Page 45 of Kilty By Association
But ‘twas what Elspeth wanted, so he’d do his best to try.
Craig’s chin was sunk to his chest, his thoughts dire and his attention not on his surroundings where it should be, as they entered the little grove of trees. Elspeth took the lead, winding them along the path, and Craig shook himself from his melancholy, peering left and right, his hand on his sword, looking for threats.
He should’ve been lookingup.
When the snake fell from the large oak, he didn’t have time to look for the villain who’d thrown it. Instead, he watched, horrified, as Robbie’s horse reared in response to the danger-noodle, tossing the lad backward.
In slow motion, Craig watched the boy he’d come to love as his own throw his hands up in a futile attempt to maintain his balance and his seat. Robbie’s feet slipped from the stirrups and he fell backward.
Craig’s own mount smelled the fear—and the snake—and he couldn’t wrench the damned animal close enough to grab Robbie in time.
As Elspeth’s terrified scream cut through the air—“Robbie!”—he did the only thing he could.
Craig lifted his feet from the stirrups, braced one against the flank of his horse, and threw himself sideways from the saddle, praying he would have enough strength to make the distance.
Praying that he’d protect Robbie.
His horse was shoved away by his leap, but Craig made it. He reached Robbie just as the lad fell backward, wrapping his arms around the lad’s torso and tucking his head under his chin, turning in midair.
When they both hit the ground—hard—Robbie’s forehead smacked into his chin, and Craig could taste the blood. But the lad made no sound, and despite the pain in his side and back—thank the Lord he hadn’t hit his own head!—Craig frantically turned the boy over.
“Robbie? Robbie lad?”
“Craig?” the small voice sounded dazed. “Ye…saved…”
There were tears in those dark eyes which reminded Craig so much of Elspeth, and despite the ignominy of being sprawled across the ground, legs tangled and bruised, Craig crushed the lad to him, pressing a kiss to the crown of his head.
“Robbie, lad,” he rasped. “I thought…” Christ Almighty, for one horrifying moment, he thought he’d failed Robbie. Thought he’d lost him.
“Robbie!” Elspeth had also flung herself from her saddle, and as Craig lifted his head, she landed in the dirt beside them. “Oh, my bairn, are you—God protect him!”
Craig loosened his hold and tried to sit up. “He’s safe, Elspeth. He’s safe.”
But she didn’t stop her frantic patting, as if checking the lad for injuries. ‘TwasCraigwho’d taken the brunt of the fall, but he merely set Robbie upright so she could see the dazed lad was whole.
Thank the saints.
From the corner of his eye, Craig saw movement, and twisted in time to see the snake slithering into the underbrush. The horses were milling a distance away, and the birdsong…
There was no birdsong.
He should’ve noticed that afore.
Adders didn’t often climb trees.
“Elspeth,” he said in a low voice. “Take Robbie and get to the horses.”
“He shouldnae move, nae after a shock like—”
“Now.”
There must’ve been something in his tone. Or the way he was watching the trees around them. Because she slowly held out her hand to her son.
“Come, Robbie,” she murmured, her own gaze darting around the path. “We can check ye over at home.”
They stood, and once unencumbered, Craig rolled to his feet, skin prickling in awareness. Someone had tried to kill Robbie here today, and ‘twas likely the same people who’d killed the lad’s father, the old Earl.
As much as he wanted to fight whoever they were, as much as he wanted to call them cowards and demand they face him, Craig had a duty to Robbie and his mother. He needed to ensure they were safe.
