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“Different story?” Cavan asked.
Alyce went on to explain. “The track was dug into the ground firm and I realized Lily had made the track by halting abruptly, which meant she had stopped and switched directions.”
“Why didn’t you see that on your first inspection?” Artair asked.
“I wasn’t paying close enough attention. I forgot the most important lesson my friend taught me about tracking. Take the obvious and look for a wrinkle in it. Once I found that wrinkle, the sudden stop, I was able to determine the right direction. Her small footprints weren’t easy to detect along the edge of the woods, but once I found them they were easy to follow until the tracks disappeared once more and the only place left to look was…”
All heads bent back as Alyce looked up to the ceiling.
“Lily was in a tree,” Addie said excited.
“She went after a kitten, didn’t she?” Honora asked.
Cavan sent her a how-did-you-know-that look.
“I’ve helped a few children retrieve their cats,” Honora said proudly.
“You climb trees?” Cavan asked incredulously.
“When necessary,” Honora admitted.
“I don’t need to ask you if you do,” Artair said to his wife with a grin. “You would do anything to help a child.”
“It is good you know me well,” Zia said.
“As should all your husbands,” Addie said as if she dared her sons to disagree. “Sinclare women are not timid. They are bold and courageous warriors.”
Alyce watched her husband smile at Cavan as if asking if he really wanted to spar with their mother.
Cavan turned to Alyce, a signal for her to continue.
“Lily had followed a favorite kitten of hers into the woods and climbed the tree to retrieve her. She hadn’t thought about how high she had climbed being eager to rescue her kitten. Once she had the kitten in her arms, she took a look down and was much too frightened to climb down. She sat huddled in the crook of the massive tree waiting for someone to find her.”
“However did you get her down, or yourself up for that matter?” Artair asked.
“Leave the practical question to my brother,” Lachlan teased.
Lachlan may be teasing his brother, but Alyce knew he appreciated Artair asking it, for she was certain he wanted to know the same.
“Piper taught me a quick way up and a quick way down,” Alyce said.
The men waited and the women smiled.
“I’m not sharing my secret,” Alyce informed them, then covered a yawn with her hand.
“You’re tired,” Lachlan said with concern.
“A sound sleep will do her good,” Zia said.
“True enough,” Alyce agreed, fatigue consuming every limb in her body.
“Stay here for the night,” Addie suggested.
Lachlan startled Alyce when he looked to her and said, “It’s your choice.”
That he allowed her that pleased her, and she nodded. “Here is fine.”
Cavan had a few more questions for her; Zia, instructions for the care of her minor wounds; Artair, a few practical tidbits in dealing with her husband, and Honora requested that Alyce teach her about tracking. And surprisingly Cavan thought it a splendid idea. He even bragged about how skillful Honora was with a bow.
Lachlan finally stood and announced, “Enough, my wife needs to sleep.”
Everyone agreed and Alyce was stunned by how fast everyone bid her good night and Lachlan had her out of the room and up the stairs to his old bedchamber. Though she couldn’t say she was displeased; she looked forward to crawling into bed.
Alyce didn’t wait. As soon as Lachlan closed the door she threw off her clothes and climbed into bed, uttering a most pleasurable sigh as she settled beneath the blanket naked.
“And I thought such passion was meant only for me,” Lachlan said as he disrobed and then joined her.
“Tonight it is the bed that satisfies me,” Alyce admitted with a quick smile.
“Don’t tempt me to challenge the bed, wife,” he teased.
“I already know the victor.” She yawned and turned to cuddle her back against him and took hold of his arm to wrap around her and place his hand on her rounded stomach. She took comfort in the way his hand would splay protectively over her belly.
“I would be the victor,” he whispered in her ear and kissed along her cheek to nip at her lips.
“You and only you,” she assured him.
“You are a wise woman.”
“I keep telling and showing you that, but you don’t listen,” she said, her eyes much too heavy to keep open.
“I do listen,” he whispered. “And hear much more than you think.”
A soft snore told Lachlan that his wife was sound asleep. He had expected as much; she looked exhausted. He was glad to have her finally home and safe in his arms. And while her ordeal had caused him concern, he saw that it had brought her satisfaction.
He could not deny her that, and he would not. He would find a way for her to flourish here and perhaps after time, she would accept Caithness as her home.
