One year later
Payton stood next to Callum as they watched Robbie and Laurel arrive. “Robbie looks happy.”
“Oh, aye, he is. As happy as a pig in mud, he says. He has a fine wife, a fine son, and three foster children who would do any mon proud,” answered Callum.
“And now ye are a settled wedded mon.”
Callum grinned. “Aye. Have a son, too.”
“And five foster children, one of them a hellion of a little girl as a sister by law.”
“More fool me for thinking she would calm just because she can talk so well now.”
Payton laughed. “Aye, that one will ne’er calm. Brett should be along soon. They were almost ready to leave when we left their home. Ah, let us see what Robbie has produced.”
When Robbie introduced Laurel to Payton, she hugged him hard and kissed his cheek. She stepped back and held his hands in hers. “Thank ye, Sir Payton, for raising up such a fine mon,” she said.
“Ye did notice that he is a stubborn fellow, didnae ye?” Payton said, but Callum could see that the man was both pleased and embarrassed by her thanks.
“’Tis hard not to,” she said, and laughed.
“My son, Quentin,” Robbie said, and tickled the small child’s neck as he showed him to Payton. “Just old enough to bring him out on such a journey.”
“A fine lad. He will make a fine playmate for your son one day, Callum.”
“Aye, that he will. Go on in, Robbie. Bethoc has been eager to see Laurel.”
The moment Robbie and his family went inside, Payton said, “That is a verra beautiful woman. Must admit, at first I wondered how our Robbie got her and then I saw how well they suited each other.”
“Aye,” Callum answered as he and Payton made their way inside. “He decided he would try for her and ye ken how stubborn he can be. He also obviously has the patience of a saint. But, it worked for him. I think they will move back into her house in a year as Colin will be eighteen then and mon enough to hold the house.”
Once inside, Callum found himself swept up in the crowd of visitors. Then Brett arrived and he watched Payton and Brett fall into a deep discussion. The brothers did not see each other as often as they probably would have liked. Callum then went and joined his friends.
“So, the family gathers,” said Uven.
“Aye, new babies often bring them out. ’Tis a good excuse to make a journey and be away from what work ye need to do for a while.” Callum frowned as he watched Bethoc hitch their small son on her hip while talking to Laurel and Kirstie. “I should probably see if she wants to be relieved of the bairn.”
“She will tell ye if she does,” said Simon and he suddenly looked around. “Where is Margaret? She should be here. So much company is just what she likes.”
“Aye, ye are right.”
As Callum started to go back outside he realized his two friends were following. Just as he stepped outside he caught sight of Margaret, or what looked like it might be her. It was the muddiest child he had ever seen and it did not look as if much of the mud was being removed by the water she was trying to wash it away with.
“Margaret?” he asked as he walked up and she looked at him with wide green eyes. “What happened?”
“I was trying to get a puppy out of the mud but I fell in.”
“I dinnae think this water is helping much, sweetling. Mayhap we should just go in and get ye into a new gown.”
“Bethoc will be mad.”
“Ye didnae do it on purpose, did ye?”
“Nay. I fell and the puppy ran out and got away.”
“Then let us go and get this gown off and wash ye up.”
Keeping the child a safe distance from the rest of them, he took her inside. He then found himself holding his small son as Bethoc hurried Margaret up the stairs to change. He looked down at the boy who stared up at him solemnly with wide green eyes. Looking around he noticed his friends had quietly fled. Laurel walked up to him and smiled.
