Page 44 of Kilty By Association
Elspeth and Robbie did those things while Craig watched from a distance, his large arms folded across his chest. She found herself glancing at him, wishing she could invite him to join in the easy peace she and her son had found.
But he didn’t, and she forced herself to focus on Robbie, knowing as the years passed, there’d be fewer chances for this sort of fun.
All too soon, ‘twas time to return to the castle, and, at her son’s urging, she promised—happily—to do this again soon. It might have been her imagination, but she thought she saw a smile under Craig’s beard.
The ride back to the castle was more subdued.
She rode beside Robbie, neither of them saying much, but enjoying the day. They came to the point where the path narrowed and she took the lead, so her son was directly behind her, with Craig behind. Their horses wound between the trees, most of them little more than scrub, except for the large oak directly ahead of them.
Elspeth crossed beneath the oak without thinking. It wasn’t until she’d passed that she heard a little noise. She wasn’t certain which noise she heard—thethud, or thehiss, or the first terrified inhalation of the horse—but she was already turning in her saddle, her heart in her throat, when she understood what had happened.
Another snake on the ground.
Another rearing horse.
‘Twas just the way John had died.
And just like John, her precious son—terror in his eyes—was lunging for the horse’s mane in a desperate attempt to stay upright.
But he wasn’t experienced and had no hope of maintaininghis seat as the horse bucked and reared to get out of the way of the striking reptile. She reached for him, horror in her heart, knowing there was no way she’d be able to reach him before he fell, before he hit his head.
Before he died, the same way John did.
“Robbie!”
Craig had knowntoday would be difficult, but he hadn’t realizedhowdifficult.
To see Elspeth’s joy and not be able to participate. To see her interact with Robbie and not be there beside them the way he’d been on their journey to the Highlands.
Until he’d experienced that, he hadn’t realized how much he wanted to be a part of something like that. Something his friends had found.
He wanted a family.
Nay, he wantedthisfamily.
But now they were at Dungotit, he was merely a servant, a bodyguard. If Elspeth had wanted more, she would’ve invited it, would she not?
Nay, here he was merely a King’s Hunter, a protector.
On the ride back to the castle, he found himself thinking about this mission. He’d been sent to keep the Earl of Dungotit safe, but ‘twas killing him to be here and have to keep himself apart, now that he’d learned how much he loved this family.
He wouldn’t be able to return to Scone, to start trying to forget how happy he’d once been, until the threat against Robbie was eliminated. How to do that?
Now he’d met Roger, ‘twas clear the man had a real reason for wanting Robbie dead so he might become the Earl—a role in which he’d clearly settled nicely during Robbie’s absence.But the man reallydidseem too wrapped up in his studies to notice or care about losing the position.
How to tempt Roger to make a move, without putting Robbie in danger? Craig wanted this threat finished, so he could…
So he could move on with his life, and do the best he could to forget the joy which had once been his.
The joy of Mary calling himDa.
The joy of Katharine treating him like her own personal playmate.
The joy of Robbie trusting him, valuing him.
The joy of having Elspeth in his arms.
Fooking hell, lad, ye’re never going to forget this.
