The Scot's Angel - Keira Montclair Page 0,8
smirked and said, “I don’t think you’d be happy if I did.”
“What does that mean?”
He finished his apple and tossed the core into the fire. “If I’m not eating, I’m coming after you.” Then he proceeded to make a show of chasing her around the hall, their playfulness putting smiles on everyone’s faces. “Run, Mama!” their eldest daughter, Sylvi, shouted.
Tora, bold as she was, waited for her mother to pass and then stepped in front of her father with her toy bow and arrow aimed at him. Derric stopped, closed his eyes, clutched his heart, and proceeded to scoop his daughter up with a growl followed by a squeal from the wee one.
“Good job, lassies,” Dyna said with a laugh. “You are outnumbered by females, Derric. You’ll never win.”
Claray watched them with a jealousy that shamed her. She was often called upon to watch over the lassies with her mother, just as Aunt Kyla watched over Alick and Branwen’s brood of three. While she adored her nieces, she wished she had a bairn of her own.
Would it be possible at her advanced age? First, she had to find herself a husband.
Mama shook her head at their antics and continued her work. “Claray and Thorn, come help me hang this strand of boughs and pinecones over the door, where everyone in the keep can see it.”
Someone had already fetched the ladders, and Papa settled it into place, then said, “I’ll guard the door so no one will topple you.” He pointed to her cousin who was across the room. “Alick, hold the base of the ladder for a moment, please.” Then he crossed his arms and leaned his long frame against the door while Sela climbed up.
Aunt Kyla set the other one up on the other end of the room, and before she could move to climb it, Dyna chased up the other ladder in her place. Derric handed the strand of evergreens up to them so both women could grab the ends and tie them to the hooks hanging from the ceiling. They left them in place each year for next year’s decorations. Thorn moved over to hold Dyna’s ladder.
Claray couldn’t help but get teary-eyed as she stepped forward to hand Dyna another clump of ribbons to attach to the strand. “Grandpapa said that Grandmama was the first one to ask for the hooks. He and Uncle Robbie designed them for her so it could easily be redone each year.”
And now they were all gone. Gone but not forgotten.
Aunt Kyla said, “And you can be sure that Grandmama is watching us from up above.” She made a quick point to the sky. “But she is happier this year because she has Papa with her now.”
Her comment was so similar to what Claray herself had been thinking, she felt a wave of comfort.
Aunt Gracie came down and joined Maryell and Merelda, who stood off to the side filling baskets with Chrissa. “I’m here to help with the candles. Everything must be perfect because Uncle Brodie and Aunt Celestina have promised to come with Braden and Cairstine this year. I cannot wait to see Roddy and Rose and all their bairns. I think they’ll make the journey with Braden. My guess is Daniel and Constance will be here, too. We must pray for good weather so they can all arrive safely.” Then she sighed. “Uncle Brodie reminds me of Papa. I hope they come.”
Aunt Kyla said, “I feel the same. He looks like Papa. Aunt Brenna looks like Aunt Jennie and Uncle Brodie looks like Papa. Uncle Robbie was a blend of all.”
Maeve came flying into the hall from the kitchens, her preferred location because she loved to bake sweet treats for the holidays. “Did I hear Daniel’s name?”
Claray held her giggle inside, then leaned over to explain to Thorn. “Maeve has always had a crush on Daniel.”
Thorn glanced back at her and asked, “Why? He’s married and so is she.”
Claray smiled. “No one knows, and honestly, no one cares. We always smile about it, even Constance. Even her husband thinks ’tis amusing because it started when she was so young.”
The group continued decorating the keep with bows, ribbons, and candles. Pine boughs and baskets decorated every table. They’d made good progress by the time Loki opened the door and poked his head in. “Connor, we finished fixing the stables. We’ve been working so long, I’m ready to quit, but we can do one more. If you want that cottage fixed, I