Robby nodded. “You’re probably looking for Maggie?”
“Aye.”
“She was outside earlier, headed toward the stable last I saw.”
Braden went cold at the news.
Nay, surely she wouldn’t...
Oh, who was he fooling? ‘Twas Maggie he was dealing with.
Like as not she’d already left for home on her own. It was just the sort of thing she would do.
Terrified, he left Robby and ran as fast as his legs could carry him. If she had done something so foolish as to head back to MacAllister lands on her own where those thieves could find her, he would kill her himself.
His entire body quaking in fear, he threw open the door of the stable and nearly ran over a small child.
“My pardon,” he said to the boy. “I’m looking for....”
Braden’s voice trailed off as he looked to the lad and saw himself.
Eighteen
Braden froze as reality crashed through him. He quickly calculated the last time he had been with a woman from the MacDouglas clan.
It had been right around the time when the feud began. Maybe seven or eight years ago. Right about the same age as the boy.
He winced.
Maggie was going to kill him!
His mind numb, all he could think of was the look on her face when she found out, and the kick to the groin she was sure to give him the instant she saw the lad.
Oh bother, he was in for it now.
The child eyed him warily.
“Hello.” Braden tried not to scare the child while inside he was shaking in horror from what he knew he had done. “What’s your name?”
“Connor. Who are you?”
Braden didn’t know what to answer.
‘I’m your father,’ just didn’t seem like the best way to introduce himself to the lad who, like as not, would hate his very soul.
So, instead, Braden switched the topic. “Where are your parents?”
The boy shrugged. “I don’t have any. Oh, wait!” he said, his eyes shining instantly. “I do have a mother now.” He placed his forefinger to his lips as if in deep thought, and frowned, “but I can’t remember her name.”
“You don’t know your mother’s name?”
The boy scratched his nose. “My real mother was Fia, but she’s with the angels now. And this other woman is taking me home to live with her.”
Fia. Braden searched his memory. The name was so familiar to him, but for his life, he couldn’t recall her. But the mere fact that he recalled the name as familiar said it all.
Dear Lord, this really was his son. He was sure of it.
He struggled to breathe as emotions swept through him. Shame, happiness, guilt, terror. He ran the full gamut of human experience in the space of several heartbeats.
