Chapter Twenty-Five
Alex, the festival, and the tree…
A few days later, Alex clasped Quade’s shoulder as they headed out of Quade’s solar. Both came to a sudden stop in the middle of the Ramsay great hall.
“Where is everyone?” Alex asked, his gaze searching the empty space.
Quade’s mother came down the stairs with several plaids slung over her arm. “They are hoping to tire the weans out by spending the afternoon at the loch. Brenna is excited to show off the improvements Quade has made to try to compete with the famous Grant loch. I’ve heard much about it, though I have yet to see it. Come, walk with me. I am bringing out more plaids for the bairns for when they get out of the water. ‘Tis a lovely day.”
Alex followed Quade and his mother out the door and down the hill toward the loch. “Did it take much work to adjust your loch for the bairns to use?”
Quade took the plaids from his mother before he rolled his eyes. “Nay, not to make it as you have arranged your loch, but it took a bit more to please my wife. Aye, creating a gentle slope for the weans on one end and removing the grass was not difficult,and we were pleased to find a soft sand mixed in with the stones. But Brenna came up with a few more things she wanted. And my brothers had their own ideas.” Quade clasped his shoulder. “You’ll see what I mean. Your sister is like you in many ways. And I’m sure after you leave, she’ll have even more ideas for me.”
Alex smiled. He and the Ramsay laird had always been a wee bit competitive. He couldn’t wait to see how the Ramsay loch compared to the Grant loch. It had not been difficult at all to create a comfortable area at the opposite end of the loch from where Robbie and Caralyn lived, and the swimming spot had, in fact, become a clan favorite. Many a clan member spent the warmest days of summer out by the loch.
Quade continued as they drew near. “As you can see, my men had to build stone benches for seats, and we also put a dock out in the middle of the loch as you did. I admit the dock island is a favorite with the older bairns. But Brenna did not stop there.”
Alex noticed the edge where all the weans were splashing. “Why do you have rope across the loch?”
“Och, you’re catching on to your sister’s thinking, are you not? The rope is the limit for the wee bairns. They cannot go beyond it until they learn to swim. ‘Tis Brenna’s idea. And Molly is gifted at teaching the youngest ones how to swim.”
Alex nodded. “I suspect Maddie will be having me create the same as soon as we are home.”
A giant old oak leaned gracefully over the water in the middle of the loch. Alex stopped in his tracks and turned his head to the side. “What the devil is that?”
Quade chuckled. “I see you’ve discovered Logan’s contribution to the loch. After watching him try to toss my son and daughter from the lower branches of the big oak tree, I agreed to allow him this instead. But ‘tis all Logan’s creation. As you can see, the older ones enjoy it.”
As Alex watched, Loki grabbed the knotted rope that hung from the highest branch of the oak, pulled it back as far as it would go, then ran down the grassy slope leading to the loch, jumping up and lifting his feet to the knot at the last minute. As soon as he sailed over the water, Loki threw himself into the air and did a flip before landing in the water with a huge splash.
Alex applauded Loki’s achievement and watched as all the lassies giggled and collected around the lad as he climbed out of the water, his chest puffed out with pride.
“Do a double flip, Loki,” Torrian yelled.
Lily shouted, “Nay, do a backward flip.”
But before he could do any of those things, Logan came charging toward the tree, grabbed the rope, and ran back as far as he could, stopping at the top of the slope with a huge grin on his face. “Are you all ready? I’ll give you a challenge. This will be the biggest splash ever. Then we shall see if all you wee bairns—“ he pointed at Loki, Torrian, Lily, Ashlyn, Molly, Jake, and Jamie, who were all standing around watching, “—can beat me.”
Logan flew down the slope and launched himself into the air, letting go of the rope at the last minute to fly out over the water. Landing at an odd angle, Logan created a huge splash that spouted like a fountain, saturating those who were standing nearest to the edge of the loch. The spectators shrieked at getting wet, but all laughed and applauded when Logan climbed out.
While Alex stood to the side, Brodie came running past him from the end of the loch with a grin on his face. “I take up the challenge,” he said, grabbing the rope. “We’ll see who can make the biggest arsewhacker of all.”
Brodie did his best to beat Logan, but he did not quite make it. Micheil followed with a hoot.
Maddie ran up to Alex, who was still watching the display, and flung her arms around his waist. “Alex, is it not wonderful out here? Have you seen the swing? And look at how Quadechopped a tree down and cut off pieces to be used as seats around the loch. And we have to add a rope to our shallow section for the bairns, just as Brenna did.”
Quade chuckled just as Alex gave him a pointed look over Maddie’s head. “Ramsay, the next thing she’ll have me doing is planting an oak tree next to our loch.”
“But that would take too long, Alex,” Maddie pleaded. “I’m sure the men would be happy to transplant one from another spot. Just choose your strongest men.” She gave him a sweet smile as Quade guffawed.
Alex kissed the top of Maddie’s head just as their daughter, Eliza, tottered over, all wet, and lifted her arms. “Papa, up?”
Alex picked her up, kissed her cheek with a resounding smack, and then hoisted her up onto his shoulders.
“By the way,” Maddie said, “you know the wee lads have been waiting for you to play the tree game, Alex. I promised them ‘twould happen.” She gave her husband a hug, and Alex rubbed his thumb across her cheek.
“Did you, now? Hmmm…that could cost you later, sweeting.”
Quade said, “Alex, play a tree? I’d like to see that.”
