Page 73 of Highland Sky

“Well, what is it, Sister? Hurry and show us,” Caitlin urged her.

“Nash, will ye help me?” asked Kellina.

“Sure,” said Nash, holding out his arms to help her dismount.

“Nay, with this.” She carefully picked up Midnight, handing the cat to Nash.

“Is that a kitten?” Jamie ran over, holding out his arms. “Can I hold it?”

“Me, too,” said Caitlin. “Och, it is so cute,” she said, beaming at the kitten as Jamie took it from Nash. “What is his name?”

“Her name is Midnight,” said Kellina, dismounting and handing the reins of her horse to a young boy who watched over the stable. “She is goin’ to help chase away rats once she is bigger.”

By now, North and Tomas had come down from the roof, hurrying over to greet them.

“Tomas, and everyone, these are Nash’s friends, Gavin and Cam,” Kellina introduced them as the men dismounted and joined them. “Oh, and these are my siblin’s, Jamie and Caitlin,” she told Nash’s friends.

“Did I hear ye say ye wanted to help thatch roofs?” North wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “Because I’d like a break.”

“No’ if I’m goin’ to get sweaty and stink like ye, I dinna want to do it.” Cam waved his hand in front of his face.

“What?” North looked so disappointed.

Cam laughed and slapped North on the back. “Can ye show me what to do? Or is yer brathair the master thatcher in these parts now?”

“Nash, a master thatcher?” North blew air from his mouth. “He’s just lucky no’ to fall when he’s on a roof. I am so much better at it than him.”

“Ye are no’,” protested Nash, never liking anyone to be better than him at anything.

“Aye, I am,” said North, standing taller and jutting his chin out in the air. It was no different than the way Nash and North competed with each other as children.

“I think I’d better go with them and watch for trouble,” Tomas told Gavin. “I dinna want anyone bein’ pushed off the roof.”

“Wait, I’ll come with ye. I’m interested to ken just how these roofs are thatched,” said Gavin.

“Do ye really plan on helpin’?” Tomas looked pleased.

“Why no’?” asked Gavin. “It couldna possibly be any harder than when I had to learn how to make shoes.”

“North, I can already see that ye dinna ken how to use the leggett,” Nash bantered with his brother, shading his eyes, looking up at the roof.

“Leggett?” asked Cam, walking with the group as they slowly moved toward the hut being repaired. “That sounds like a lass with shorter legs than the others.”

Nash swiped a hand at Cam. “No’ girls, ye fool. Dinna let Yvaine hear ye talkin’ like that.”

Cam dodged Nash’s swipe, laughing. Then he grabbed Nash’s arm and looked down at it. “What are all those scratches?” he asked, making Kellina’s heart skip a beat. “Did ye get those in bed?”

Kellina knew exactly how Nash had gotten the scratches. She gave them to him during their vigorous lovemaking last night. She held her breath, hoping Nash wouldn’t tell them. If he did, she swore she would die from embarrassment.

Nash stopped and turned around, looking back at her. “Aye, I got them in bed,” he told Cam. Kellina shook her head slightly, trying to warn him not to say anything, but it was too late now.

“Och, the cat is out of the bag now,” said North with a chuckle.

“That’s exactly right,” Nash answered. “Ye see, these scratches are from Kellina’s new kitten, Midnight. It happened when she jumped atop me in bed.”

“She did, did she?” asked Cam.

“The kitten, no’ my wife,” snapped Nash. Then Nash looked over to Kellina and winked, before turning back and heading to the hut.