Ryder considered this, lifting his hand and rubbing his palm against his bristly cheek.
“It is a wee bit scratchy,” he conceded. “Sophie, lass, ye must understand that Alaina is growin’ up. She will be a young woman soon, and she might nae want to play with ye in the way she once did. Naealways, at least.”
Sophie bit her lip. “What do ye mean? Why would she nae want to play with me?”
Ryder drained his whisky and set aside the glass, crouching down before the little girl.
“As ye get older, ye will understand,” he explained gently. “Grown-up folks still play and have fun, but they might nae enjoy games they once did. Things like being carried around the Keep are nae as fun, nor is carrying somebody. Life is all about change, lass. Bairns of yer age and Alaina’s change very quickly. Alaina is strugglin’ to decide who she is now, and she might nae want to play games like that.”
“Whynae?”
“Because it’s nae fun for her anymore. And ye wouldnae want to play a game with yer sister if ye weren’t both enjoyin’ it, would ye?”
Sophie frowned, taking a moment to consider. Then she shook her head.
“Nay, I would nae.”
“Of course nae, because ye are a sweet and fair wee lassie. Ye and yer sister are going to have a lot of fun together, I ken that. Ye will find new games and things to do, and in the meantime, ye can always ask one of the guards or me to carry ye around the Keep.”
“It’s nae the same,” Sophie mumbled. “I want to play withAlaina.”
“I ken, lass. But when ye get to Alaina’s age, ye will understand. Sometimes we all need a wee bit of time alone, and it doesnae mean that she doesnae love ye, or that she doesnae want to play with ye, aye?”
Sophie sniffed, clearly close to tears now. Ryder reached out, gently cupping her cheek with surprising tenderness.
“Now, now, lassie, nay tears,” he chided. “Ye arenae a bairn anymore, and I ken how clever ye are. Ye can understand, can ye nae, that Alaina might need a wee bit of space now and then?”
Sophie angrily swiped at her eyes with the back of her hand.
“Nay, I daenae! It’s nae fair.”
“Lassie, Alaina is very nearly a lady now.”
“I hate ladies!” Sophie shot back. “I hate ladies, and I hateye.”
Megan sucked in a breath, waiting to see how Ryder would respond. He sat back on his heels a little, watching his little sister intently.
Sophie sniffled some more, wiping her nose with her sleeve.
“Hate is a big word, Sophie,” he murmured, so quietly that Megan could barely hear. “Are ye sure ye want to use it?”
Sophie hung her head, avoiding his eyes.
“Nay,” she mumbled. “But it isnae fair.”
“Aye, it’s nae fair. But daenae be sayin’ that ye hate me, or yer sister, lassie. Words are powerful, and saying something ye daenae truly mean is a recipe for disaster. Ye wouldnae want to call bad luck down on our heads, would ye?”
She shook her head. “Nay, Ryder.”
“That’s me girl.”
He withdrew a crumpled handkerchief, using it to mop her cheeks. Megan decided that now was as good a time as any for her to speak up.
“I could play with ye, if ye want, Sophie.”
Sophie paused mid-cry and blinked up at Megan.
“Nae carryin’ ye around the Keep,” Megan added hastily, lest there be any confusion. “But I would love to play another game with ye. Maybe we could go and see Alaina to see if she’s in a better mood? If she is, she can play with us, and if nae, it’ll just be ye and me. What do ye think?”
