mind.”
Conall’s brow furrowed as he looked to Glenna, but she shrugged her shoulders. “You don’t want me to come?” he asked Ailsa.
Ailsa raised her head. “You’re laird and don’t have time for m…anyone.”
Glenna tightened her grip on Ailsa’s hand. The child had been told Conall didn’t have time for her. It brought painful memories of Glenna’s own childhood to mind. If Conall didn’t agree to come, she was going to give him a swift kick in his shins.
“As a matter-of-fact,” Conall said, and went down on his knees in front of Ailsa, “I don’t have anything to do today. I’d love to come if you still want me.”
Ailsa’s face lit into a huge smile as she flung herself into Conall’s arms. “Oh aye, I want you to come.”
Glenna rejoiced quietly. Conall continued to do things so unexpected from what she was used to, but she didn’t mind. It just proved to her there was love in this world.
They set out after Conall washed the grim from his body. Ailsa ran ahead and led them down the path to the loch while Glenna and Conall walked side by side.
“I’m surprised you’re not keeping everyone in the bailey,” she finally said when Ailsa was too far ahead to hear.
Conall looked at her with his silver eyes. “There’s no way MacNeil can get to us here. On the other side of the forest is a sheer drop off the mountains. The only way to reach my castle is through the path we took here.”
“And the soldiers from the gatehouse towers can spot them far in advance.”
“Exactly.” He reached over and plucked the basket of food from her hand.
They ceased talking when Ailsa declared she had found the perfect spot. She ran along the edge of the loch, picking up stones as she went. Glenna yearned to go with her but didn’t feel comfortable with Conall near. She didn’t want him to know how much this meant to her because he might refuse to let her come again, or worse, make her return to the castle immediately.
“What are you waiting for?” he asked.
His words stunned her. Could he know her deepest, darkest desires? “Excuse me?”
“You came to explore with Ailsa yet you aren’t doing any exploring.”
“Then I’ll leave you here alone,” she said quickly before he could change his mind.
Without a backward glance she trailed after Ailsa. The fresh smell of the loch infused her senses. The sun warmed them from the cool weather that wouldn’t loosen its hold to spring, and the songs of the birds added to the magic.
It took Glenna some time to navigate her steps through the rocks that lined the loch so she wouldn’t twist her ankle, but she quickly caught on with Ailsa’s help. Conall watched his daughter and his captive as they practiced skipping rocks on the water. It had been quite a while since he had laughed so much in one morning.
If the situation were different he could almost think it was his family he observed. It pained him to think he might never know what it was like to have a wife and family. Thanks to the Druids, he would never be able to marry until he found his mate. It would be a cruel twist of fate to finally find his mate only to have to lose her.
He put aside thoughts of revenge and his vows and allowed himself his first free day as he gazed upon Ailsa and Glenna as they explored. Their carefree laughter brought back memories of his childhood playing in the loch.
It wasn’t until his neck began to cramp from not moving that he looked up and found the sun high above him. The morning had sped past and the noon hour was upon them. He dug in the basket and found a banquet. The cook, Tess, had given them one of the first wedges of cheese of spring, fresh loaves of bread and milk that he placed on a plaid that had been packed.
He called to Glenna and Ailsa, and they sat on either side of him. He listened while Ailsa explained their part of the Highlands to Glenna. After several glances, he noted that Glenna wasn’t eating because she was so enraptured at
Conall’s brow furrowed as he looked to Glenna, but she shrugged her shoulders. “You don’t want me to come?” he asked Ailsa.
Ailsa raised her head. “You’re laird and don’t have time for m…anyone.”
Glenna tightened her grip on Ailsa’s hand. The child had been told Conall didn’t have time for her. It brought painful memories of Glenna’s own childhood to mind. If Conall didn’t agree to come, she was going to give him a swift kick in his shins.
“As a matter-of-fact,” Conall said, and went down on his knees in front of Ailsa, “I don’t have anything to do today. I’d love to come if you still want me.”
Ailsa’s face lit into a huge smile as she flung herself into Conall’s arms. “Oh aye, I want you to come.”
Glenna rejoiced quietly. Conall continued to do things so unexpected from what she was used to, but she didn’t mind. It just proved to her there was love in this world.
They set out after Conall washed the grim from his body. Ailsa ran ahead and led them down the path to the loch while Glenna and Conall walked side by side.
“I’m surprised you’re not keeping everyone in the bailey,” she finally said when Ailsa was too far ahead to hear.
Conall looked at her with his silver eyes. “There’s no way MacNeil can get to us here. On the other side of the forest is a sheer drop off the mountains. The only way to reach my castle is through the path we took here.”
“And the soldiers from the gatehouse towers can spot them far in advance.”
“Exactly.” He reached over and plucked the basket of food from her hand.
They ceased talking when Ailsa declared she had found the perfect spot. She ran along the edge of the loch, picking up stones as she went. Glenna yearned to go with her but didn’t feel comfortable with Conall near. She didn’t want him to know how much this meant to her because he might refuse to let her come again, or worse, make her return to the castle immediately.
“What are you waiting for?” he asked.
His words stunned her. Could he know her deepest, darkest desires? “Excuse me?”
“You came to explore with Ailsa yet you aren’t doing any exploring.”
“Then I’ll leave you here alone,” she said quickly before he could change his mind.
Without a backward glance she trailed after Ailsa. The fresh smell of the loch infused her senses. The sun warmed them from the cool weather that wouldn’t loosen its hold to spring, and the songs of the birds added to the magic.
It took Glenna some time to navigate her steps through the rocks that lined the loch so she wouldn’t twist her ankle, but she quickly caught on with Ailsa’s help. Conall watched his daughter and his captive as they practiced skipping rocks on the water. It had been quite a while since he had laughed so much in one morning.
If the situation were different he could almost think it was his family he observed. It pained him to think he might never know what it was like to have a wife and family. Thanks to the Druids, he would never be able to marry until he found his mate. It would be a cruel twist of fate to finally find his mate only to have to lose her.
He put aside thoughts of revenge and his vows and allowed himself his first free day as he gazed upon Ailsa and Glenna as they explored. Their carefree laughter brought back memories of his childhood playing in the loch.
It wasn’t until his neck began to cramp from not moving that he looked up and found the sun high above him. The morning had sped past and the noon hour was upon them. He dug in the basket and found a banquet. The cook, Tess, had given them one of the first wedges of cheese of spring, fresh loaves of bread and milk that he placed on a plaid that had been packed.
He called to Glenna and Ailsa, and they sat on either side of him. He listened while Ailsa explained their part of the Highlands to Glenna. After several glances, he noted that Glenna wasn’t eating because she was so enraptured at
Similar Books
