Page 17 of Saved by the Cruel Highlander (Lairds of the Loch Alliance #1)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“ W hat are we doin’ back here?” Holly asked.

She took in her familiar surroundings, and even though it had not been all that long since she had been in the village, it felt like a lifetime ago.

Cole stood beside Elias, standing straight and mimicking some of his movements.

“I ken that I sometimes dinnae treat the people around me with the respect they deserve, so I wanted to… apologize for me tone the other day, and I thought we could take a walk in the village.”

Cole rolled his shoulders back a little, and it was amusing for Holly to see the young lad try to act like a grown-up when he was only eight years old. She looked from the child to Elias and saw something more in his eyes.

Have ye come here because ye think his parents might be in the village? Do ye mean to take him from me?

She could not claim the boy, but she had grown to like him. And the way he mimicked Elias was interesting. As was the way Elias tolerated the boy, when he tolerated very few.

“Why did ye really bring us here?” Holly asked, suspicious.

If the Laird saw the people staring at him from behind market stalls or as they passed, he showed no signs of it. They were far enough from the castle that he would not be known as well in these parts, but he had a long scar on his face, so people must know who he was.

He stepped closer to her, away from the boy, and her fears were confirmed—he wanted to say it, so the boy couldn’t hear it. He would find his parents, then what? He’d punish them or give the boy back?

A clean smell came from the Laird. He had bathed before coming out with them that day, and Holly appreciated the effort. Atop that was a strong sandalwood musk, simple and elegant.

“I, uh…” he started. He had never had trouble saying anything before, but he faltered now. “I ken this is where ye used to come with yer faither, and I thought to make up for the beastly way I threw ye around me room the other day, I could buy ye new clothes, jewelry, and mayhap some new ribbons for yer hair.”

“Och!”

Holly couldn’t help the tears streaming down her face. She pulled out her handkerchief quickly and wiped them before anyone saw. Few people were looking at her when the Beastly Laird was in their presence.

“That is what yer faither used to do, is it nae?” Elias asked.

“Aye,” Holly said with some confusion. She tried to make sense of it all. “Ye brought me back here to buy me things and ribbons?”

“Do ye nae want that?” Elias asked.

Holly moved as if to embrace him but then quickly stopped herself. “Aye, I do want that. I want that very much.”

She looked at the man before her, not recognizing him.

How could someone so fierce and angry be so compassionate and kind? She didn’t know quite how to react. It was not only that he was doing something kind for her, but that he had remembered what she had told him and he had stored that information away to use it later.

Holly leaned close to him this time so Cole wouldn’t overhear. “I really didnae mind the way ye treated me in yer room. In fact, I might have liked it.”

Elias smirked for a second before his expression turned stoic again. “Aye, is that a fact? Then maybe we need to do it again.”

He stepped away from Holly before she could respond to that, and she felt herself blush in the middle of the marketplace.

Elias tussled Cole’s hair—an action he had repeated many times since the lunch they shared. “And we can get somethin’ for the lad, too.”

Cole looked over at Holly and beamed before quickly wiping the smile from his face to better mimic the Laird.

“Where to, first?” Holly asked.

“To the merchant that sells ribbons,” Elias said. “I want to make good on me apology and buy them now. After that, ye can go get fitted for some clothes as the castle’s seamstress isnae done with our order yet, and I’ll have a pint at the tavern. Does that sound fine?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Holly agreed.

Buying ribbons was a more emotional process than she had expected. She chose some of her favorite colors, along with some nicer ones that might do for her wedding day. Elias gave the shopkeeper some coins and received the wrapped ribbons in return. When he handed them to Holly, she almost broke down in tears again.

She saved them for later. She didn’t need to become a blubbering mess in front of Elias and Cole when they were out together to enjoy themselves. So much emotion whirled inside her. It was not only sadness at remembering what happened to her father; it was also the memory of her father’s final act of love and protection as he gave his life to save her from a life of servitude and violence.

She admired her father, and that admiration was transferred over to Elias as he bought her ribbons.

She moved a little closer to him enough to inhale his musky scent. “Thank ye.”

“Ye’re welcome,” he replied. “Will ye come and find me in the tavern when ye are done?”

“Aye,” Holly said warmly.

She watched him go and then took Cole by the hand. “Come on, ye wee scamp. Let’s find ye some sweets.”

Cole jumped up and down, and he held onto her hand. She had caught him a few times over the past week looking sad, and she knew the reason why. Still, he had not once asked about his parents since they had found him, as if it would become real once he did. She knew that he knew that he would never see them again, even if none of them said anything.

The gentle breeze carried the smells of the market. There were definitely animals somewhere, hidden away from the main stalls, but the stench of them was unmistakable. The smell of fresh bread did a good job of overpowering it, and something sweet tickled Holly’s senses. Rich peat smoke was in there somewhere, and damp wool.

They walked between the stalls. Stout women with large arms expertly gutted and filleted fish. Large men with forearms as thick as tree trunks brought hammers down on anvils to sheet metal. A small, sly man hollered about fabrics brought from overseas. Merchants called out to customers, and they bartered in return. A young boy running through the market with a basket of apples almost collided with them.

“A small bag of those,” Holly said, pointing to small balls that looked sugary.

The man smiled and exchanged the sweets for some coins. Holly took one of the sweets from the bag and popped it in her mouth before handing the bag to Cole, whose eyes were as wide as saucers. She rolled the hard sweet around in her mouth, the sweetness complemented by hints of aniseed.

She found some merchants selling clothes and bought some that fit her well, but more would be sewn after taking her measurements. She bought new clothes for the boy and almost cried when she saw the look in his eyes. He touched the clothes he wore as if they were precious treasures.

When they were done, they went to the tavern to find the Laird.

The interior was dimly lit but alive with the sound of laughter and song. The great stone fireplace was aglow with a crackling fire, sparks of orange jumping up the chimney and disappearing.

Holly didn’t want to stay in there too long with the young lad. She scanned the area for the Laird, but he was nowhere to be seen. She began to worry, but then she saw a familiar face.

She took Cole’s hand and strode to the bar.

“Good day again,” she said.

“Och,” Alice replied. “Aye.” She looked down at the child. “I didnae ken ye had a bairn, Holly.”

“Nay, I dinnae, nae really. He’s in me care for now after we found him in the forest.” Holly grimaced and leaned in to whisper, “Can ye believe his parents abandoned him there?”

“What?” Alice gasped. “Some of us are unlucky enough nae to have parents, and others do this. What is the world comin’ to?”

Holly nodded and stepped back from the barmaid. She couldn’t work out what she felt about Alice. A part of her wanted to care for the woman, but another part of her wanted to be away from the woman and the reminder of the past.

“Och, ye are a sweet, wee thing, are ye nae?” Alice cooed at Cole.

He smiled up at her and nodded, saying nothing.

“I dinnae have a posset, but here’s a wee bit of weak ale for ye.” Alice poured a small amount into a cup and handed it to the boy.

“Thank ye,” Holly said on the child’s behalf. “I cannae thank ye enough for bein’ so kind, but I must ask ye for one more favor. I came in here lookin’ for Laird McAllister.”

“The Bea—the Laird? Aye, ye are goin’ to marry him, are ye nae? We can barely believe it around here. Did he… What I mean to say is, how did ye…?”

She knew what Alice wanted to ask. Did the Laird force her into marriage, or did she do it for wealth and power? She could see the questions in the woman’s eyes. It was for neither of those reasons. It was to avoid being murdered, but she dared not say that out loud.

“It was a fair match,” was all she offered. “Have ye seen him in here? We were supposed to meet him here.”

“A husband and a bairn,” Alice said with a smile. “Ye really are makin’ yer way in the world. I havenae seen him in here, Holly—or mayhap I should call ye Lady McAllister now.” She flashed her a cheeky smile. “Ye likely came to the wrong tavern.” She pointed toward the wall. “Do ye ken how to get to the other tavern?”

“Aye, I do. Thank ye,” Holly said. “It was nice runnin’ into ye again.”

“Aye,” Alice agreed.

Holly turned to leave but stopped when she thought of something. She opened the package with the ribbons inside and took out one of the better ones. She went back to Alice with it.

“I hope ye dinnae mind, but me faither always bought me ribbons whenever we were in town. Laird McAllister bought me some today, and I would like ye to have one.”

“Are ye sure?” Alice asked.

“Aye,” Holly replied. “I ken we… Well, we ken what happened, and there is nay changin’ it. Ye arenae the one who caused any pain in the past, and I dinnae harbor any ill will toward ye. I want ye to ken that we arenae enemies. Please, take the ribbon.”

Alice didn’t say anything and took the ribbon from Holly, bringing it to her lips.

Nothing more was said before Holly and Cole left the tavern.

“That lady was sad,” Cole noted.

“Aye, she lost her faither when she was young, just like me,” Holly told him.