Page 42 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

“Did he say the gardens werenae close enough?”

“Nay, but…” Lily hesitated, glancing at the kitten as though for permission. “He worries. Da says he wants me to be safe.”

The one thing Skye would never question was Dougal’s fondness for his daughter. He loved Lily something fierce and would protect her till his dying breath. It was never up for debate.

“Faithers do that.” Skye kept her voice light, easy, the way she might calm a nervous colt. Lily only needed a small push; she was certain of that. “But I’ll be right there beside ye the whole time. I promise ye that. And Blossom too, though I daenae think she’ll be much protection against anything more fearsome than a beetle. Or a bee, but I think we can outrun some bees.”

That earned her a small, reluctant laugh. “She’s very fierce, actually. Blossom could fight a bee if she wanted! I’ve seen her chase a mouse, and she nearly caught it, too!”

“Is she now?”

“Very fierce.” Lily proudly lifted the kitten, who blinked with supreme indifference to the praise.

“Then we’ll be perfectly safe with her along.” Skye held out her hand. “Well? Shall we be careless again, the way we were with the sweets? I think we deserve a few before we head out to the gardens. It will give us energy.”

Lily’s eyes went wide and gleeful at the memory, all hesitation forgotten in an instant. “Careless,” she agreed solemnly, as though swearing an oath, and slipped her small hand into Skye’s.

They made it as far as the corridor before Lily slowed down, her earlier boldness faltering. “Ye willnae let go of me hand?”

It was heartbreaking to hear her grow so quiet the closer they got to the door. She didn’t want to disobey her father or experience any of the dangers that he claimed lay outside the castle walls.

Skye wasn’t that naïve. She understood there were dangers in the Highlands, but simply taking Lily to the gardens wouldn’t hurt.

“Nae unless ye ask me to.”

“And if Da is cross? He will be cross, I think.”

Skye squeezed her fingers gently, steadier than she felt. “Then yer da can be cross with me. I’ve had plenty of practice already.”

Lily giggled at that, the sound bright and unguarded. Some of the caution finally slipped from her shoulders as they made their way to the door, the kitten tucked snug against her chest, sunlight spilling gold across the stones ahead of them.

“What did ye do to make Da so cross?”

Skye hesitated. “A misunderstanding, is all.”

“Aye, I have a lot of misunderstandings! Blossom never understands me.”

She laughed. “That’s nae quite what I mean.”

Lily pursed her lips. “Well, ye and Da need to talk. Grandmaither always says to talk it out.”

If only it were so easy.

Bless children. They offered practical, good advice, but with everything unsaid between her and Dougal, there was no way she could implement it.

“Talking wouldnae fix everything.”

Lily blinked. “Why? Grandmaither says most fights are just people being stubborn and nae listening to each other.”

“Yer grandmaither is a wise woman.”

“Like an owl!” Lily exclaimed. “That’s why ye should listen to her.”

Skye laughed. “It’s nae quite so simple between adults, I’m afraid.”

“Adults are silly,” Lily declared loudly.

“Indeed, they are.”