Page 60 of Highland Sword
How could he refuse a child this adorable? The sad, serious face. The deep sigh. Quite dramatic. One would think her life depended on her having an apple at this very moment.
“A very reasonable request. Though we must consider whether dunking our heads into a barrel of water for an apple is a goodfirstchoice of activities.” Still on his knee, he turned to Catriona. “And why do you think we should go to the bonfire first and not second?”
“Because it’s warm now. It’ll be cold later.”
“So we should go the bonfire while it’s warm?” He knew a troublesome witness when he saw one.
Catriona put her hand to her mouth and whispered, “We need to gonow,or we won’tseethem.”
He suddenly realized where this might be going, but he had to ask. “See whom?”
Catriona lifted her head and spoke to Morrigan. “Youdon’t get naked when it gets cold, do you?”
“I… what?” Morrigan sputtered, seemingly lost for words.
Aidan looked up as well, interested in her answer. He was quite happy he’d followed this line of questioning.
“Auld Jean says this is the night when women take off their clothes and dance naked around the bonfire.” She lowered her voice and whispered to Aidan, “Youcan’t dance with her, though.”
“No?” He put on his most disheartened look.
Catriona shook her head. “But if we go now, you can watch from the trees. Like Tam o Shambler.”
God bless Robbie Burns, Aidan thought, slowly pushing to his feet. He was definitely in favor of going to thebonfire first. “Clearly, I’m bound for that line of trees. What do you say, Miss Grant?”
Morrigan had nothing to say, but the glare he was receiving said plenty.
No final decision by him needed to be made, however, for at that moment, the children shrieked with pleasure.
“Look, Old Napoleon is here.” Catriona broke free.
“Fetch your weapon,” the older girl shouted, running after her sister.
He glanced at Morrigan and saw her glare had softened into a smile.
Old Napoleon, the object of the girls’ excitement, turned out to be their Uncle Niall, who was coming across the market square with Maisie. Campbell caught and lifted them, one in each arm, and their giggles rang out.
“It’s an old game. They play Waterloo,” Morrigan explained, coming to stand beside him. “Niall is Old Napoleon, and the girls get to kill him. Of course he comes back to life in time for the next battle.”
“Leave it to the former lieutenant to play war games with children.”
“And what kind of game will you play with your children?” she teased, her eyes dancing mischievously.
“I’ll read to them.”
“I agree books are excellent, but that won’t fill all their free time.”
“Said by the woman who pulls offThe Kinkvervankotsdarsprakengotchderns Anecdoteoff the shelf.”
Her eyes rounded. “I can’t believe you remember that name.”
“Or was it theKinkerpachydermsprackens?”
“That’s more like it. You’re fallible after all. You don’t remember everything.” She patted him on the arm. “Something else. Parents need alternative battle plans.”
“I’ll teach them to develop an effective argument.”
“You’ll be sorry for that. They’ll soon strip you of your authority.” She motioned toward Niall. He was on one knee, and the girls were trying to climb him like a castle wall. “Children also need physical exercise.”
