“Aye,ye do. Because ye’re one of the bravest lads I ken. Ye climbed all the way up that tree by yerself, didn’t ye?”
“Aye, but I got stuck.”
“Aye,but ye can climb down too. With yer da’s help. He willnae let ye fall. Ye ken that, aye?”
Another pause.Then, so quietly Piper almost didn’t hear it, he said, “Aye.”
“So what do ye say?Will ye trust him?”
Connor’s gripon Elijah loosened slightly. “Da? Ye promise ye willnae let me fall?”
“I promise, lad.”Elijah’s voice was thick with emotion. “I’ve got ye. I’ll always have ye.”
Slowly,carefully, Connor adjusted his position.
Elijah talked him through it—whereto put his hands, where to put his feet, how to move with him instead of against him. It took several minutes, but finally they were both safely on the ground.
The moment Connor’sfeet touched earth, he was clinging to Elijah again, this time with tears streaming down his face.
“I’m sorry,”Connor sobbed. “I’m sorry, Da. I wasnae supposed to climb the tree, and I got stuck, and I was so scared.”
“Hush, lad.”Elijah’s arms came around Connor, holding him close. “Ye’re safe now. That’s all that matters.”
Piper felther throat tighten at the sight. This was what she’d been trying to tell Elijah, this connection, this comfort. This was what his children needed.
Masie stood beside Piper,watching her father and brother with an expression Piper couldn’t quite read. Longing, maybe. Or grief for something she’d never had.
After a few moments,Elijah looked up at Piper. Their eyes met, and something passed between them—acknowledgment, maybe. Or gratitude.
“Thank ye,”Elijah said quietly. “For… for that. Whatever ye said that got through to him.”
“I just remindedhim that he’s brave,” Piper said. “And that he can trust ye.”
Elijah’s jaw tightened,but he nodded. Then he stood, keeping Connor held against his chest. The boy showed no signs of wanting to be put down.
“I should…”Elijah started, then stopped. “I should take him back to the castle. Make sure he’s all right.”
“Of course.”
Elijah turned to leave,then paused. “Piper?”
“Aye?”
“Ye were right.About what ye said the other day. In me study.”
Before Piper could respond,he was walking away, carrying Connor toward the castle. Masie trailed after them, leaving Piper standing alone by the old apple tree.
The restof the day passed in a strange blur. Lunch came and went—Elijah ate with the children. He actually sat with them and asked about their morning.
Afternoon lessons were subdued,with Connor still shaken from his ordeal and Masie lost in her own thoughts.
By evening,Piper’s mind was spinning. The incident with the tree. Elijah’s words,ye were right. The way he’d held Connor, so carefully, so protectively.
Maybe he was trying.Maybe he could change.
She was so lostin thought that she didn’t notice where she was walking until she nearly collided with someone in the corridor.
“I’m sorry, I—”Piper looked up and felt her words die.
