This is such a great story of Alex and Maddie’s relationship. Readers often think of Alex as
being the perfect husband, laird, and lover, but he did have a habit of yelling a bit.
My apologies, but this is my favorite Christmas story.
Kyla’s personality comes out at a young age.
The door opened as if on cue, and Alex filled the doorway, stomping his boots just outside the door. “What will Alex agree to do?”
“Travel to Ramsay Castle for Christmas,” Logan said. “You’re all invited. You, Brodie, Robbie, and your families. Maddie tells me Robbie would stay here. Even so, with Jennie already with Brenna, you will nearly all be together.” He glanced at the large man filling the doorway, also chieftain of the clan. “Brenna’s fixing to make room for all of you while I’m gone. She’s already set Quade to building all kinds of furniture. But my brother would do anything for his new wife, as you know. He adores Brenna. Mayhap he’ll be adding a tower or two by the time I return.”
Alex removed his mantle, placing it on the peg by the door and grabbed an ale from the sideboard. “As enticing as that sounds, the Norse presence remains heavy in the Highlands, and they search for travelers to take their anger out on. I don’t suspect we’ll be going anywhere with the bairns for at least another year.”
“Year?” Maddie asked, stopping the organizing she was doing in the hall. She had moved away to begin preparations for their departure during Logan’s explanation, believing they’d likely set off tomorrow. Alex’s words shocked her. “Not for a year? Surely you do not mean that, Alex. A year is a verra long time.”
Logan snorted in agreement. “I understand your concern, Grant, but ’tis the holiday, and if I don’t bring you back, I’ll have to answer to that new ornery mistress of my castle.”
Alex set his goblet down and settled his hands on his hips. “Would that ornery mistress you refer to be my sister?”
Logan chuckled. “You know I jest. She’s verra dear to me, but ’struth is there are others asking.”
“Who?” Maddie asked, sitting in a chair near the hearth, handing a toy to Kyla, who ignored her and waddled over to her father.
“Upsy?” She stared up at him, her hands waving in the air over her head.
Alex leaned down to pick up his daughter, kissed her cheek, and said, “I’m sure I can guess. The only two Logan cannot refuse.”
Maddie gave her husband a perplexed look.
“Wise arse,” Logan replied.
“’Ise arse,” Kyla mimicked.
“Logan!”
“Mayhap she may not—”
“’Ise arse!” Kyla grinned at Maddie’s groan, wrinkling her nose as she giggled.
Logan looked chagrined and said, “Sorry, Maddie.” Then he took Kyla away from her father and swung her high into the air. “You wee trickster. You got me in trouble.”
Kyla giggled with glee, and as soon as he set her back down, Kyla looked at him and said, “’Ise arse.”
Alex barked, “Kyla, you’ll not be talking like a reiver.”
He picked her up and set her on his shoulders, one of her favorite places to be. Then he spun in a few circles, Kyla weaving back and forth in the air a bit as he moved. She laughed louder and louder, hanging onto her father’s long dark locks.
Maddie said, “Alex, be careful.”
Alex shot her a grin but dutifully set Kyla down before settling himself into a chair in front of the fire.
As soon as the wee one’s feet hit the floor, she took off toward the spot in the corner where her father kept his extra swords. Though the swords were well-protected from the bairns inside a wooden case it was still their favorite place to go, their wee fingers trying to reach through the narrow space between the slats. “Alex, I fear someday she’ll manage to reach inside there. You must find a better place to keep your weaponry, a place none of them can reach.”
“Maddie, they just need to learn not to touch them. ’Tis no’ a difficult concept to teach them.”
“Since ’tis not difficult, then I’ll settle this task on your shoulders, Alex. Please teach the bairns not to try to take your weapons all the time.”
Alex gave a low grumble as he chased after Kyla. “You wee troublemaker. Now I’m in trouble because of you.” He swung her back into the air, her feet flying over Alex’s head, and she carried on with such delight that everyone in the hall stopped towatch the interplay between the large Highlander and his wee daughter.
