“Oi, lassie and laddie, where are ye goin’?” Caden stood in the Great Hall, holding up the skates by their strings.
Nathan’s face lit up like the sun. “W-w-will ye come t-t-too?” He looked up expectantly at him.
“Aye, lad.” Caden gave a soft smile.
Ava’s heart cracked. She was not sure how to feel about anything, but she knew she enjoyed seeing the two of them get along.
Caden looked at her and nodded once, before leading them out the door. Outside sat a sleigh with two horses at the reins.
“Yay!” Nathan shouted, hopping up and down.
It was a beautiful sleigh, filled with blankets and cushions. On the bench sat a basket filled with food and drinks.
“I wasnae sure how long we’d be gone, so I asked Teresa to make us a basket for lunch.” Caden held out an arm to assist Ava into the sleigh.
His hand was warm and firm, and images of it trailing down her body flashed through her mind.
She quickly let go of his hand and took a seat. Caden paused, but then picked up the boy and lowered him into the sleigh. He sat and pulled Nathan into his lap, showing him how to hold the reins. Ava draped a small blanket over Nathan’s shoulders and another over her own.
“Like this, see?” Caden adjusted his tiny mittened fingers.
Nathan nodded excitedly.
“All right. Hold on, laddie.” With a flick of his wrist, Caden snapped the reins, and they were off.
The snowy landscape was stunning. Each house along the road to the loch was covered in perfectly white snow. Rolling fields blurred past, and the frozen loch glimmered in the distance, growing larger as they approached. The cold wind nipped at Ava’s cheeks, and she covered her face with her gloved hands.
In one smooth motion, Caden shifted Nathan to the other leg and wrapped an arm around Ava, pulling her closer. She hated that his warmth was comforting, but she was not willing toface the cold again. The fuzzy blanket enveloped her face and hopefully hid her blush.
As they rode toward the loch, Caden pointed out different animals and plants to Nathan, including an ancient yew tree that resembled the one in the courtyard.
Then the lake came to view.
“Did ye ken the loch borders with MacAinsley clan? T’is part of a sacred piece of land. We might even see fairies, but even if we daenae, we must be gentle and kind to any living creature or tree we meet there, because they can always see us.”
Ava found this sweet. Nathan listened carefully and nodded with everything he had. Of course, he’d be nice anyway, her perfect little lad, but it was cute to see him so determined to be so.
Once they arrived at the loch, Ava hated that she still enjoyed being pressed to Caden so tightly. As he placed Nathan on the bench next to her, she almost bemoaned the loss of his warmth. He pulled the little skates on the boy’s feet and tied them expertly. Then, he did the same to her.
Air rushed from her lungs when he touched her stockinged feet. The pounding in her head eased a bit as he gently rubbed her feet to warm them, before sliding them into the skates.
What are ye doing to me, husband?
Dark brown eyes met her green ones, and he held out a hand to assist her out of the sleigh. Nathan reached out his hand to her, and together they stepped onto the frozen loch.
Ava had expected Caden to put on his own skates, but he merely stood there, watching them.
“Are ye nae ye coming?” she called out.
He shook his head and went to check on the horses.
Ava still looked at him.
Nathan tugged on Ava’s hand, and they wobbled their way across the loch. Ava showed him how to stop and turn. Nervous at first, he moved very slowly, all while holding firmly onto her hand.
It tore Caden up to stay behind, but he could not trust himself with Ava. Not after what happened last night.
The pair laughed and slid here and there, making their way around the ice.
