Free Tide and Tempest (Edge of Freedom Book #3) by Elizabeth Ludwig

blazes had he let the situation get so complicated? Bunching his fists, he retreated a step. “I beg your pardon. ’Tis none of my concern. I shouldn’t have asked.”
    “No, it was a fair assumption.” She frowned and bit one side of her lip, as though she wanted to say more but didn’t. Finally, she motioned toward the sidewalk. “Shall we go on?”
    Surprised she’d even consider allowing him to stay, he nodded and swung into step beside her. “I suppose now that wehave the awkward questions out of the way . . .” At her quiet laugh, he went on. “Will you tell me why you’re interested in that old house? It’s far too large for a single woman living alone.”
    A shy smile flitted across her lips. “Aye, I suppose you’re right. Then again, my plans aren’t to live there alone.”
    Surprisingly, her remark birthed resistance in his gut.
    She cast a searching glance at him. “May I ask you a question?”
    Given that he’d made such a muddle of things, how could he say no? He motioned for her to continue.
    “Have you never thought about giving up the seafaring life and settling down?”
    His steps faltered. Give up the Caitriona Marie ? He cleared his throat. “My ship is essential to my family’s livelihood, that much is certain, but—”
    “But?”
    Instantly he was transported back in time, and it was Moira who asked the question.
    “Have ya never thought of settling down?”
    His answer that day had broken both their hearts.
    “Captain Morgan?”
    He blinked. They had come to a stop on the sidewalk, and irritated gentlemen steered their ladies around them on either side. Just a few yards away, the land office with Tillie’s dream pasted to the window beckoned.
    “Aye, I thought about it once,” he said. “Even dreamed of marrying my childhood sweetheart and raising a passel of bairns.”
    Sorrow darkened her eyes. “Why didn’t you?”
    He grimaced. “Life interfered.”
    She nodded. “It has a way of doing that.”
    Aye, for she was one to testify to that fact, thanks to him.
    The crowds had thinned with the onset of evening. What carts remained to pack the streets were pitifully low on supplies. It amazed him how so much business was conducted in so little time. Very different from life aboard the Caitriona Marie , where days could fade into weeks when the wind and sailing were slow.
    Next to him, Tillie lifted her face to catch the last few rays of sunlight seeping over the rooftops. The orange glow brought out the burnished highlights in her hair and made her skin shine with health and innocence.
    So sweet.
    Just like that she’d put her worries and outrage behind her to find pleasure in the day. Did he have any right to take that from her? What reason could he give to fill her life with pain and anguish anew?
    “You never told me,” he said, drawing her eyes back to him, “what it is about that advertisement that fascinates you so.”
    He pointed at the land office, then offered his arm so they could continue on their way.
    “The advertisement for the house says ’tis vacant now, but it shouldn’t be. I imagine it filled with children and laughter.”
    Her children?
    She blushed and averted her eyes. Aye, and hadn’t he had similar dreams once, before Da died and the responsibility for providing for the family fell to him?
    “I see,” he said, and he did.
    A gentle breeze wafted over them, sweeping the last vestiges of doubt from Morgan’s mind. Tillie McGrath deserved to live out her days free from the torment of knowing that her lover had been murdered and never, ever knowing why. Perhaps she’d even find happiness, and if buying that old house and filling its many rooms could give her that, mayhap he would find peace, as well.
    But not until he knew the truth. Not until he knew who had ordered Braedon McKillop’s death and why.
    And whether or not Tillie would be safe.
    Like it or not, he’d never be free of his obligation to her unless he knew for certain that