“Ye’re all right,” Elijah heard himself saying, over and over like a prayer. “Ye’re all right, lad; I’ve got ye. Ye’re safe now.”
“I was so scared.” The words came out muffled against his shirt. “The horse just went crazy, and I couldnae hold on.”
“But ye did hold on. Ye stayed in the saddle the whole time.” Elijah’s arms tightened around his son. “That takes real courage, Codie. Real strength.”
“I daenae feel very strong. I feel like I’m goin' to be sick.”
“That’s normal after a scare like that. Just breathe.” Elijah carried him to where his stallion stood waiting, Buttercup’s reinslooped around his saddle horn. “We’re goin’ back now. Nay more ridin’ lessons today.”
“I never want to ride again.” Codie’s voice was small, defeated. “I’m nae cut out for it.”
“That’s the fear talkin’. Give it time.” Elijah swung up onto his stallion with practiced ease, settling Codie in front of him. The boy immediately curled into his chest, seeking comfort in a way he never had before. “Hold onto me. I willnae let anythin’ happen to ye.”
Small arms wrapped around his waist, clinging tight. “Promise?”
“I promise.” The words came easier than they should have. “I’ll always keep ye safe, lad. Always.”
They rode back slowly, Buttercup trailing behind on a lead rope. Codie stayed pressed against him the entire time, his breathing gradually returning to normal as the immediate terror faded. Elijah found himself acutely aware of his son’s warmth, his small weight, the trust implicit in the way he leaned into his father’s protection.
This is what I’ve been missin’. This closeness, this connection. All because I was too afraid to reach for it.
“Da?”
“Aye?”
“I’m glad ye came after me. I ken ye’re always busy with important things, but...” Codie’s voice was hesitant. “I’m glad ye were there today.”
The simple words hit harder than any accusation could have. “I’ll always come for ye, Codie. Nay matter what else is happenin’, nay matter what duties I have waitin’, if ye need me, I’ll be there.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
They crested the hill overlooking the stable yard, and Elijah could see Iris pacing by the gate, her face pale with worry. The moment she spotted them, she started running.
“Codie!” Her voice carried across the distance. “Oh, thank God!”
Elijah brought his stallion to a halt just inside the yard, and before he could dismount, Iris was there, reaching up for Codie. The boy practically threw himself into her arms, and she caught him easily, holding him tight.
“Are ye hurt? Let me see ye.” Her hands ran over Codie’s limbs, checking for injuries with the same thoroughness Elijah had used. “Does anythin’ hurt? Can ye move yer fingers? Yer toes?”
“I’m fine, Lady Iris. Just scared.” Codie’s voice was muffled against her shoulder. “Da caught me before anythin’ bad could happen.”
Iris looked up at Elijah then, and the gratitude in her eyes made his chest tight. “Thank ye,” she said quietly.
“He’s me son. Where else would I be?”
She held his gaze for a long moment, something passing between them that he couldn’t quite name. Then Codie was pulling back, looking up at her expectantly.
“Can I see it now? The amazin’ thing ye promised?”
“Codie, ye just had a terrible fright. Maybe we should do that another day.”
“Please? Ye promised if I was brave I’d get to see it, and I was brave. I got on the horse even though I was scared, and I held on the whole time she was runnin’.” His lower lip trembled slightly. “I want to see the amazin’ thing.”
Iris laughed, the sound slightly shaky but genuine. “Ye’re right. Ye were incredibly brave, and a promise is a promise.” She set him down carefully. “Stand back then. Over by yer da.”
Codie scurried to Elijah’s side, his fear apparently forgotten in his excitement. “What’s she goin’ to do?”
