Chapter 19
Sunlight filtered through the gap in the drapes, bathing the room in a soft glow. A pounding began in Ava’s head, and her eyes felt gritty from crying the night before. She looked down to see that she had not changed out of Caden’s shirt and tartan.
She plopped back and buried her face in her pillow, trying to fall back asleep. Last night had been a mess of emotions that she would rather not relive. Sleep had started tugging at her when the creak of her door jolted her back to wakefulness.
At first, she did not hear or see anyone coming into her room. She almost assumed that a draft or a ghost had opened the door. Then came Nathan’s small voice.
“Ma?”
Her lips curled into a smile despite her headache. She lifted her head to see him peeking through the door like a little bandit on a mission.
“Nathan!” she whispered loudly in excitement. “What are ye doin’?”
“I’m waitin’ for p-permission to come in so we c-c-an go sk-sk-ate,” he stuttered, but he was not as shy about speaking as he was last night.
“Well, come in, lad!” She smiled broadly and held her arms wide open. He scrambled up the bed and jumped into them.
“G-g-good m-m-morning,” he stammered with a smile.
“Good morning, darling.” Ava beamed down at him.
“Ma?” Nathan looked up, his eyes pleading. “Can we go sk-k-ate?”
Ava looked out the window to see that the world was peaceful. She could see the frozen loch and the servants clearing a path in the snow.
“I dare say we shall go skatin’ today!”
“Aye!” Nathan cried with joy.
“I daenae ken if Caden will be available, but the two of us can certainly go!” She tickled the boy and gave him a squeeze, trying to soften the blow.
She was not certain Caden wanted to be around her after last night.
Mary knocked on the door and stepped into the room. “Oh! Me goodness!” She pointed at Ava’s clothes.
“Oh, this?” Ava looked at the rumpled shirt and tartan. “We were having a crazy clothes day yesterday, Mary. I borrowed the Laird’s shirt and tartan without his knowledge… until he saw me.” She rubbed the back of her head and let out a long yawn.
The pounding in her head grew. She wished she could stay in, but Nathan was so excited to go out, so she dragged herself out of bed.
“Mary, I will need yer help gettin’ dressed in warmer clothes, please.” She stretched.
Mary’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh, now ye need me help?” she teased.
“Daenae be like that, Mary,” Ava whined. “I have a splittin’ headache, and I daenae want to have to do it meself.”
“Is that how ye apologize, me Lady?” Mary’s lips quirked up.
“Fine, fine. I’m sorry, ye were right. I was wrong.” Ava waved a hand and smiled at her. “Now, can ye hurry? I’m starving, and the little master here doesnae want to be kept waiting for our date at the loch.”
Mary returned her smile and helped her into the miles of fabric required to keep her warm. The nursemaid came in to dress Nathan as well.
At the breakfast table, Finlay stood and waved as he made his way out. “Must be off to check on the village and then go for a ride.”
He kissed Nathan’s head and then left.
Ava tried to avoid thinking about what had happened between her and Caden, and instead focused on the delicious meal in front of her.
“Ma? Where is…?” Nathan looked at Caden’s chair and then back at her.
“I’m nae sure, but I’m certain he has important work to do. He’ll see ye later, darling.” Ava smiled warmly to reassure the boy.
He happily went back to his breakfast, his little legs kicking under the table in excitement.
Ava thanked Teresa for clearing their plates.
“Have fun, ye two!” Teresa waved them off with a glint in her eyes.
Ava led Nathan to the Great Hall to get their skates. The whole way, he was humming to himself and holding her hand tightly.
She still could not believe he had started calling her ‘Ma’. She did not deserve it. Her heart hurt for him being alone in this big old castle, without a mother to comfort him.
“Oi, lassie and laddie, where are ye goin’?” Caden stood in the Great Hall, holding up the skates by their strings.
Nathan’s face lit up like the sun. “W-w-will ye come t-t-too?” He looked up expectantly at him.
“Aye, lad.” Caden gave a soft smile.
Ava’s heart cracked. She was not sure how to feel about anything, but she knew she enjoyed seeing the two of them get along.
Caden looked at her and nodded once, before leading them out the door. Outside sat a sleigh with two horses at the reins.
“Yay!” Nathan shouted, hopping up and down.
It was a beautiful sleigh, filled with blankets and cushions. On the bench sat a basket filled with food and drinks.
“I wasnae sure how long we’d be gone, so I asked Teresa to make us a basket for lunch.” Caden held out an arm to assist Ava into the sleigh.
His hand was warm and firm, and images of it trailing down her body flashed through her mind.
She quickly let go of his hand and took a seat. Caden paused, but then picked up the boy and lowered him into the sleigh. He sat and pulled Nathan into his lap, showing him how to hold the reins. Ava draped a small blanket over Nathan’s shoulders and another over her own.
“Like this, see?” Caden adjusted his tiny mittened fingers.
Nathan nodded excitedly.
“All right. Hold on, laddie.” With a flick of his wrist, Caden snapped the reins, and they were off.
The snowy landscape was stunning. Each house along the road to the loch was covered in perfectly white snow.
Rolling fields blurred past, and the frozen loch glimmered in the distance, growing larger as they approached.
The cold wind nipped at Ava’s cheeks, and she covered her face with her gloved hands.
In one smooth motion, Caden shifted Nathan to the other leg and wrapped an arm around Ava, pulling her closer. She hated that his warmth was comforting, but she was not willing to face the cold again. The fuzzy blanket enveloped her face and hopefully hid her blush.
As they rode toward the loch, Caden pointed out different animals and plants to Nathan, including an ancient yew tree that resembled the one in the courtyard.
Then the lake came to view.
“Did ye ken the loch borders with MacAinsley clan? T’is part of a sacred piece of land. We might even see fairies, but even if we daenae, we must be gentle and kind to any living creature or tree we meet there, because they can always see us.”
Ava found this sweet. Nathan listened carefully and nodded with everything he had. Of course, he’d be nice anyway, her perfect little lad, but it was cute to see him so determined to be so.
Once they arrived at the loch, Ava hated that she still enjoyed being pressed to Caden so tightly. As he placed Nathan on the bench next to her, she almost bemoaned the loss of his warmth. He pulled the little skates on the boy’s feet and tied them expertly. Then, he did the same to her.
Air rushed from her lungs when he touched her stockinged feet. The pounding in her head eased a bit as he gently rubbed her feet to warm them, before sliding them into the skates.
What are ye doing to me, husband?
Dark brown eyes met her green ones, and he held out a hand to assist her out of the sleigh. Nathan reached out his hand to her, and together they stepped onto the frozen loch.
Ava had expected Caden to put on his own skates, but he merely stood there, watching them.
“Are ye nae ye coming?” she called out.
He shook his head and went to check on the horses.
Ava still looked at him.
Nathan tugged on Ava’s hand, and they wobbled their way across the loch. Ava showed him how to stop and turn. Nervous at first, he moved very slowly, all while holding firmly onto her hand.
It tore Caden up to stay behind, but he could not trust himself with Ava. Not after what happened last night.
The pair laughed and slid here and there, making their way around the ice.
Ye’re a damned fool. Ye shouldnae want her so badly.
Caden could not help it. His wife was simply captivating.
He knew he had hurt her, he hated himself for it.
But he had lost control. He was fairly sure he’d die if he had not tasted her after he stripped her of his clothes.
At first, he had planned to simply tease her, punish her for turning him, the fearsome Masked Laird, into a purple-eared bunny.
But apparently he was losing his mind. He sighed.
He should not be thinking about this now. This day was about Nathan.
He imagined Finlay shoving him out onto the ice, and he caved in. The skates sailed over the ice, pointed directly toward his heart’s desire.
A small bump of ice caused Nathan to slip and stumble backward, but Caden came up just in time to catch him and steady him on his feet.
“Careful, lad.” He smiled. “I’ve got ye.”
“Yay!” Nathan shouted and, for the first time ever, gave him a hug.
Caden froze, his hands hovering over the boy’s head. Ava gave him a small, encouraging smile, and he hugged Nathan back.
Warmth spread through him. His heart swelled with happiness he had never thought he deserved. Tears welled up in his eyes for the first time since Joanna had died.
He wanted to tell the little lad that he’d always be there to catch him. That he’d never let him go. That he could count on his uncle for anything he might need in life.
He looked up to Ava who was smiling at them. He wanted to tell her that he was sorry for everything. Right at this moment, hugged by tiny arms and enveloped in giggles, he finally let himself dream. He could have that. He could hold his wife and kiss her. They could be a family. A real, happy one.
Before he had mustered up the courage to say all that, an arrow flew across the loch and hit Ava in the shoulder. She cried out in pain, crumbling to the ground. Nathan screamed.
Caden heard hoofbeats approach and saw men coming over the snowy knoll. Ava reached out her hand toward him, her face pinched with pain and desperation.
Anger, hatred, and vengeance took over. “Go to yer maither, Nathan.”
He nudged the boy toward Ava, who pulled him close with her good arm.
“Stay low,” he commanded, then ran to the sleigh to grab his sword.
The thud of hoofbeats grew louder. Caden threw off his skates and ran barefoot in the snow toward the approaching men. Each had a sword in hand, raised to strike. Rage overtook him, and he ran toward them with his sword in hand.
Valiantly, he fought from the ground, battle cries echoing across the loch. One man charged at him, and Caden grabbed him by the throat, yanking him off his horse and throwing him to the ground. He slew the screaming man and turned to the one charging behind him.
The second man aimed his sword directly at Caden’s heart.
Covered in blood, Caden raised his sword again and swung it to block the blow.
The man dismounted the horse and spat on the ground.
He drove his sword to Caden’s neck, but Caden was faster.
He ducked and blocked. They parried and fought for several minutes, Caden’s muscles straining against the cold.
In a moment of his enemy’s hesitation after stumbling on his mate’s dead body,, Caden grabbed the man’s sword hand and sliced off his arm. A pained cry rent the air, before Caden dispatched him.
An arrow shot out from the trees behind him, barely grazing his cheek. Caden turned around to see an archer. Before the man could unsheathe his sword, Caden had charged and stabbed him in the heart.
“Well, well, well.” Slow applause sounded from behind him.
Caden turned to see Laird McAinsley leaning against his sleigh.