Page 38 of The Knotty Clause

“Yes. I think we should report the mine’s conditions to the authorities.” The firelight reflected in his eyes as he gazed down at her. “I suspect that’s why Garth came after you. He knew you could expose everything.”

She sat up straighter, her pulse quickening. “You’d help me do that?”

“Of course.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Those people deserve justice, and you’re brave enough to make it happen.”

His support thrilled her, but it suddenly occurred to her that reporting the mine might not be the best option.

She frowned, absently tracing her fingers along his arm again as she considered the matter. While exposing Garth’s cruelty felt right, her stomach twisted at the thought of the aftermath.

“But what about the workers?” The faces of the other workers flashed through her mind again—their hollow cheeks and tired eyes. “Most of them are like I was—desperate for any work they could find. Trying to support themselves and their families.”

She remembered those endless days of struggle, the gnawing fear each time she opened their dwindling pantry. The shame of having to choose between buying food or medicine when Liam caught that winter cough. That desperation had driven her straight into Garth’s trap.

“If the mine shuts down completely…” She shook her head, unable to finish the thought.

He hummed thoughtfully, then smiled at her.

“The mine is technically part of my mountain,” he said, his eyes gleaming. “What if I took over operating the mine? I could ensure fair wages and proper safety measures.”

She sat up straighter, studying his face.

“You’d do that? It would mean revealing yourself to people.”

He shrugged.

“As you said, the guard that escaped has probably already told everyone—although I’m sure the tale grew in the telling. Better to let them know the reality than have them listen to rumors and horror stories. Most importantly, those people deserve honest work, not exploitation.”

Running the mine fairly would give those desperate workers a real chance—the kind of opportunity she’d originally hoped for when she arrived.

“That would change everything,” she said, squeezing his hand. “We could help so many families.”

“Then as soon as this storm passes, we’ll go back.”

“If the guards Garth left behind are still there, they might resist the change. They’re used to having power over everyone.”

His answering grin held a predatory edge that sent a shiver down her spine—not of fear, but of appreciation for his strength. She remembered how easily he’d handled Garth and his armed men, how swift and decisive his movements had been.

“I’m not concerned about them,” he said, and she believed him completely.

The firelight caught the silver of his eyes, turning them molten. This remarkable male had not only saved her and Liam, he was now willing to help an entire community. She leaned in and kissed him, pouring all her gratitude and passion into the contact.

When they broke apart, she stood and tugged his hand.

“Come to bed,” she whispered.

There was no desperate urgency this time. Their bodies came together slowly, perfectly, like two pieces of a whole finally united. Every movement spoke of trust and connection, building a rhythm that left them both breathless. Wrapped in his arms, surrounded by his warmth, she’d never felt more complete. This wasn’t just physical pleasure—it was a celebration of everything they’d become to each other.

Who would have believed that her desperate flight through the storm would lead her to this incredible new life and this unexpected love? But as he held her close, she knew this was exactly where she was meant to be.

EPILOGUE

Eight months later…

Yede frowned downat the latest production reports. The mine’s output for this quarter would be up again which meant he would have to arrange for more transportation to the city. He’d used his technical knowledge and some of the supplies from his ship to make the process both safer and more efficient.

“Hey, boss.”

He looked up and smiled as Curtis knocked on the open door. The other male no longer looked so pale and gaunt and the cough that had haunted him had disappeared—with a little help from the medical equipment he’d retrieved from the wreck of his ship as soon as the weather permitted. Curtis had also turned out to be an excellent foreman—strict, but absolutely fair and honest.