Lachlan saw her drawn face and crossed the room in three long strides. He held out his arms, and she went to him quickly, letting her guard drop.
“It will be all right, love,” he whispered. “I will keep ye safe.”
“And what if something should happen to ye? Who will keep ye safe?”
He smiled against her hair and held her tighter.
“I think ye have already proven yerself more than capable of that task.”
“I will help ye, too, Aila.”
Aila picked her head up just in time to see Arran come out from behind one of the heavy curtains. How they had missed his boots sticking out from under the fabric, she didn’t know. Lachlan shifted her until she was tucked into his side and they were both facing Arran.
“How long have ye been there, lad?” he asked the boy sternly.
“Long enough to ken that I am going with ye.”
Arran crossed his arms over his chest, his face the mirror image of Lachlan’s stubbornness. It was everything she could do to stop from laughing.
“Listen to me, lad,” Lachlan reprimanded. “This is a room ye are never to sneak into, never to eavesdrop on. The things discussed in this room are nae for a young lad’s ears. Do ye understand me?”
Arran nodded once, bristling with anger.
“If I catch ye again, ye will be in serious trouble.”
Aila had never seen Lachlan be so firm with Arran, though she understood his words were warranted. As soon as Arran nodded his understanding, Lachlan’s arms fell to his side, his parental frustration dissipated.
“Arran—”
“I am well enough to travel! Mary said so,” Arran argued before Lachlan could stop him.
Aila unwrapped herself from Lachlan and crouched to Arran’s level.
“Did ye hear the entire meeting, Arran?” she asked softly.
He nodded with a guilty expression. His eyes darted to the floor and stayed there. She looked up briefly at Lachlan to see a mix of worry and frustration on his face.
“Then ye understand just how dangerous this journey will be. There are still many bad men who want yer Uncle Loch, and we must do everything we can to keep them from getting him. We cannae do that if we have to worry about ye too.”
“Dinnae fash, Aila. I can ride just as well as he can. Ye will nae have to slow down for me.”
She felt Lachlan sigh behind her. He rubbed a tired hand over his eyes, silently chiding Saun for teaching his son how to ride so well.
“I want to go with ye,” Arran pleaded. “Please, dinnae leave me behind again.”
Aila couldn’t ignore the desperation in Arran’s eyes. He had been left alone with his family, left to fend for himself, then left by Lachlan to recover with only the aid of strangers. She hadfelt the same longing for a family, to be a part of a unit. That is what had drawn her to Sorcha and Taryn, that feeling was what pushed her to bring Taryn home safely. She wasn’t going to deny the boy the same thing she was trying to protect.
“I suppose the guards and bounty hunters will be looking for a lone man. They will nae expect to see a man with his wife and son,” Aila said softly, looking up at Lachlan. “It will be as good of a ruse as any we could come up with.”
Lachlan watched her only for a moment before he knelt in front of Arran, giving them both a small smile.
“I will nae be pretending to be traveling with my family. We really are one.”
Arran’s smile was infectious, as was his joy at having won over Lachlan.
“Go pack yer things. We leave soon.”
