Chapter 21
21
T he first rays of dawn broke over the rugged peaks and cast a golden hue over the desolate moors. Thomas glared at the fog settling on the trees, his arms folded over his chest.
The mornings were always so serene, regardless of the weather. As he warred with his restlessness, his mind drifted to Astrid. She was such a delicate creature that taunted and tormented him.
“Me Laird, we have all the men stationed around the grounds,” Duncan reported, his voice droning on in the background.
The remnants of yesterday’s worries lingered like a bad taste Thomas couldn’t get rid of. He rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the shadows that clung to him like the morning mist.
Outside, the world awakened slowly, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant call of a lone crow weaving a tapestry of sound that, for a fleeting moment, eased the ache in his heart.
“And the outer court?” he asked, even though Duncan had never failed him before.
Of course, the entire castle was under lock and key, with only one person holding the key.
“Ye have enough men if something arises?”
“Are we expectin’ trouble?” Duncan asked as Thomas glared at his brother’s reflection in the windowpane.
Reid shifted in his seat as he waved his hand dismissively. “There willnae be any issue from anyone, I swear,” he said, crossing his finger over his heart.
Thomas looked to Duncan for reassurance. Even if Reid failed, Duncan wouldn’t.
“And what of Faither?” he asked as he turned around. “Will he be tended to? After all, this cèilidh is for Astrid, and I’d hate to have her miss it.”
“Faither will be fine,” Reid reassured him as he shifted in his seat again. “Everything is organized and ready. Ye asked for a small gathering, and that’s what ye’ll get. I’m a man of me word. Have a little faith.”
“Faith,” Duncan grumbled with a shake of his head.
“Faither got out last night,” Thomas said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What? Nay, ye’re mistaken. Was anyone?—”
“Nay, thank God. It was a quick stint,” Thomas said.
“How did he manage to get out?” Reid asked.
“That’s what I want to ken,” Thomas snapped as he glared at Duncan. “We cannae have these sorts of incidents happen tonight. This is to be Astrid’s evening, and I want it to go without a hitch.”
“Are ye sure ye want to proceed wit’ it? I mean, if there’s a chance that Faither could break loose again…” Reid mused as he rubbed the stubble on his chin.
Thomas folded his arms over his chest and glared at his brother. “Ye havenae started the preparations, have ye?” he snapped, barely keeping his tempter in check. “Ye’ve had three days, and ye dinnae have anything ready or set, do ye?”
“There was a wee problem,” Reid admitted.
“I kenned it,” Thomas huffed, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I gave ye one job—a job that ye wanted, mind ye —and ye failed. How could ye? Ye ken what? I dinnae care. I dinnae want to hear yer excuses.”
“Thomas, please, there was this lass, and she needed help. I couldnae just turn me back on her,” Reid explained as Thomas balled his fists at his sides.
“There is always some lass ye feel the need to save. Go fetch Eileen and Olivia. They will make right what ye’ve messed up.”
“Actually, Maither and Eileen are already aware of the situation. Ye see, they sort of saw me strugglin’ and… Well, ye ken how Maither is. She just stepped up and took over,” Reid said with a half-apologetic smirk.
“Ye had Maither handle the arrangements when she already has so much on her plate?” Thomas bellowed. He pointed a long finger at the door. “Get out.”
“I dinnae see what the problem is. The celebration will go on without a hitch. Astrid will be pleased, and all will be well,” Reid argued as Thomas shuffled him out of the study.
“I’d tell ye to go do something, but I doubt ye’ll even get that done,” Thomas said before he slammed the door in his brother’s face.
“Do ye think he does it on purpose, or does it come naturally to him?” Duncan asked as Thomas marched back into the study, making a beeline for his chair.
“I dinnae have the patience at the moment to deal wit’ Reid or his buffoonery. He gave me his word that he would organize the cèilidh, and what did he do? Wasted his time and resources, nay doubt. I have half a mind to cut his allowance in half.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing that the cèilidh wasnae organized by yer braither. Do ye remember the last time he threw a party?” Duncan chuckled darkly.
“Dinnae remind me,” Thomas scoffed as he leaned back in his chair.
He couldn’t help but feel grateful that his mother had stepped up to help. At least now he knows that everyone will be fed properly.
“But all jestin’ aside, I think the Lady will be most pleased by the gathering,” Duncan added as Thomas turned his head to the window.
The sunlight danced through the canopy of the trees and illuminated the deep purple heather swaying in the breeze. As much as Thomas wanted to keep Astrid close and safe, he knew his sister was right. He couldn’t keep her under lock and key. Nor could he stop her from seeing others.
“I want ye to keep an eye on her this evening,” Thomas instructed. “I dinnae want anything to upset her.”
“That could be a difficult task,” Duncan said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I dinnae think that is something I could help ye wit’. The path to a woman’s heart is a mystery, even to the wisest of men. But I shall go fetch yer sisters and ensure that they are ready for the cèilidh.”
“Thank ye, Duncan.”
Thomas turned back to his desk. He wished he could forget about the ledgers and plans for the harvest. What he wanted to do was find Astrid. She had been tormenting his thoughts all day, jumping in and out of his mind like a rabbit.
As Duncan slipped out of the study, a flurry of movement caught Thomas’s eye.
Thomas stared at the door as he watched Melody, with her tousled hair and flushed cheeks, dart past his door like a phantom. His curiosity piqued, he rose from his chair and made for the door. He was about to step out when another figure came rushing down the corridor—Astrid, her face creased in a stern expression that was as familiar to him as the mountain winds.
“Melody!” Her voice rang like a bell, sharp and commanding. “We arenae playin’ hide and seek now. Come on, ye cannae run off like this. It’s nae nice.”
Thomas couldn’t help but smile at the fierce protectiveness in her tone. Her spirit was as untamed as the Highlands.
The moment she spotted him, she marched right up to him, her gaze unwavering. He felt his chest tighten with longing. The scent of wildflowers and fresh hay tickled his nostrils as she folded her arms over her chest.
Thomas had wished for a distraction, and he couldn’t have been more thrilled to have it now.
“Is she in yer study?” Astrid asked as she craned her neck to peer into his study.
“Nay, she’s nae in here,” Thomas replied, leaning casually against the door frame. “Ye’re more than welcome to search if ye like. But I saw her turn left just a moment ago.”
Astrid’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as she started down the hall. Thomas’s lips quirked up at the corner as he watched her move with determination.
A sense of fondness swelled within him as he stalked her with his eyes. There was no denying the fact that he admired how she took charge, her resolve as solid as the stones that made up their castle.
With a soft laugh, he followed her gaze down the corridor, where Melody’s giggles echoed like the tinkling of a brook.
Suddenly, he caught sight of a flash of blue. Turning, he spotted a small figure trying to hide behind a grand tapestry.
“Melody, we arenae playin’. Ye need to come out and apologize to Eileen for leavin’ her the way ye did,” Astrid called, her voice echoing down the hallway.
Thomas smirked to himself as he realized that she had yet to spot Melody.
Slowly, he approached the tapestry, a grin playing on his lips. He pulled it back, exposing the little girl. She squealed and jumped, making him laugh.
“What are ye hidin’ from, lass?” he asked gently, kneeling beside her, his eyes twinkling.
Melody peeked out, her big, innocent eyes flickering with uncertainty. “I dinnae want to ride today,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I fell yesterday, and it hurt.”
Thomas nodded, his heart aching for her. “Aye, I understand. Sometimes, life can hurt. But it’s what ye do wit’ that pain that truly matters. Will ye learn from it, or will ye hide away, kennin’ that ye might one day be hurt again?”
She furrowed her brow and looked down, biting her lip. She shook her head as her small frame trembled under the weight of her fears. “I just dinnae want to go.”
“What if I went with ye?” Thomas offered, his tone warm and encouraging. “Would that make ye feel better?”
Melody’s eyes lit up with hope as she bobbed her head.
Just then, Astrid pulled back the tapestry, revealing the two of them, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“There ye are. What are ye doin’? Eileen is waitin’ for ye on the pitch,” she chided, reaching for Melody’s hand.
“I dinnae want to go,” the little girl whimpered.
“What if I gave Melody her ridin’ lesson? Would that make it easier for ye?” Thomas offered, reveling in the surprise that flitted across Astrid’s face—and even that of Eileen, who had rounded the corner, her mouth slightly agape.
Melody turned to Astrid and tugged at her skirts. “Please, Astrid! Let Thomas teach me!”
Astrid’s stern demeanor softened, her resolve wavering in the face of Melody’s enthusiasm. After a moment’s hesitation, she sighed, the tension leaving her shoulders.
“All right, but only if ye promise to listen to him, Melody.”
“I promise!” Melody chirped, her joy infectious as she bounced on her heels.
The chill of the Highland air danced around them. Thomas stood tall, a rugged figure against the backdrop of the rolling hills. He never let his keen eyes stray from Melody as she sat atop the spirited mare.
She was a natural, that much was clear. Each movement she made was as fluid as the streams that cut through the glens.
“Well done, Melody,” Thomas praised. “Now, ye’ll want to ease up on the reins and give her a bit more leeway. That’s it. Like that. Ye feel how she rides just a bit steadier?”
“Watch it now,” Astrid instructed as Melody took a fast turn around the corral. The strap holding her saddle in place snapped.
“Thomas, grab Melody,” Eileen instructed as she jumped to her feet.
Thomas didn’t hesitate. He was at Melody’s side before her foot even came out of the stirrup.
“Easy there, lass,” he said, snatching her up before she could even fall. Astrid was at his side in a flash, her eyes wild with fright. “What did I tell ye? Did I nae say I’d be there for ye?”
“Are ye all right?” Astrid asked, double and triple checking.
But there was nothing wrong with Melody. Not even her pride was bruised by the sudden tumble.
“Never better. Can we do that again?” Melody asked as Thomas turned to the corral to ensure that the horse was still around.
“Maybe another time,” he said as he lowered her to her feet next to Astrid.
“What do ye say we go inside for a game of hide and seek?” Astrid suggested, trying to mask the fear in her voice.
Melody bounced up and down, clapping her hands in delight.
“Can I go first?” she asked as she glanced at Eileen, who gave her a playful wink.
“Absolutely. We can start the moment we get inside,” Astrid agreed as she guided the girl back toward the castle just as a clap of thunder rumbled overhead.
Thomas couldn’t help but smirk as he watched Astrid pick up the pace. The heavens opened the moment they reached the castle. Melody’s smile dropped as she stared up at the dreary sky.
“Well, this isnae fun,” she grumbled.
“I thought ye said something about playin’ hide and seek?” Thomas interjected. “Or did ye forget about that?”
The spark of joy flickered in Melody’s eyes once again as she started counting. “One.”
Thomas wiggled his eyebrows before taking off down the hall. Happiness bloomed and swelled inside him as the years fell off his shoulders along with all the responsibilities he had been carrying.
“Ye had better nae cheat,” he called over his shoulder when he caught Melody peeking through her fingers. “Or ye’ll have to start over.”
“Keep countin’,” Astrid called.
Thomas glanced beyond Melody to find Olivia and Eileen ushering Astrid to a different part of the castle.
For a moment, Thomas wondered if he should go after Astrid as the memory of tackling her in the glen flashed through his mind. To have her close again…
He paused as a brilliant idea popped into his head, making his face break into a smile.
“Go and hide, Astrid, but I promise ye that when it is me turn, I will find ye. I will always find ye,” he whispered as Astrid slipped into the library along with his sisters.