Chapter Six

At the very least, Sheena had listened to his explanation. Whether she forgave him was another matter, but he would do whatever was necessary to win her back.

"How many men are out?" she asked quietly.

"Why?" Camdyn asked as he walked to join her by the window.

"I hope they have decided to return to their homes."

Just as he looked out, a tree down the lane toppled from the heavy snow, the wind or both. Since he and Sheena had been inside, a blizzard had blown in. Such weather was dangerous for not only his workers, but the cows. The sheep were already penned near a barn open to them and could tolerate this weather better than most other animals. As for the cows, they were kept further away. They had talked about moving them to a closer pasture for the remainder of the winter so that they were close to shelter, but they were going to do that after the Christmas holiday.

"Please excuse me, Sheena," he said as he set his whisky aside and hurried out of the parlor.

Camdyn called for his thickest coat and gloves and when he turned, Sheena approached with his scarf.

"Are ye certain ye want to go outside?" she asked, her brow creased with worry.

"They are my workers and my cattle. I must see to them."

His valet returned from downstairs, and he helped Camdyn into his greatcoat then handed him his thickest gloves.

"Be careful," Sheena whispered as he set out from the house.

Even if she hadn't forgiven him, she still cared, which may be all that he would ever have, but Camdyn could not think about that now.

The snow was nearly blinding as he made his way toward the stables. His horse was already being saddled and Camdyn could only assume that his stable master anticipated that he would be out here shortly, or a servant ran ahead and alerted him. It was not unusual for Camdyn to ride out and work alongside the men. The health and safety of the cows was the responsibility of them all. Each man had a stake in their survival so that there were plenty of healthy, adult cows to take to market come September.

Each worker also had a small tract of land and a cottage. Some were married and had children, whereas others were bachelors. Each had gardens for food and were able to hunt for meat. They weren't tenant farmers in the sense that they worked the land because they were hired to see to the cows and sheep. The main income of the estate was beef and wool.

Cows lost this December could create hardship next winter.

He rode as quickly as he dared but not as fast as he would have liked to reach the cows. He heard the mooing and his workers shouting in the distance, but the blinding snow made it almost impossible to see anything until he grew closer and there he fell in with the workers as they maneuvered the cows to the smaller fenced pasture attached to the cow barn. After each was counted and accounted for, they saw that there was plenty of feed and water and then they did the same for the sheep.

That was all they could do, and all Camdyn could hope was that the livestock survived.

By the time they had completed the tasks, each worker was exhausted and half frozen, as was Camdyn and he was finally able to turn for home as darkness was falling. The stablehands rushed to take the horses and as his workers trudged their way back to the cottages, he turned for the manor, the lights in the windows his beacon to safety.

He had to kick the snow away from the back door leading into the kitchen before opening it and then stomped his boots before entering the manor.

"I will fix you something to warm your insides," Cook said when she saw him.

Camdyn simply nodded. "I will be by the fire in the parlor." He then made his way through the kitchen, then dining room and into the entry when he looked upon the sweetest sight. Sheena stood at the foot of the stairs, her brow creased with worry.

"Ye were gone so long."

"Did you worry about me?" he asked, warmed at her concern.

"Ye ken I did. Ye were out in a blizzard for hours."

Camdyn allowed his butler to remove his coat, gloves, hat, and scarf. "Help me remove my boots." His feet were frozen and would thaw quicker free of the leather.

A footman brought a chair forward and Camdyn nearly fell into it. All he wanted right then was for the boots to be off his feet and to stand in front of the fire until he was warm again.

When a glass was pressed into his hands, he looked up into the green eyes of Sheena.

"MacGregor whisky will help warm yer blood."

She did care and perhaps there was a chance that he may win her back.

"Thank you, Sheena."

Sheena couldn't sleep. There was so much to think about.

Further, the wind still howled outside and branches scraped against the window. It was likely she'd get no sleep tonight, nor was it so important. Given the amount of snow from today, she'd not be able to travel back to Scotland for a few days.

She hated that Camdyn had only approached her that Season because he thought he could charm family secrets from her. He was acting on information from his father and beliefs he had held since he was a child. And he came to realize his error.

Yet, what did that say about his character that he would be willing to manipulate her like that in the first place?

He had admitted he was wrong. He was remorseful. A man who could learn from his mistakes and look back and realize the errors he had made in word or deed was to be respected.

If he were truly a horrible person, he would not have cared who he hurt in the process, like his father.

He probably would not even be able to love.

Camdyn claimed to love her. Sheena believed he did.

But, she had held onto her pain and humiliation for so long that it was difficult to let go of. This morning, all she had wanted to do was leave. She could lie to herself and claim it was because she hated him, but the truth was, her heart was still very much vulnerable when Camdyn was near. As much as she had tried to extinguish her love for him, she had not been able to do so.

She also hadn't thought that she could ever forgive him, but then he had gone out into the blizzard and was gone for the longest time. She had been certain that he was frozen in a snow drift somewhere and when it was safe to go outside again, they would find his body.

Fear had gripped her heart and she'd paced the parlor and the entry, looking and waiting and when he had stepped through the door, it was the greatest relief she had ever experienced in her life.

She thought her heart frozen to him, but it had thawed during a blizzard and all she had wanted to do was take care of him. After his boots were removed, he had entered the parlor and settled back into the chair before the fire. She had built it up before a servant could be called and then found a blanket for him.

She was not finished with Camdyn Oaks and she would not have him die until she was.

He had thanked her for her kindness and Sheena found herself hovering, afraid that he would take ill.

They hadn't even eaten in the dining room, but before the fire. They had a light meal of hearty soup and warm bread, fitting for the weather outside.

Then he had retired, and she came to her chamber.

He was probably asleep, but Sheena had a need to see him.

Mind made up, Sheena decided that she'd just peek in his chamber, make certain that he had not become ill from being so cold and then she'd return to her own.

Quietly she opened the door and peeked out into the corridor. It was empty and all lights had been extinguished below stairs. She took the lamp from the table and then made her way to Camdyn's chamber, which was only two doors down for she had seen him enter it, and paused just outside.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door, lifted the lamp, and stuck her head inside.

No servants were about, and he lay on his bed in darkness.

Did she check for a fever or just leave him be?

"Did you need to speak with me, Sheena."