Chapter 7
Ava had not noticed her husband and brother-in-law watching her chase their nephew around until she heard the snort of a horse. Or was that her husband?
She turned to see them dismounting their horses.
“Ah, good afternoon, me Laird, Finlay.” She sketched a mock bow.
Nathan stood behind her, looking wary. As soon as she caught his expression, resentment coiled in her chest.
How could this sweet little boy be so afraid of his uncle?
“What have ye been up to?” Finlay walked over and scooped Nathan up into his arms.
The boy brightened a little, but kept a wary eye on Caden.
“It has been a long day familiarizing meself with everything and everyone in me new home. I asked this wee gentleman to accompany me to the gardens for some leisure time.” Ava smiled at Nathan.
The little boy and Finlay looked so at ease together.
Ava turned to Caden, only to see the scowl on his face. “I hope that’s all right with ye?” she asked.
He nodded slowly. “Have fun, ye three.”
Her husband took the reins of both horses and led them toward the stables.
Nathan wriggled out of Finlay’s arms and ran over to Caden. He grabbed his hand and pulled him toward Ava and Finlay.
“I think he wants ye to join us,” Ava said, a smile spreading across her face.
Nathan looked wide-eyed at her and Finlay, as if he realized the gravity of his actions. He dropped Caden’s hand, before looking down shyly at his feet.
Ava crouched before him. “Are ye all right?” she whispered.
The boy nodded, peering at his uncle. His deep blue eyes seemed to say, Help me get him to play.
“Aye, I agree, darling. We should all spend time together” Ava nodded conspiratorially. “It’s decided, then. Me Laird, ye must join our game.”
She could feel the unease radiating off Caden, and it brought her a sense of mischievous pleasure.
“Unless ye’re too afraid to lose,” she added with a teasing look, daring him to defy her.
A small smile curved his lips.
“Och, ye’re in trouble now, lass.” Finlay laughed heartily.
“Nobody speaks to me like that and gets away with it, me Lady,” Caden said in a deep voice that sent a tingle from her toes up to the top of her spine.
Before she realized it, he was running after her and Nathan, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. His dark hair fluttered behind him, and his dark eyes hinted that he wanted to do more than run after her.
“Run, ye two!” Finlay ushered them through the garden. “Quick, before he catches ye!”
The boy let out a shriek of excited laughter. It filled Ava’s heart with joy.
“Come on, Nathan! This way!” She grabbed his hand and led him through the small maze of winter flowers and fragrant plants.
The sun was shining in earnest through a sliver of clouds now, as if to encourage them to play just a little more before the heavens opened.
Caden chased after them, for once a part of Nathan’s inner world.
How did she do that?
He marveled at his wife’s ability to interact with the little boy, even when he refused to speak. It was as if they spoke the same silent language.
Caden felt a pang of envy in his chest. He would make Ava teach him how to do that.
A blooming winter rosebush stood between him and Ava and Nathan. The little boy, who was the spitting image of his mother, giggled and dashed in the opposite direction. In a flash, Caden changed course and scooped him up.
“Got ye, ye rascal,” he said as he tickled him.
Nathan let out another shriek of laughter.
Caden could not help the smile that spread across his face. The scars on his right eye pulled, and he barely hid a wince, but it seemed so insignificant in that moment that he did not even adjust his mask.
“Now, time to get Ava,” he whispered conspiratorially.
He set Nathan on his feet and nudged him forward.
He caught Finlay smirking out of the corner of his eye.
“Oh, shut up,” he huffed.
Ava pretended to slowly run away from Nathan, who giggled as he chased her. He fisted his small hand in the lush fabric of her skirt.
“Ach! Ye got me!” She scooped him up and planted a kiss on his cheek.
The boy pretended to faint from the kiss.
Ava lost her balance, and they toppled to the ground, laughing.
Caden hated that the sound tugged at his heart. He hated even more that his brother was grinning like a fool.
Ava looked up at them and whispered loudly, “I daenae think the Laird likes to chase, Nathan.”
Nathan nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling with glee.
Caden was surprised to see how well the boy had taken to her. Apparently, no man in their family stood a chance against her.
Not when she laughed so freely, teased so mischievously. His eyes slipped on her lips for a moment. That perfect grin was still there.
“Aye, I prefer to hunt.” He licked his lips.
The blush that bloomed in her cheeks sent his own blood running. He tried really hard not to think what other words or activities would make her blush again like so.
“Ye’ll never catch us, me Laird!” She teased. .
“I’m going to put the horses away before it snows.” Finlay winked at him.
Caden rolled his eyes at his brother’s retreating figure. Then, he sat next to Nathan and nudged his shoulder. “I’ll never catch me nephew, that’s for sure. He’s a very fast young man.”
Nathan clapped excitedly, before toddling over to the blooming yellow roses.
“Do ye think ye’ll catch me, then?” Ava challenged.
Caden looked into her eyes, green as grass and glinting with mischief.
“I think ye’ll beg me to, lassie,” he whispered, so only she could hear.
Her blush deepened.
At that moment, a snowflake fell on her lashes. She blinked it away and they both looked up to see Nathan catching snowflakes in his palm. He squealed with delight and held it out for them to see.
“That’s lovely, lad.” Caden smiled proudly.
The boy’s eyes lit up at the praise.
Ava smiled at them both. “All right, little man.” She picked him up and carried him toward the castle. “We daenae have warm clothes on, so we had better go inside. Since it’s the first snow for this year in the Highlands, we must be careful nae to catch a cold.”
Little tears started spilling from Nathan’s eyes as he pointed to the garden.
“Hush now, wee lad, there is nay need for tears!” Ava wiped his eyes and held him tight. Caden followed behind. “We’ll come out and play tomorrow. We might even have enough snow for a snowball fight! But tonight, there’s something else we need to do!”
Nathan’s cries slowly subsided, before he raised a quizzical eyebrow, as if to say, What’s that?
“We must sleep to let the snow fairies work their magic! They must nae be disturbed!”
Ava carried him through the castle doors and up the stairs to his room. The boy smiled softly at her and rested his head on her shoulder.
Her heart swelled. She was not sure when she had started caring so much for the little lad, but she felt a deep-seated need to protect him.
Suddenly, Caden’s voice drifted up from downstairs. “I expect ye here after ye put him to bed, me Lady.”