She laughed softly, steadying the cup before it toppled. “Och, that must’ve been a grand sight. Did he shoot it right away?”
“Nay!” Codie’s eyes grew wide. “He waited until the wind changed, else the beast would’ve scented him and bolted. Then he aimed his bow and—” Codie clapped his hands together with a loud crack that startled the people at the nearest table. “Down it went with one shot!”
“Three days of stalkin’ and only one arrow?” she asked, clearly impressed.
“Aye!” Codie said proudly. “Hamish says it was the bravest hunt in all the clan’s history.”
“It sounds great.” She gave him a warm smile.
Codie continued, oblivious to the tightness in the air. “And Hamish says the meat from that stag fed the village through the winter, else half of them might’ve starved.”
Her smile softened further. “Then Hamish’s great-grandfather saved lives that winter. That makes the story even grander.”
Codie nodded so hard his curls bounced. “That’s what I said! He’s a hero, aye?”
“Aye,” she agreed. “A true hero.”
She saw Elijah sit back in his chair, letting Codie’s excited voice wash over him. It seemed to be the first time he saw his son talking this freely in public.
“Can we go see the puppet show now?”
“Of course,” she said immediately, grateful for the distraction. “That sounds wonderful.”
As they gathered their things and prepared to leave the tavern, Iris found herself determinedly avoiding Elijah’s gaze. She was still stung by his comment, still confused by his amusement at her anger. But more than that, she was embarrassed by her own behavior.
They made their way through the festival crowds toward the puppet show, Codie chattering excitedly between them while Iris maintained a careful distance from her husband. She responded to Codie’s questions and observations but directed not a single word toward Elijah.
“Look, there’s the puppet stage!” Codie pointed excitedly at a small wooden theater set up in the village square.
“Aye, I see it,” Iris replied warmly. “What do ye think the story will be about?”
“Knights and dragons, maybe? Or pirates and treasure?”
“Could be neither. We’ll have to wait and see.”
As they found spots to stand and watch the performance, Elijah moved closer to her side. She could feel the warmth radiating from his large frame, could smell the familiar scent of leather and something uniquely masculine that always made her pulse quicken despite herself.
“Iris,” he said quietly, his voice pitched low so only she could hear.
She kept her eyes fixed firmly on the puppet stage where the performers were setting up their show. “What?”
“About what I said in the tavern.”
“I daenae wish to discuss it.” Her voice was cool, polite, and completely closed off.
“But ye misunderstood it.”
“Did I? Because I heard ye quite clearly.” She still didn’t look at him. “Now hush, the show is startin’.”
She stood with Codie at the puppet show, laughing at the antics and clapping when the carved figures tumbled about.
“Oh, look at him go!” she cried as the wooden fox chased the rooster across the tiny stage.
Codie giggled so hard he had to clutch her skirts to keep from toppling over. “That fox is daft! He’ll never catch it!”
“Then he’ll have to try harder, will he nae?” Iris grinned, giving Codie’s curls an affectionate ruffle.
When the show ended, a young woman approached, eyeing Iris’ gown with open admiration. “Me lady, that’s the finest dress I’ve ever seen,” she said, her voice full of awe.
