Page 39 of The Highlander's Dangerous Bride

“Shall we show Lady Raven the way to go?” he asked Thorsten brightly.

“Aye, this way,” Thorsten pointed his small, gloved fist up the steep pathway between the boulders. “Come on!” Arne led the way, with Thorsten riding happily on his shoulders.

“All right. I’m comin’,” she said, starting to follow them up the path. “I think I can hear the water already.”

They went up the path, and by the time they had reached the top, the sound of the rushing water was already quite loud. They squeezed between a couple of flat boulders and emerged at the top of the waterfall. It fell like a rushing curtain from the top and cascaded in steps over rock shelves, throwing out rainbow-colored spray as it plunged to a series of interlinked pools below.

“Och, me goodness, ’tis spectacular. I would never have guessed this was hidden away up here,” Raven exclaimed, looking awestruck by nature’s power. “What a magical place.”

Arne was secretly pleased that she liked it so much.

“We gottae go to the bottom. There’s a wee house down there,” Thorsten explained. “Come on, Da, let’s go. I want tae show Lady Raven the house.” In his excitement, he gripped his father’s ears tightly.

“Ow, watch it, lad!” Arne said, laughing. “Ye’re set to pull me ears clean off if ye’re nae careful.”

“Sorry, Da. But let’s go!”

“All right, we’re goin’.” Arne told him before turning to Raven. “Be careful as we go down. The steps can be a bit slippery.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she told him.

He set off, stepping carefully, even though he knew the way well. He did so not only because he was carrying his son on his shoulders. He went slowly so Raven could keep up. He found himself worrying about her safety, not wanting her to slip and hurt herself. He told himself it was for Thorsten’s sake.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

At the bottom of the waterfall, the place opened up into a wide, grassy space surrounded by pine trees, with the dashing waters from above plunging into the pools, to be carried away by a wide, shallow burn.

“That’s the house,” Thorsten shouted to Raven above the sound of the rushing waters. Arne carried Thorsten over to the wooden pavilion. It had a red painted roof, windows, and even a small chimney poking out at the top. At the front was a small, covered deck, like a veranda. Arne lifted Thorsten down from his shoulders and set him on his feet on the deck before opening the doors. They folded back, so the occupants could sit comfortably and enjoy the view of the waterfall and the surrounding scenery unimpeded.

“Well, this is lovely, ye have everythin’ ye could ever need in here,” Raven observed in admiring tones as she stepped inside and pulled off her gloves. “Why, ’tis a proper little house. Ye could live in here!” she added, laughing. Arne turned to her and saw that Thorsten was holding her hand. Or maybe she was holding his. The boy looked perfectly content as he pulled at her hand and said, “Come sit here.” He led her over to a large wooden settle that had been liberally padded out with blankets and cushions at Arne’s request.

“All right, darlin’, I’m comin’,” she murmured, her face glowing as she allowed the little boy to lead her by the hand.

“Ye can sit here, and I’ll make ye warm until Da makes the fire,” Thorsten lisped, gesturing at the settle.

“Thank ye, hinny, that’ll be very nice.” She sat down as directed, and Arne had to smile to see what childish care Thorsten took to cover her up with blankets. His tongue stuck out of his mouth as it always did when he was concentrating on something hard. He even put a cushion behind her head.

“Och, that’s very comfy, thank ye, Thorsten,” she said, beaming at him. Arne glanced at them from time to time from the corner of his eye as he knelt beside the little stove. He opened it and saw with satisfaction that a fire had already been laid for them, according to his orders. All he had to do was light it using the tinder supplied.

“Now we’ll be nice and warm,” the little boy announced, astonishing Arne by proceeding to climb up next to Raven on the settle and snuggle up to her under the blankets. She put her arm around him and cradled him close, and he leaned his head against her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Which Arne could only suppose it was.

Arne took off his gloves and laid them aside. He took the tinder box and made a spark, and the tinder flared. He blew on it gently to bring it to life and lit a piece of kindling with it. He nursed the flame until it was strong enough and then laid it carefully in the stove. He watched the little flames steadily grow, and once he was sure it would burn well, he shut the door.

He stood up and rubbed his hands. “There, that should get good and warm in a wee while,” he told the pair snuggled up together under the blankets. He stood looking at them. They made a sweet picture, both smiling at him from the cozy spot.

“Are ye nae gonnae dae any runnin’ about today, little man? Ye’re usually in that water getting’ yersel’ good and soaked as soon as we get here,” he said to Thorsten.

“I’m gonnae later, Da, but now I want tae stay here with Lady Raven. She’s warm.”

“Well, all right, if that’s what ye want. Shall we open the picnic basket and see what we’ve got tae eat?”

“We have a picnic as well?” Raven exclaimed, laughing the musical laugh Arne remembered so well. The sound sent tingles down his spine.

“Is there cake?” Thorsten asked.

“Och, I think there might be. Let me see.” Arne opened the basket and started to lift out the various packets, tins, and flasks. “Well, this is a feast,” he said unwrapping the packets of oiled paper. “We have some sweet rolls with sugar on top, ye like those, eh, Thorsten?”

“Mmm, can I have one now, Da?”

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