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enough. The villagers' generosity was always overlooked for their flaws.
     
People in Braighwick teased and taunted them without mercy. Serena wasn't about to give up her guard so easily. Mayhap Gavin MacKenzie was a gifted charmer.
     
Horse hooves pounded the earth as a rider rode toward the cottage.
     
"Slow down there, laddie. Else ye'll end up in my stew." Gunna warned from outside.
     
"Is my brother here? I need to speak with him. It's important." A man's voice spoke between short gasps.
     
"Ye'll find 'im inside," Gunna said.
     
Gavin's blue gaze met Serena's before he strode to the door. "Sounds like Leith." A dark-headed man rushed in with wide, worried eyes. Standing at eye level with each other, Gavin folded his arms and waited while Leith took a moment to catch his breath.
     
"A giant is tearing down our tents. He has a vicious wolf following him everywhere. I assumed he might be from the village so we didn't want to harm him, but neither can we allow him to destroy our things."
     
"Is anyone hurt?" Gavin scratched his forehead and pinched his eyebrows.
     
"Nay, but at this rate, we canna set up camp. What do ye advise?" Leith asked.
     
Gavin shifted his weight to one leg and rubbed his red beard as he pondered what to do. This was only the beginning of the many challenges he would encounter if he intended to stay here long enough to repair Braigh Castle.
     
"Still think we're the Village of Hospitality?" Serena asked.
     

3
G
avin strode beside Leith, pondering Serena's question about the village name. Even though he hadn't admitted it aloud, he could understand why this place was deemed as the Village of Outcasts. Most of them would have a difficult time fitting in with others—even among the low-class. The only exceptions were Serena and Evelina. Why were they here? They didn't appear to belong anymore than the rest of the villagers belonged in the town of Braighwick.
     
"Wait!" A woman's voice called from behind.
     
Gavin whirled. Serena held onto the door frame as she stepped over the threshold. Tomas supported her on the other side. Gavin dropped the reins on his horse and rushed to her.
     
"What's the meaning of this? Ye should be resting as Tomas advised." A surge of unexplained protection welled inside him. Mayhap it was from seeing her in such a weakened state when he'd carried her home.
     
"Aye. See?" Tomas glanced down at Serena with a disapproving frown, his tone a fatherly reproach. "Gavin agrees with me."
     
"Serena, I do wish ye'd go back to bed and rest," Evelina said from behind, hidden by the shade inside of their home.
     
"I'll be fine, Mither. I need to warn Gavin about Quinn. I won't be able to rest 'til I do." Serena lifed a pleading gaze. Her eyes reminded him of the color of fresh peat moss in the spring. His heart swelled with mixed feelings as he waited, the lure of her expression tugged at him. "Have ye met Quinn?"
     
"I have. He seemed like a pleasant man, but quite large."
     
"Aye, and his size alone seems a direct challenge to some. They pick and prod hoping to push him into a fight so they can say they've defeated the giant."
     
"I see. Ye think my men have provoked him?" Gavin raised an eyebrow, not sure whether he should be insulted or admire her loyalty.
     
"Please, I mean no disrespect, but I know Quinn—we all do." She glanced at Tomas and back at her mother. "Quinn is much like his wolf. He's lovable, sensitive, playful, slow minded at times, but verra protective of folk he cares about— that includes any of us villagers—especially Beacon and the wolf." She stepped forward, slipped her fingers around his forearm in a steady grip in spite of her weakened condition. "Don't let them hurt Quinn. If he's on a wild fit, it's because he feels the need to protect something or someone."
     
"I promise I'll do my best." Gavin laid a hand over Serena's warm fingers. He looked into her eyes. A current of understanding passed between them. "I give my