Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Move, damn ye!”
Elijah’s stallion responded instantly, surging forward with powerful strides that ate up the ground between them and the runaway mare. His heart hammered against his ribs with a violence that had nothing to do with physical exertion and everything to do with raw terror.
Please. Please let him be all right.
He could see Buttercup ahead, still running full tilt across the paddock with Codie clinging to her neck like a burr. The boy’s cries had stopped. Whether from fear or injury, Elijah couldn’t tell, and that silence was somehow worse than the screaming.
I should have been holdin’ the rope. I should have been payin’ better attention. If anythin’ happens to him, I willnae forgive meself.
He pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the task at hand. His stallion was faster, stronger, bred for battle rather than gentle riding lessons. Within moments, they’d pulled alongside the panicked mare.
“Codie!” Elijah shouted over the thunder of hooves. “Hold on, lad! I’m comin’!”
The boy’s head turned toward him, terror written across his small face. “Da!”
“I’ve got ye!” Elijah leaned sideways in a move that would have impressed even Henry, reaching out to grab Buttercup’s bridle. The mare fought him, tossing her head and trying to veer away, but he held firm. “Whoa, lass. Easy now. Easy.”
It took every bit of strength he had to slow the panicked horse, muscles straining as he gradually brought both animals under control. Finally, blessedly, Buttercup slowed to a canter then a trot then stopped completely, her sides heaving and foam flecking her mouth.
“Codie.” Elijah vaulted from his stallion before the animal had fully stopped, moving to his son’s side. “Are ye hurt? Tell me where ye’re hurt.”
“I’m, I’m fine.” Codie’s voice was shaking, his small hands still tangled in Buttercup’s mane. “I thought I was goin’ to die.”
“Ye’re nae goin’ to die. I’ve got ye.” Elijah reached up, his hands gentle despite their urgency as he checked Codie for injuries. No blood, no obvious breaks, just a terrified child who needed his father. “Can ye let go of her mane? I need to get ye down.”
“I’m stuck. Me hands willnae move.”
Fear had locked Codie’s fingers in place. Elijah carefully pried them loose, one by one, murmuring reassurances the entire time. “That’s it. Good lad. Almost there.”
Finally, Codie’s hands came free, and Elijah lifted him from the saddle, pulling him close against his chest. The boy immediately buried his face in Elijah’s shirt, his small body shaking with delayed shock.
“Ye’re all right,” Elijah heard himself saying, over and over like a prayer. “Ye’re all right, lad; I’ve got ye. Ye’re safe now.”
“I was so scared.” The words came out muffled against his shirt. “The horse just went crazy, and I couldnae hold on.”
“But ye did hold on. Ye stayed in the saddle the whole time.” Elijah’s arms tightened around his son. “That takes real courage, Codie. Real strength.”
“I daenae feel very strong. I feel like I’m goin' to be sick.”
“That’s normal after a scare like that. Just breathe.” Elijah carried him to where his stallion stood waiting, Buttercup’s reins looped around his saddle horn. “We’re goin’ back now. Nay more ridin’ lessons today.”
“I never want to ride again.” Codie’s voice was small, defeated. “I’m nae cut out for it.”
“That’s the fear talkin’. Give it time.” Elijah swung up onto his stallion with practiced ease, settling Codie in front of him. The boy immediately curled into his chest, seeking comfort in a way he never had before. “Hold onto me. I willnae let anythin’ happen to ye.”
Small arms wrapped around his waist, clinging tight. “Promise?”
“I promise.” The words came easier than they should have. “I’ll always keep ye safe, lad. Always.”
They rode back slowly, Buttercup trailing behind on a lead rope.
Codie stayed pressed against him the entire time, his breathing gradually returning to normal as the immediate terror faded.
Elijah found himself acutely aware of his son’s warmth, his small weight, the trust implicit in the way he leaned into his father’s protection.
This is what I’ve been missin’. This closeness, this connection. All because I was too afraid to reach for it.
“Da?”
“Aye?”
“I’m glad ye came after me. I ken ye’re always busy with important things, but...” Codie’s voice was hesitant. “I’m glad ye were there today.”
The simple words hit harder than any accusation could have. “I’ll always come for ye, Codie. Nay matter what else is happenin’, nay matter what duties I have waitin’, if ye need me, I’ll be there.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
They crested the hill overlooking the stable yard, and Elijah could see Iris pacing by the gate, her face pale with worry. The moment she spotted them, she started running.
“Codie!” Her voice carried across the distance. “Oh, thank God!”
Elijah brought his stallion to a halt just inside the yard, and before he could dismount, Iris was there, reaching up for Codie. The boy practically threw himself into her arms, and she caught him easily, holding him tight.
“Are ye hurt? Let me see ye.” Her hands ran over Codie’s limbs, checking for injuries with the same thoroughness Elijah had used. “Does anythin’ hurt? Can ye move yer fingers? Yer toes?”
“I’m fine, Lady Iris. Just scared.” Codie’s voice was muffled against her shoulder. “Da caught me before anythin’ bad could happen.”
Iris looked up at Elijah then, and the gratitude in her eyes made his chest tight. “Thank ye,” she said quietly.
“He’s me son. Where else would I be?”
She held his gaze for a long moment, something passing between them that he couldn’t quite name. Then Codie was pulling back, looking up at her expectantly.
“Can I see it now? The amazin’ thing ye promised?”
“Codie, ye just had a terrible fright. Maybe we should do that another day.”
“Please? Ye promised if I was brave I’d get to see it, and I was brave. I got on the horse even though I was scared, and I held on the whole time she was runnin’.” His lower lip trembled slightly. “I want to see the amazin’ thing.”
Iris laughed, the sound slightly shaky but genuine. “Ye’re right. Ye were incredibly brave, and a promise is a promise.” She set him down carefully. “Stand back then. Over by yer da.”
Codie scurried to Elijah’s side, his fear apparently forgotten in his excitement. “What’s she goin’ to do?”
“I have nay idea,” Elijah admitted, watching as Iris moved to stand about fifteen feet from a wooden post near the stable entrance.
She reached down, and Elijah’s eyes widened as she lifted her skirt slightly, revealing a leather sheath strapped to her thigh. From it, she drew a slim throwing knife, its blade catching the afternoon sun.
Christ. Me wife hides weapons on her body.
“Watch closely,” Iris called to Codie. Then, in one smooth motion, she drew her arm back and released. The knife flew through the air with deadly precision, embedding itself in the center of the post with a solid thunk.
“Whoa!” Codie’s eyes went round as coins. “Ye threw a knife! And ye hit exactly where ye were aimin’!”
“I did.” Iris walked to the post and pulled the knife free. “And if ye’re very good, and ye practice hard, I’ll teach ye how to do it too.”
“Really? Ye’ll teach me?” Codie was practically bouncing. “When? Can we start today?”
“Give it a few weeks. Let’s make sure yer arms are strong enough first.” She slid the knife back into its sheath. “But aye, I’ll teach ye. Every Highland lad should ken how to defend himself.”
“Can I tell the other boys? They’re goin’ to be so jealous!” Codie was already running toward the castle. “Thank ye, Lady Iris! Thank ye, Da!”
He disappeared through the stable doors, leaving Elijah and Iris alone in the yard. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Elijah moved closer to his wife, his eyes dropping to where he knew that hidden sheath rested beneath her skirts in her stockings.
“Who taught ye how to throw knives?”
“Me faither’s old man-at-arms. His name was Fergus.” Iris’ expression grew thoughtful. “He insisted that both Lydia and I learn basic self-defense. Said that noble ladies were often targets for kidnappin’ or worse, and we should ken how to protect ourselves if needed.”
“And yer parents allowed this?”
“They dinnae ken about it. Fergus taught us in secret, made us promise never to tell.” A small smile played at her lips. “Lydia never took to it the way I did. She’d practice dutifully, but her heart wasnae in it. But me? I loved it. The precision, the focus, the sense of power it gave me.”
“How many weapons do ye carry?” Elijah whispered.
“Just the one knife, usually. Sometimes two if I’m travelin’.” She tilted her head. “Why? Does it bother ye that yer wife is armed?”
“Bother me?” He moved closer still. “Quite the opposite. I’m relieved ye’re nae completely vulnerable. A laird’s wife is a temptin’ target for enemies, and kennin’ ye can defend yerself...” He reached out, his hand settling on her waist. “… it makes me breathe easier.”
“Does it now?” Her voice had taken on a different quality, warmer.
“Aye.” His thumb traced along the leather of the sheath through her skirts. “Though I’d feel even better if ye kent more than just knife throwin’. There are other skills that could serve ye well.”
“What kind of skills?”
“Hand-to-hand combat. How to break free if someone grabs ye. Where to strike to disable an opponent.” He held her gaze. “I could teach ye if ye’re interested.”
“Ye want to teach me how to fight?”
“I want to teach ye how to survive. There’s a difference.” His hand remained at her waist, warm and steady. “What do ye say, wife? Are ye interested in learnin’ how to break a man’s nose or knee him in the stones?”
She laughed, bright and genuine. “When ye put it that way, how can I refuse? Though I have to warn ye, I might be a difficult student.”
“I’m countin’ on it.” He found himself smiling back at her. “Tomorrow mornin’ before the castle fully wakes… in the trainin’ yard.”
“That early?”
“Unless ye’d prefer an audience? Because I can guarantee if we train during normal hours, every man in this castle will find an excuse to watch the Laird teachin’ his Lady how to fight.”
“Fair point.” She stepped back.
“Now go tend to yer horses. I’ll go make sure Codie’s nae tellin’ everyone in the castle about me hidden knife.”
He watched her walk away, this fierce, unexpected woman who’d somehow become essential to him in such a short time. Then he turned to deal with Buttercup, who was still trembling slightly from her scare.
“Easy, lass,” he murmured, running his hands over her neck. “It wasnae yer fault. That damned cat startled ye.”
The mare leaned into his touch, gradually calming under his steady presence.
As he worked, checking her for injuries and soothing her with gentle words, Elijah found his mind returning to what had happened.
The terror he’d felt watching Codie on that runaway horse.
The fierce protectiveness that had driven him to give chase without a second thought.
The relief when he’d gotten his son safely down, whole and unhurt.
“Come on,” he told Buttercup, leading her back to her stall. “Let’s get ye settled. Tomorrow’s another day, and I have a feelin’ it’s goin’ to be interestin’.”
Because tomorrow he’d be teaching Iris how to fight. And knowing his wife, she’d probably end up teaching him a thing or two in return.
The thought made him smile as he finished with the mare and headed back to the castle. Somewhere inside, Codie was probably regaling the servants with tales of his harrowing ride and dramatic rescue. And Iris was likely rolling her eyes while trying to downplay her knife-throwing skills.
His family.
Imperfect, unexpected, absolutely nothing like what he’d imagined when he’d first agreed to marry a Douglas daughter but perfect in all the ways that actually mattered.
And for the first time in longer than he could remember, Elijah Craig allowed himself to feel something that might have been happiness.
He found them later in the great hall. Codie sitting with Mairie and several other servants, dramatically recounting his adventure while they listened with appropriate expressions of amazement and concern. Iris stood nearby, trying to look stern but failing to hide her amusement.
“And then Faither came ridin’ up like a Highland warrior from the old stories!” Codie was saying, his hands gesturing wildly. “He just reached out and grabbed the horse’s bridle with one hand, like it was nothin’! And the horse stopped, and I was saved!”
“Yer faither is very skilled with horses,” Mairie said warmly. “Ye’re lucky to have such a brave da.”
“I ken.” Codie’s voice was full of pride. “And then Lady Iris threw a knife right into that post! Right in the center! She’s goin’ to teach me how to do it when I’m stronger!”
“Is she now?” Mairie’s eyes found Iris, twinkling with amusement. “And when exactly were ye plannin’ to tell me about yer hidden weapons?”
“It never came up?” Iris’s cheeks flushed slightly. “It’s nae exactly polite dinner conversation.”
“Neither is most of what ye do, me lady, but that’s never stopped ye before.”
Elijah found himself chuckling as he approached. “Are ye tormentin’ me wife, Mairie?”
“Just remindin’ her that old friends should share such information.” Mairie stood, curtsying respectfully. “Good evenin’, me laird. I trust the mare is well?”
“Shaken but unharmed. She’ll be fine after a few days’ rest.” He looked at Codie. “And ye, lad? How are ye feelin’ now?”
“Better! Though I’m still nae sure about ridin’ again.” Codie’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly. “Maybe I’m just nae meant to be a horseman.”
“Nonsense. Every Highland warrior gets thrown at least once. Some of us more than once.” Elijah moved to stand beside his son. “The important thing is that ye get back on eventually. But nae tomorrow. We’ll give ye time to recover first.”
“Thank ye, Faither.” Codie smiled up at him. “Will ye tell everyone about the time ye got thrown? Please?”
And so, Elijah found himself settling into a chair, surrounded by servants and his family, telling stories about his own mishaps with horses.
Iris sat nearby, her eyes warm as she watched him interact with Codie.
And for once, instead of feeling awkward or exposed, Elijah found himself simply enjoying the moment.
This was what family felt like. Not the cold, formal dinners of his childhood but this warmth, this laughter, this sense of belonging.
And it was worth every moment of fear it took to get here.