Chapter 16
Thalia dressed as fast as she could. She knew Finlay was serious about leaving her behind, and she wanted to prove to him that she could help.
She couldn’t help but feel that this was all her fault, but she would make it up to him and Daisy.
Her fingers flew as she laced up her boots, and she didn’t even bother to pin up her hair. She would be traipsing through the woods again, so what did it matter if she looked presentable?
The hall was empty as she stepped out of her room, but she could hear the commotion downstairs.
Ava stood at the top of the stairs, a brown shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She turned as Thalia approached her.
“Is it true?” she asked, gripping the shawl tightly across her chest. “Is she gone again?”
Thalia nodded, looking down as shame washed over her. “I think it’s me fault. Uncle said those cruel things about her, and I should have talked to her. I should have, but she seemed fine. I thought I had gotten lucky and she hadnae heard. Oh, I’m such a fool!”
Ava’s eyes roamed down her sister’s body, taking in her attire. “Are ye joinin’ the search for her?”
“Aye, I have to,” Thalia replied. “I cannae sit here and wait. I have to do something.”
Ava cupped her face and forced her gaze back up. “Finlay will find her. She will be all right.”
Thalia covered her sister’s hands with her own. They were warm against her face, and it helped to calm her nerves. She was grateful her sister had decided to stay with her. She couldn’t imagine getting through this without her.
“I’ll be… Nay. We will be back soon,” she said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt.
Ava nodded, removing her hands. “I’ll stay and wait here. Just in case she comes back.”
“Thank ye, Ava.”
Thalia turned to leave, but Ava stopped her again. She took off her shawl and threw it around Thalia’s shoulders.
“There’s a chill in the air; this should keep ye warm,” she explained, her voice filled with tenderness.
Thalia squeezed Ava’s hand once more, and then she made her way out of the castle towards the stables. Finlay was already there with his man-at-arms, Peter. His back was to her as he readied his black stallion, but Peter nodded to her as she approached.
Upon seeing the acknowledgement, Finlay turned.
“Ye made it,” he grunted.
“Did ye think I wouldnae?” she asked. “Ye ken how much Daisy means to me.”
Finlay did not answer. Instead, he turned back to Peter. “Ye’ll ride out with us in case we find her first. Thalia will be ridin’ with me, so I’ll be needin’ the extra horse so Daisy can ride back with ye.”
“Aye, me Laird,” Peter replied with a nod.
Thalia blinked as she processed his words. “Ridin’ with ye? Do I nae get me own horse?”
“There’s nae enough to go around. I already have the other guards out searchin’. So, either ye ride with me, or ye stay here,” Finlay explained.
His tone was blunt, and she could not get a read on him at all. He must be worried about Daisy, but he could not be serious about them riding on the same horse while they searched for her.
“Ye cannae be serious.”
“Do ye want to help or nae?” he barked. “I’m already lettin’ ye come with us, even though I think it’s a terrible idea. So either ye ride with me, or ye stay here. It’s yer choice.”
Thalia huffed. She would not be left behind, so she would just have to do as he said. For now.
“Fine.”
Finlay gave a curt nod. “I’ll need ye to hold the lantern as well. Ye think ye can do that?”
“Aye, I can hold a lantern,” she snapped.
Peter’s eyes darted between them. The man looked as if he wished he could be anywhere else. “Pardon me. I’ll retrieve me horse, and then we can be off.”
He disappeared back into the stables, and Finlay went back to adjusting the straps of his saddle. Thalia watched the muscles under his shirt tense and flex as he worked.
“If ye are so angry with me, why daenae ye let me ride with Peter?” she asked.
Finlay froze at the question. His jaw tightened ever so slightly. Before she could question his reaction, he had seemingly recovered.
“Because me horse is better equipped for two people,” he grunted. “It will be faster. Ye can ride back with him once we’ve found Daisy.”
The horse huffed, throwing back his head as if agreeing with him.
Thalia walked around, holding her hand out to stroke the beast’s nose. The horse accepted the gesture, leaning into it and snorting happily.
“He’s a beautiful creature,” she murmured, and the horse beat his hooves against the ground.
“Aye.” Finlay’s eyes softened. “We’ve been together for many years. Even rode with me into battle on a number of occasions. I couldnae ask for a better companion.”
Peter emerged with his horse, a brown stallion with white patches. The horse was huge, but Finlay’s was larger. It did make sense for her to ride with him if she could not have a horse of her own.
Peter held the lit lantern in one hand. “Lead the way, I’ll be right behind ye.”
Thalia nodded, and Finlay mounted his horse in one easy motion. He reached out his hand to her, and she took it with only a brief moment of hesitation.
His touch sent sparks shooting up her arm, which only worsened as she settled in the saddle right in front of him. His chest pressed into her back, and she fought to keep her breathing calm and even. She needed to focus on Daisy, and not on how comforting Finlay’s arms felt around her.
Peter handed her the lantern, and she held it out in front of her.
“Hold it steady,” Finlay whispered in her ear, his breath ruffling her hair. “Lean into me if ye need to.”
Thalia could only nod. The feel of him against her had stolen all of her words.
He snapped the reins, giving a sharp, “Hah!” Then they were off.
Finlay kept his horse in a steady gallop. Thalia could tell they were not riding at full speed, and she assumed that was more for her sake. She bounced in the saddle, but she kept a tight grip on the lantern, for it illuminated the path before them.
The wind whipped around her, ruffling her hair and lashing at her face. She could not see a thing in the suffocating darkness. She squinted uselessly, and she feared she would be as helpless on this expedition as Finlay had warned her she would be.
His arms had completely enveloped her as he held the reins in front of them, pressing his chest against her back.
She tried to sit up straight as long as possible to keep the contact to a minimum, but it proved uncomfortable.
She gave in, leaning into him so that every inch of their bodies was connected.
He kept hold of the reins with one hand and snaked the other around her waist to keep her still.
Being held by him… it was almost enough to make her forget why they were out there in the first place. She would stay like this forever if she could.
After what felt like ages, the trees of the forest emerged from the darkness like a wall, and Thalia swallowed against the rising fear crawling up her throat.
How would they manage to find Daisy there?
Finlay slowed his horse as they reached the edge of the forest. He dismounted quickly, then grabbed Thalia tightly around the waist and helped her down.
“We’ll continue on foot from here,” he told her.
Peter came up behind them, taking the reins of the horses to tie them to a nearby tree.
“On foot?” Thalia repeated, eyeing the moving shadows with unease.
“We’re going to check the cabin first. I’ve found her there on more than one occasion. Hopefully, she is there now,” Finlay explained. He turned to look at her again. Then, as if he could see the fear on her face, he said, “Ye can stay with the horses if ye want.”
Thalia shook her head, pushing away the lingering dread. “Nay, I’ll be fine.”
Finlay nodded and took the lantern from her as he began their trek into the woods.
There was a thin path carved between the trees, and Thalia followed his footsteps carefully.
Peter walked behind her, and there was some comfort in knowing that they were with her.
She couldn’t believe that Daisy had often made this journey alone.
The wind whistled through the branches, and somewhere in the woods, an owl hooted. Thalia pulled her shawl tighter around her as she shivered. She could have sworn that someone else was out there, watching her.
That’s just the fear talkin’. Finlay, Peter, and I are the only people out here.
Still, the feeling persisted, and she fought to ignore it.
“It’s just up here,” Finlay said.
Thalia could make out a wooden cabin between the trunks of the trees. Her heart leaped into her throat when she spotted a light flickering in the window.
“Is that…?”
She didn’t get a chance to finish her question. Finlay was already running, and she lifted her skirts to chase after him.
“Wait! Slow down!” she called, just as her foot caught on a tree root.
Arms flailing, she flew forward. Her momentum stopped when Peter caught her firmly around her middle.
“Thank ye,” she breathed.
“It’s nay trouble,” he answered, and he helped her the rest of the way to the front door.
Finlay had already thrown it wide open, and as they approached, they saw him kneeling before a crying Daisy.
“What were ye thinkin’?! Daenae ye ken that anythin’ could have happened to ye?!” he cried, shaking her shoulders.
Daisy did not answer. Fat tears streamed down her face, and she wailed as loudly as a banshee.
“Finlay!” Thalia yelled. She raced forward, grabbing his arm. “Finlay, she’s already terrified enough!”
He looked up at her, and the anger in his eyes cleared. He turned back to Daisy, and his body sagged with grief. “I’m sorry, Daisy. I’m so sorry.”
Daisy launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing into his shoulder. He stroked her hair with one hand, and the other wrapped around her back as her sobs faded into soft hiccups.
“Did ye nae believe me when I told ye that I cared for ye?” he asked in a thick voice.
“I did,” she sniffed.
“Then why did ye run again?”
She pulled back, and he wiped her face with his sleeve.
Thalia stepped back from the exchange but remained close. She felt like this was something that they needed to settle down.
“Because,” Daisy whimpered, “I’m nothin’ but trouble. All I ever do is hurt ye.”
“Nay, sweetheart.” Finlay shook his head. “Ye only hurt me when ye run. Because then I go mad with worry about ye.”
She looked down. “Then maybe ye should leave me here.”
“Daisy.” He gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “Ye’re me daughter. Ye belong with me in our castle. That’s yer home, ye understand?”
“But I’m nae yer real daughter,” she sniffled, more tears welling up in her eyes. “Nae by blood. That’s what matters, does it nae? That’s what that man said.”
Thalia clenched her hands into fists. So Daisy had heard. Of course she had. Thalia was angry at her uncle, but mostly at herself for not solving this issue before it started.
Finlay stood up and lifted Daisy into his arms. “Listen to me. I daenae care that ye arenae me daughter by blood. I will love ye, and I will protect ye, and I will take care of ye as if ye were me own blood. None of that matters.”
She stared at him with wide eyes. “Even if ye and Thalia have children of yer own?”
That question made both Finlay and Thalia freeze in shock.
Thalia flushed at the insinuation, but Finlay managed to recover faster.
“Ye’re already a child of me own,” he insisted with a smile. “And from now on, I daenae want ye listenin’ to mean old men anymore.”
That earned him a small giggle, and he set her back down on the ground.
“Are ye ready to go back home?” he asked.
She hesitated, then nodded.
“And can ye promise me somethin’?”
“Aye.”
He placed his hand on her head, running his fingers through her hair. “Can this be the last time ye run away?”
Daisy looked up at him, her lower lip trembling, and Thalia thought she might start crying again.
“I promise.” Her voice wobbled at the beginning, but she stuck out her chin to prove she was serious.
“Thank ye.” His voice softened.
Daisy finally looked over at Thalia. She ran to her, grabbing her skirts. Thalia knelt down, squeezing the girl back tightly.
“I’m glad ye are well,” she sighed in relief.
“I’m sorry,” Daisy said, the words muffled in Thalia’s shoulder.
“All right, we should be gettin’ back. It’s very late, and ye should have been in bed a long time ago.” Finlay’s stern voice was back.
Thalia let go of Daisy, and the young girl looked between the two of them, her eyes darting quickly back and forth like she wanted to say something else but wasn’t sure how to ask.
“What is it, Daisy?” Thalia prompted.
“It’s just…” Daisy took a deep breath. “I want ye to ken that if ye do have bairns, it would be all right with me. I think I’d like to have a little braither or sister.”
Thalia’s mouth fell open, but then she closed it with a snap. As for Finlay, he quickly took back control of the conversation. Again.
“We’ll see, lassie. For now, let’s focus on gettin’ ye back home,” he said, pushing the girl towards the front door as if that would stop her from broaching the subject ever again.
“Can Peter take me?” Daisy asked.
Peter straightened in the doorway at the sound of his name.
“Ye daenae want to ride back with me?” Finlay asked, a little hurt.
Daisy scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “Yer horse is too big and scary.”
Thalia’s stomach flipped. She would have to ride back with Finlay again.
“All right, fair enough,” Finlay relented. “Peter, go ahead. Thalia and I will follow soon.”
“Aye, me Laird.” Peter nodded.
Daisy took his free hand, and he held up the lantern with the other as they walked out of the cabin.
With their main source of light gone, Thalia and Finlay were thrust into partial darkness. The only light came from the small candle flickering on the table.
Thalia’s heart hammered against her ribs, through her entire body. Finlay had sent off Peter and Daisy, leaving them alone together.
This was exactly the kind of situation they were supposed to avoid. What was he thinking?
“It’s a good thing that I’m nae afraid of yer horse,” Thalia said in a light tone, trying to ease the tension that was beginning to build.
“Nae so soon,” he said. His eyes fixed on her, staring at her so intently that she felt like he could see all the way down to her soul. “We need to talk.”