Page 80 of In Search of a Husband
“Gabe is an eejit if he lets ye walk around here without his name soon enough.”
Kate gripped the doorway, seriousness dripping from her voice. “Please, don’t tell.”
“Him or the rest of the village?”
“You don’t think he knows?”
“That ye’re in love with him?” Elsie gathered up the discarded box and paper and grinned.
“Sshhh!”
“Ye two are as dim as a closet with no candles.”
Kate wouldn’t allow herself to think about that. Did he care about her as she cared for him?
CHAPTER 21
Gabriel growledas he crawled down the hallway with Maisie on his back.
“Faster, faster,” she yelled. She dug her heels into his sides as if a horse.
“Careful now,” he groaned.
His niece laughed as he sought out the rest of the family in the dark castle early in the morning.
Today was the day. The day of the Harvest Festival.
When he was younger, he lived for them, even if his father never participated. And his brother wasn’t interested either. But Gabriel loved the way the air rippled with excitement as clans from all over descended upon their small village to compete.
“Where’s Lorna?”
“No talking, beastie!” Maisie grabbed his hair and twisted his head to the side.
He’d never make it to the festival at this rate. He reached back and pulled her off, rising to his feet and roaring like a giant.
“Uncle, Uncle,” she cried, laughing as he tickled her stomach and dangled her upside down.
“Don’t tire yerself now, Brother.” Elsie flew down the stairs fixingher hair, her eyes wide and bright. It was good to see her happy after all these years, even if the reason for the reunion wasn’t joyful. She had fled to Edinburgh brokenhearted.
“Never.” He caught his breath and brought his hands to his hips, surveying her. “What are ye up to now?”
She shrugged, stepping around him, and tagged her niece, racing down the hall. “Better ready yerself, Brother. I’ve heard Fergus Campbell is fierce at the caber this year. Prepared to be beaten?” she shouted over her shoulder. Elsie and Maisie screeched, and they ducked and weaved around one another.
“Where’s Kate?” he called out.
“It’s Miss Bancroft!”
God gave brothers sisters for some reason or another, but why exactly he hadn’t discerned yet. Mostly she was meddlesome and, in this instance, knew too much judging by the twinkle in her cat-like eyes.
“Where is she?” he repeated.
“Lorna was sad,” Maisie said, poking out from behind Elsie. “Miss Bancroft is with her.”
Oscar trotted along as Gabriel took the stairs two at a time, worried over Lorna and missing Kate. She had slipped out of bed too early this morning.
He stopped short of entering the room, stunned by what he heard inside. Lorna was… reading. When had she learned to read?
He poked his head around the doorway, finding Lorna snuggled against Kate in bed. Kate reclined on her back, one hand holding the book and the other brushing the young girl’s hair away from her eyes. Time, she had reminded him. The girls only needed time to heal. And yet again, she had been there, even as they tried chasing her away. Even as she thought Elsie had come to take her place.
