“Speaking of idiots,” Wolf drawled as they approached Cam, who was bobbing for apples.
“Your lips are turning blue. Nothing would force me to plunge my face into that ice-cold water. I believe, cousin, you are quite mad,” Kate said.
“I wanted an apple.”
“Come, Rose, we will leave this fool in case his stupidity is catching. I will get you something warm and a place to sit.”
Rose sighed. Beautiful with her red-gold hair and pale skin, she had a gentle Scottish burr that made Kate smile.
“We have covered this many times, Wolf. I am pregnant, not sick. Now stop being a large eejit, and understand that I am neither an invalid nor an imbecile. I know my limitations.”
“Yes, love,” Wolf said with an attempt at meekness. No one bought it.
“But I would like something warm to eat and a place to sit, as I am weary.”
They were still arguing as they walked away.
“I was like that with Emily, and find I am no different with Beth. Who is at present over there attempting to charm her uncle out of his money so she can have the fudge her mother and I said she couldn’t.”
As one they looked at Cam’s daughter. She would be tall like him but had her mother’s fair coloring. The little girl was waving her arms about as she talked to Warwick. The boy was growing into a man, and he was bent at the waist listening to what Beth, now two, was telling him.
“She talks like you do.”
“Aye.” Cam smiled, and it was soft and filled with love. “With her entire body.”
Water dripped off his chin as he inhaled a large breath, then plunged his face back into the barrel filled with frigid liquid. While he froze his extremities, she looked around once more.
Would Rory come? She’d not seen him in two days and told herself constantly that she was glad about that. The man was too much of everything for her, and yet she couldn’t help longing for him.
“Still no luck?” Cam had come up for air. He shook his head, inhaled, and bobbed once more.
She’d come to love Crunston Cliff, and most of that love came from the people. Located near the cliffs, perched above a wild and unforgiving sea, the village was filled with hearty folk of weathered complexions and a belief they were just a touch above those born outside its borders.
“Harrumph.”
“Pardon?”
Cam now had an apple in his mouth. He took a large bite and smiled at her.
“Your face is numb, isn’t it?”
He took the cloth the lady manning the apple bobbing handed him and rubbed it briskly.
“Not at all, it was bracing.” She watched as he quickly stuffed his arms back into his overcoat and then wrapped his scarf around his face.
“Of course it was.”
“I am a local, Kate. It is expected of us, and we have been participating in these events since we were in short pants. More so as this year James is holding the event. This is the first time the fair has been on Raven grounds. The old Duke was a right bastard and hated pretty much everyone. He’d be turning in his grave about now, is my guess.”
“Most fairs are in spring or summer.”
“She’s not from these parts, is my guess,” the woman running the apple bobbing said as she shook out the drying cloth, then handed it back to Cam. “You’ll want to dry your hair.”
“No indeed, but she is family, therefore we tolerate her, Mrs. Crabb.” He gave her a pitying look, then rubbed the cloth over his hair.
“Ah well, we can’t all be so blessed,” the woman said.
Laughing, Cam replaced his hat before grabbing Kate’s hand. He then swung it several times.
