For what seemed like the umpteenth time, the little boy trudged through the snow to the patch of ice, where he stamped his feet and held out his hand for her to take. Ava held his little mittened hand, and he walked bravely onto the ice. His feet slipped, and she broke his fall, helping him land gently on his bottom. A giggle burst out of him, and before she knew it, she was on the ground, giggling next to him.
The afternoon air was crisp, but the bite to it made her feel alive. Warmth spread through her body, and she did not mind so much that her nose stung from the cold. She could not count their footprints in the snow from all the fun they had had. She wished she could remember this moment forever.
Nathan’s blue eyes glinted almost silver in the sunlight that peeked through the clouds. His pearly white baby teeth matchedthe snow around them. Bits of snow had melted into his ear-length brown hair and made it stick up in all directions. He looked like a little wildling. He reminded Ava so much of herself that she did not know if she should laugh or cry.
He took her hand again, and together they slipped on the ice. He collapsed onto her stomach as she crashed into the snow, and they both burst into giggles.
The sound of boots crunching in the snow came from behind them. Then a shadow fell over them, and Ava looked up to see Caden’s frowning above her upside down.
“What are ye doing?” he barked, instantly ruining the peace and joy of the moment.
The birds stopped chittering in the trees. All that could be heard was their breathing.
Little white clouds formed above Ava’s face as she let out a laugh to ease the tension.
“We’re slipping on the ice. Care to join us?”
“Do I look like I want to join ye?” he shouted. “How could ye be so irresponsible, letting him fall down so many times? He could get hurt!”
Ava sat up, with Nathan still in her arms. She could not argue with her husband while lying on the ground.
“I’m right here. I would never let him get hurt!”
She set Nathan on his feet and stood, brushing the snow from her skirts. The boy immediately hid behind her.
“He’s me heir; he must be protected at all costs! Do ye nae understand that? Is that they way ye’re going to raise him?” Caden scolded.
“Nathan is just enjoying the world! Like all of us should, if ye ask me!” Anger flared hot in her chest.
How dare he speak to her that way?
“I didnae ask ye,” he ground out.
“Actually,” she held up a finger, “ye did. When ye asked me to be his maither.”
She planted one hand on her hip and the other on Nathan’s shoulder to reassure him.
I willnae let this brute terrify the boy. Ye asked me to protect the lad, husband, and that’s what I will do. I will protect him even from ye.
“So…” Caden tilted his head, studying her. “Did ye want to escape marriage so ye can run outside like a toddler?”
Ava tossed her head, shocked. “Nay! I just wanted to be free.” She looked at him like he had decided to walk around without his head just for the fun of it. “Ye promised me freedom, remember?”
“Aye, but I didnae promise ye could do whatever ye wanted with Nathan.”
“Well, this is certainly nae freedom, me Laird. Nathan needs to be free to play, at the very least. A bairn’s got to run around and be wild. Didnae ye ever have fun, husband?”
“This is a ridiculous conversation,” Caden snarled. “We arenae here to talk about me! We’re talking about ye putting Nathan at risk!”
“Risk? He was just playing in the snow, what sort of risk is that!” Ava shot back.
Nathan cried out and clamped his little mittened hands over his ears. Ava instantly regretted yelling. A little child like Nathan should not be exposed to such tension and loud noises.
“Nathan, I—” She made to reach for him, but he stuck his thumb in his mouth and ran back to the castle, tears streaming down his red face.
She turned to glare at her brute of a husband, who was starting to resemble a giant snowman as the snow fell on his hair and shoulders.
“Happy now,me Laird?” she hissed.
