Page 31 of Highland Lords of War & Thunder: The Prequel

“Is that any way to greet an old friend, Murph?”

Murph launched himself at him

Creagan laughed as he caught the dog and nearly went down beneath his enthusiastic greeting

“Aye, I've missed you too,” he said, laughing as Murph licked his face.

“Creagan!”

He looked toward the farmhouse.

A lad came tearing around the side of it, long skinny legs carrying him faster than Creagan remembered. His unruly brown hair bounced with every step, and his freckled face was split by a wide grin. He looked to have sprouted several inches since Creagan had last seen him, though he had yet to put any meat on his growing bones.

A lass appeared a moment later, her shorter legs working furiously as she chased after her brother. One of the ribbons meant to hold back her long brown curls had come loose, leaving half her hair tumbling around her round, rosy-cheeked face.

“Wait for me, Peter!” she shouted.

Peter didn't.

Creagan barely had time to straighten before the lad threw himself at him, but he caught him easily.

“You got bigger.”

Peter grinned. “You always say that.”

“Because you keep doing it.”

The lass finally reached them, breathless and indignant with her brother, and immediately wrapped both arms around Creagan's leg.

Creagan looked down at her.

“And you, Jennie.”

She tipped her head back and smiled, one front tooth missing.

“Grow more beautiful each day.”

Jennie’s smile widened.

“Creagan?”

The woman's voice came from the farmhouse.

He looked up.

The woman stood in the doorway staring at him as if uncertain she believed what she was seeing. She was a pretty woman with warm brown eyes and thick chestnut hair caught in a loose braid that fell over one shoulder. A few strands had escaped to frame a face browned by days spent outdoors. Her sleeves were rolled above her elbows, and an apron covered her simple green wool dress, evidence she'd been busy with one chore or another before his arrival.

Then she planted her hands on her hips.

Creagan grinned. There were some welcomes a man never forgot.

She marched toward him. “You remember where we live, then.”

He feigned shock, slapping his chest dramatically. “You wound me, Fay? I could never forget such an amazing woman as you.”

Fay shook her head. “You could have fooled me.”

She reached him and Creagan opened his arms, expecting the embrace that always followed her scolding.