finished the simple task, Taffy was already at the door, peering down the hall to make certain no one was skulking in the shadows.
It did not sit well with him that she was the one to take the lead and therefor all the risk. He’d been raised to protect the weaker sex, although if anyone could blast to bits the notion of women being weaker, it would be Taffy.
They walked to the stairs and she suddenly stopped to turn the boy around. “This question will earn you three more points, Master Rafe.”
The boy was eager to hear it.
She walked him up two steps then turned him so he faced downward again. When they stepped back down to where Gavin had remained watching them and wondering what she was doing, she pointed in the direction of the dining room. “Here’s the first part, for one of those points. How many doors down is the dining room where you just ate your breakfast?”
“Four! That’s easy. We just came from there.”
“Excellent. Now, if I tell you the library is two doors in that direction, show me where you’d go. But don’t go in. Wait for me to go in first.”
“Why?”
Gavin responded before Taffy could. “It is what a gentleman does. Ladies first.”
His son accepted the explanation without comment. He turned and counted out loud when passing the first door. “One!” Then he reached the second door. “Two.”
“You are the cleverest boy I have ever met,” Taffy declared, giving his shoulders a little squeeze as she set him behind her and peered in. “Wait right beside your father until I call you, Master Rafe.”
He nodded.
Gavin took the boy’s hand on the chance he thought to dart in after Taffy. His heart tugged when the lad looked up at him and graced him with an innocent smile. “My beautiful son,” he murmured before turning his attention back to the library and peeking in to make certain no harm had come to her.
“Papa! Taffy told us to wait outside.” The boy was horrified and probably worried about losing his points for his father disobeying.
“I am outside, lad. I merely wanted to be sure Taffy had not called us yet.”
The boy eyed him dubiously.
“You may come in now,” she said before his own son had the chance to give him a dressing down for ignoring her command.
Rafe rushed to her. “I got it right! This is the library!”
“Ten points, Master Rafe! Well done!” She took his hand and led him around the stacks. “Do you know what that earns you?”
Gavin bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud. Rafe was so excited about acquiring his ten points, yet the innocent lad had no idea what those ten points would earn him. He was simply delighted to be winning those magical points.
Taffy took the boy firmly but gently by the shoulders. “It earns you many prizes and you get to choose. One point for a hug from your father. So, if you want three hugs, then that’s worth three points. One point for a kiss from your father. So if you want five kisses from him then how many points is that worth?”
The boy looked confused.
“Hold up all your ten fingers,” Taffy said and the boy obeyed. “Now, take away five fingers.”
The boy dropped one hand.
“How many are left, Master Rafe?”
“Five.”
“Exactly. So if a kiss from your father is worth one point. And a hug from your father is worth one point. And one point for an apple tart. One point for lemon cake. Two points for gingerbread because that’s my favorite.” She held out her ten fingers. “How would you like to use your points? And you don’t have to use them up all at once.”
He furrowed his little brow, looking quite perplexed.
Gavin tucked a finger under his chin. “What’s wrong, lad?”
His chin wobbled and he looked as though he was about to cry. “What if I want to hug Taffy?”
She was obviously surprised by the remark. “Oh, Master Rafe. Those hugs are free. My kisses, too. They do not use up any of your points.”
He perked at once. “Then I don’t have to bother with my father. I can hug and kiss you all I want and still have all my points for cakes and tarts.”
Gavin burst out laughing, especially finding the look of shock on Taffy’s face hilarious. “Lass, ye’ve just been outsmarted by a five year old.”
CHAPTER SIX
AS THE DAY wore on, Gavin realized what Taffy had been doing all