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“Then we shall ride to see how the old man fares.”
Aodh's house was in the heart of the village. Despite the fact that word had spread that the elderly councilman was ill, men had gathered around, and greeted Jonan as he dismounted his horse.
“Ye wouldnae allow the man some time to recover?” Jonan asked the men jokingly.
“Fevers would nae stop him from sayin’ whatever he wants to,” one of the men said.
The old man sat inside by an open window and whenhe saw the laird, his wrinkled face softened.
“The Laird McKay blesses me with a visit,” Aodh remarked. “Clearly, yer wife has changed ye.”
Jonan agreed without words.
“Daenae let her go,” Aodh said to Jonan. “She will bring ye more luck.”
He and Callan spent some more time with the elder councilman before they left to check on the farmers, hoping for good news.
“There is nae war comin’ to our lands,” Callan assured Jonan.
“Daenae allow the scouts to slack on their duty. If war comes to the Highlands, we must ken of it first,” he replied, not wanting to let his guard down.
Callan nodded his understanding.
“I shall return home now. We shall speak again tomorrow,” Jonan said.
The horse's hooves beat hard against the earth's grass as it carriedits master home in haste. Upon arriving at the keep, he sawLeah and Amelia dressed and waiting for him.
“I have decided that I shall have my own horse, while you and your daughter shall share your valiant steed,” Amelia told him with a smile.
“Up, father,” Leah asked, and Jonan lifted her on the horse.
"You look quite fetching on a horse with your hair loose," she told him as she mounted the horse.
Jonan looked at her with admiration. He had never met a woman who could mount a horse as easily as she could.
"You know the way," she said. "Yet you are not on your horse," she observed as he continued to gaze at her with admiration in his eyes. She looked even more beautiful to him at that moment than ever before.
“I wager that our horse runs faster than Amelia’s,” Leah said.
“Your father would be better served if he does not dare challenge me,” Amelia said staring at Jonan’s dark eyes.
Amelia's defiance faded when she saw where his gaze settled. Her mouth. He smiled at her with meaning.
“Yah!” He whipped, and the horse bolted. Amelia trailed behind them while Leah reached out to touch her.
The sun rose high in their wake, forcing Jonan to take the forest paths. Amelia was captivated by the spectacle created by the sun's rays. “It is beautiful,” she gasped as she looked up at the branches that filtered the sun into the forest.
“Dae nae get lost!” Jonan yelled and kicked faster between the forest trees. Amelia was jolted out of her thoughts by the sudden action, forcing her to concentrate on riding after them. She eventuallyemerged from the clearing shortly after.
“Ye made it. I thought we lost ye,” Jonan said sarcastically.
“Let’s go! We are headed for the valley, are we nae, Da? There is a stream up there,” Leah said eagerly.
Jonan led the way across the stream and over the hills, where the sun shone down into the valley.
When they arrived, hehelped Leah off his horse before offering his hands to Amelia.
"Thank you, kind sir," she teased as she drew his hands to her waist. He heaved her off the horse, bringing her down a breath away from him.
“You cannae keep doing this. Do nae stir up desire in me when I cannae do anything,” he complained teasingly.
With that, she shot him a smile full of meaning.
Patience, he told himself.
