In Scot Water - Caroline Lee Page 0,55

song, and Liam sat tall and healthy in his lap.

The lad’s safe. The lad isnae hurt.

The reminder didn’t help, and Malcolm’s hands shook as he reached up to pull Liam off the donkey and into his arms.

“St. Thomas’s bones, Liam!” he murmured against the lad’s hair. “We were so worried!”

“I found him trying to walk back to the croft,” Father Ambrose said jovially. “Little lad’s legs were about to give out, were they no’? Good thing I ran into him—the croft’s almost under water by now. All the animals are safe, by the by, and I’m on my way to visit Oliphant Castle as promised.”

The boy squirmed in his arms. “Ye dinnae have to lecture me.” He sounded resigned. “I already got enough of that from my grandfather.”

Grandfather? But Da wasn’t here, was he?

Incredulously, Malcolm’s gaze turned to Father Ambrose, who beamed and waggled his fingers in greeting.

“Grandfather?”

The old man shrugged. “Aye, of course. Why do ye think Evelinde calls me ‘Father Ambrose’?”

“Call me daft, but I assumed ‘twas because ye’re a bloody priest.”

Ambrose tsked. “Nae need for insults; I’m no’ bloody. Just a little sanguine.” He slapped his belly with a laugh. “Sorry, a bit of a father joke there, eh?”

Malcolm clutched the lad against his chest and stared in disbelief at the old man. “But—Evelinde never said…”

Father Ambrose leaned forward and winked. “Well, we dinnae brag about the indiscretions of our youths, eh? I haven’t always been a priest. Frankly, I just like the freedom robes offer my nether bits, and I went bald early. Seemed like an obvious solution to take holy orders and do what I could for my neighbors. Because as the Bible tells us, ask no’ what yer clan can do for ye, but what ye can do for yer clan!”

Malcolm shook his head. He had so many questions, but they could wait. For now.

He held Liam out at arms’ length. “Are ye well? Ye’re no’ hurt anywhere, are ye?”

“I’m fine,” the lad said in a small voice.

“Yer mother and I were so worried when we realized ye were gone! I’m sorry we didnae realize it sooner, but I’ll say an extra prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas for protecting ye.” He gave Liam a little shake. “What were ye thinking?” he snapped, then pulled the lad in closer and pressed a kiss to the crown of his head.

Tucked under his chin, the lad muttered. “Ye were fighting. I wanted to go home.”

Malcolm sighed. “The croft isnae safe anymore.”

“ ’Tis my home,” Liam muttered mulishly.

It was tempting to yell, to tell the lad he was wrong. But Malcolm knew, if Liam was like him, it was important for the lad to understand. So he set him on his feet and led him over to a boulder beside the road.

Pulling the boy down beside him, Malcolm took a deep breath. “What can I do to make the castle feel more like home?”

“What?”

“Yer mother and I are married now, Liam. That means her place, and yers and yer brother’s, are with me in the castle.” At least, he hoped that was how things would be, assuming she forgave him. “I want ye to be happy. So what can I do to make the castle feel like yer home?”

The lad took a moment to answer, thinking through the question, and Malcolm’s lips twitched when he realized how alike they were.

“I dinnae want to sleep on the floor.”

“Done. Would ye like yer own room?”

Part of Malcolm felt guilty, offering that suggestion without talking it over with Evelinde first. But when he saw Liam’s green eyes light with excitement, he decided it was worth it.

“Could I bring my toys with me?”

Shrugging, Malcolm said, “For certes. And ‘tis been a while since I’ve been in the nursery—I was half-grown when I came to live at the castle—but I recall there being plenty of toys which might interest a lad up there.”

“More toys?” Liam breathed, his eyes wide. “And—and could I have honey on my porridge each morning, like I did this morning?”

That was all he wanted? Such simplicity.

Malcolm remembered how overwhelming the castle had been when he and Rocque arrived, all those years ago, and berated himself for not realizing what his new son was going through.

With a sigh, he pulled Liam into his lap and wrapped his arms around the lad. “Aye, of course, son. What else?”

“I want to learn to use a sword. I want to be a warrior like ye, no’ a farmer like my real father.”

Malcolm hummed.