Aye, my thanks, Captain Grant.”
    “I am surprised Malcolm allows you to come to the priory.”
    “Aye, he allows me here or the Kirk with an escort when he’s out of town. He knows I like to say my prayers when I can. However, he does not know that I am helping the sisters with their sick ones. Mother Mary has kept his men busy so I can be of assistance.” Caralyn picked at her thumbnail, her eyes downcast.
    “Have you learned anything else about where he may be keeping the wee lasses?” He grasped her hand in his, stopping her repetitive movement with his