This woman would be good for Esther. More than good. She’d be exactly what his niece needed. And if Noah felt a strange pull toward Ava himself, well... that was just gratitude. Nothing more.
“I need to go speak with me landlord,” Ava announced finally, brushing dirt from her skirts. “Let him ken I’m leavin’.”
“Where does he live?” Noah asked.
“Just on the edge of the village. Why?”
“I’ll take care of it.” Noah made the decision quickly. “Ye need to give Esther a bath. She’s covered in mud.”
He wasn’t wrong. Esther looked like she’d been rolling in a pig sty, her dress filthy and her hair matted with what appeared to be a mixture of dirt and something sticky.
“I can talk to me landlord meself,” Ava protested. “I’ve been dealin’ with him for years.”
“And how does he treat ye?”
Ava’s hesitation told him everything he needed to know.
“That’s what I thought.” Noah crossed his arms. “Just point me in the right direction. I’ll handle it.”
“He’s goin’ to try to charge me for leavin’ early. The lease runs another two months, and he’ll want it.”
“I’ll pay whatever’s owed and nae a penny more.” Noah’s voice was firm. “Now go. Take Esther back to yer cottage and get her cleaned up. I’ll meet ye there.”
Ava looked like she wanted to argue, but Esther chose that moment to run up to them, breathless and beaming. “Ava! Did ye see me playin’? I was... I was the fastest!”
“I saw, sweetheart. Ye were brilliant.” Ava’s expression softened completely. “But look at ye, ye’re absolutely filthy. We need to get ye home and into a bath.”
“Do I have to?” Esther’s face fell.
“Aye, ye do. But I’ll tell ye a story while ye bathe. How does that sound?”
Esther’s smile returned. “A good story?”
“The best story.” Ava held out her hand, and Esther took it without hesitation. “Say goodbye to yer uncle. He has some business to attend to.”
“Bye, Uncle Noah!” Esther waved enthusiastically.
“Bye, lass.” Noah watched them head toward the door, then called out, “Miss Harris?”
Ava turned back, one eyebrow raised in question.
“The landlord’s name and direction?”
She sighed, recognizing defeat. “Gordon MacTavish. Big stone house on the north edge, has a green door. And Noah?” She paused. “Try nae to terrify him too much. I will still live in this village... for another day at least.”
“I’ll be the picture of courtesy,” Noah promised.
Ava snorted. “Somehow I doubt that.”
But she was smiling as she left, and Noah found himself smiling back.
Finding Gordon MacTavish’s house was easy enough—it was exactly where Ava had mentioned, a well-kept stone building that looked much nicer than most of the village homes. The man clearly had wealth.
Which made Noah wonder why Ava’s cottage was in such poor repair.
He knocked on the green door, and a portly man with thinning hair answered, his expression changing from annoyed to alarmed when he saw who was standing on his doorstep.
“Me Laird! I... What can I... Is there a problem?”
