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threateningly. "I can see that. Who is he?"
    "Phelan O'Conner," the boy replied in a clear child's voice that held no fear.
    "How come ye here?" Tavis was noting the bright hair and odd eyes so like Storm's.
    "I followed Storm to the glade. Ye should ne'er go out alone," he scolded her. "When ye took her I followed ye. I thought I could aid her to escape," he said flatly, his shoulders sagging with the weight of failure.
    "Ye followed us on foot? Alone?" Tavis was duly impressed by such a feat.
    "Aye. Ye were not traveling at a very fast pace," the boy replied with the air of one unaware that he had done anything worthy of note. "I left when ye did so I know not what they do at Hagaleah."
    "What is this boy to you?" Tavis asked Storm.
    "My cousin from my mother's kin in Ireland."
    Tavis told his men to return to their rest, fetched another blanket and tossed it to Phelan. "I would send ye home, but I ken ye'd nay go. Better to keep ye with us than to have ye yapping at our heels. Ere ye bed down for the night, laddie, I'll be having that knife ye have tucked in your boot."
    "I would ne'er kill a sleeping man. 'Twould be cowardly," Phelan said as he handed over the knife.
    " 'Tis a comfort to know that, but I prefer ye unarmed. Get some rest, laddie."
    When they were again settled Tavis listened to the cousins' whispered conversation. At times he was hard put not to laugh out loud. He did not want the boy along, but he knew there would be no keeping the child away from Storm. It was his fervent hope that there would be no others showing up.
    "I had hoped to rescue ye, cousin."
    "Not to worry, Phelan. Mayhaps next time."
    Silence reigned for a moment before Phelan said, "Are ye feeling a bit cold, cousin?"
    Storm bit her lip to stop her laughter, unknowingly mimicking Tavis, for she knew it was not the cold that made the boy wish to be nearer. "Aye. 'Tis a bit sharp. What do ye suggest?"
    With the air of one making a sacrifice, Phelan replied, "We could huddle a bit closer for warmth."
    "An excellent idea. Come along then." She let the boy snuggle up to her, the back of him fitting closely to the front of her. "That is much better. Good sleep, cousin."
    "Good sleep to ye as well."
    "I am glad ye are here," she said softly and meant it, for even though he was but a child he was family, and somehow that made things seem less bleak.

Chapter Four
    Caraidland burst into life when the raiding party rode up, their bounty on the hoof very welcome after a long winter. Storm sat before Tavis upon his stallion and watched her father's stock praised and sorted out. Knowing how easily that vital stock had been gained by the MacLagans was yet another grievance to lay at Lady Mary's door. Despite her years at Hagaleah, the woman still failed to really understand the way of things. For that misjudgment the people who worked her father's lands would have less food in their bellies. Storm knew that would not bother Lady Mary at all.
    Tavis dismounted, helped Storm down and left her standing next to her cousin with Angus to keep a close eye on them. He always saw to the stabling of his mount himself. After a last quick glance at Storm, who looked tiny next to the stocky, muscular Angus, he turned his attention to caring for his horse.
    "They surely did well for themselves," Phelan remarked softly.
    "They surely did. Some of our best stock. T'will mean a few less lambs, a few less calves, a few less of everything, for one loss leads to another. Lord, but I wish my father had not gone away from Hagaleah."
    " 'Tis not his fault, cousin. How could he know what would happen? He believed your steward worthy of his trust. 'Tis not his fault that the man's a lecherous bastard who's easily led by his ..."
    "Phelan!" Storm cried, cutting off the boy's too candid commentary, and then she flicked a quelling glance at Angus, who quickly turned his laughter into a fit of coughing.
    "Sorry, cousin, but sometimes I forget ye are a lady."
    "I suppose that is a