Page 63 of Wedded to the Twisted Highlander
“Good morning, Olivia,” Astrid greeted as Thomas stepped back and smoothed his clothes.
“That it is, and it will be even better once we go outside. The day is callin’, and we need to go,” Olivia urged, waving her hand to direct Melody out of the room.
“Aye, there are a few things that need me attention,” Thomas said, clearing his throat as his attention shifted to Astrid.
“Och, won’t ye come and see me ride? It’ll be me first time,” Melody asked as she clung to his leg.
“Is that so? Ye’ve never ridden a horse before?”
“Well…” Melody glanced at Astrid. “Nae by meself. The horses we’ve ridden were too big for me.”
“’Tis a good thing then that we have all sizes in the stables. We’ve got horses for plowin’ and ridin’, and even for prancin’ about,” Thomas said with a playful smirk.
Astrid couldn’t help but smile back as Melody took his hand and pulled him to the door.
“Does that mean ye’ll come and watch?” Melody asked.
“I can, for a bit, but I think I’d rather teach ye how to ride. Dinnae get me wrong, me sisters can ride well, but they dinnae ken how to wield horses at top speed.”
“So? Will ye join us for the ridin’ lesson?” Melody asked, her eyes widening with wonder as Astrid followed Olivia out the door.
Astrid found her heart fluttering at the idea of spending the day with Thomas. She couldn’t help but look over her shoulder to steal a glance at him and Melody. The sight of them together made her heart swell in a way she had never thought possible.
For the first time in her life, she was starting to believe that this was her home and that the Laird… that Thomas was just as kind and sincere as he promised to be.
“Nae today,” Thomas answered, much to her disappointment. “But I want to hear all about it later. Can ye do that for me? Giveme a report at the end of the day? Say, at dinner. I’ll expect ye to sit next to me then. How does that sound?”
A prick of jealousy shot through Astrid as she listened to him invite Melody but not her. The fact that they still hadn’t made up for the last dinner irked her far more than it should have. She should have been pleased that the Laird wanted anything to do with Melody at all. Yet, here she was, wishing for more.
“Wonderful!” Melody squealed as she clapped her hands together. “I’ll be the best rider ever.”
“Ye do that, and never let anyone tell ye otherwise,” Thomas said as he released Melody’s hand. “I have to get some stuff done, but I’ll see ye later?”
“Aye,” Melody said and threw her arms around his legs.
“Come along now,” Olivia prompted. “We might have all day, but I dinnae want to waste me day.”
Astrid watched as Melody took off with Olivia out the front door.
“Are ye nae goin’ wit’ them?” Thomas asked.
A yearning stirred inside Astrid like a storm on the open water.
“I am,” she answered. There was a spark in his eyes that seemed to soothe even the most turbulent waters within her.
He grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips. “Then ye should probably go if ye want to catch up to them,” he said, before planting a kiss on her knuckles. “I said ye’ll be safe, and safe ye shall be, dearest Astrid.”
Her heart felt lighter than it ever had, and her body tingled. It felt as if nothing was impossible, like all the flowers in the field bloomed just for her.
This was her sanctuary now, hers and Melody’s, a home to rest her weary bones.
“Thanks to ye, Me fearless Laird.”
21
The first rays of dawn broke over the rugged peaks and cast a golden hue over the desolate moors. Thomas glared at the fog settling on the trees, his arms folded over his chest.
The mornings were always so serene, regardless of the weather. As he warred with his restlessness, his mind drifted to Astrid. She was such a delicate creature that taunted and tormented him.
