Page 22 of Wild Scottish Gold (The Enchanted Highlands #7)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Thane

I t took all of my power to walk away from Kaia.

I wanted to crawl into bed with her and hold her—to let her cry it all out and then help her put everything back together.

“Maybe I’m just scared. Maybe it’s all too much at once. Maybe I just need to believe.”

But right now, she didn’t know what she wanted. My sweet Kaia. I needed to think about how I would show her what could be, with us, and with life in Loren Brae if she’d only give me the chance. But in the meantime, she needed space to think. And I respected that. It annoyed the crap out of me that I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t help her, I couldn’t convince her that, duh, of course her life would be best spent here and she was going to grow a great career and build a good community of people who cared about her.

Voices stopped me, and I paused. I had planned to sneak out the door and go lick my wounds in private, but an idea occurred to me.

Maybe Kaia needed to see that independence didn’t also mean being alone.

I walked into the lounge and Sir Buster raced over to growl at me. I pointed a finger at him, and he dropped the act, circling once before flipping on his back. Scooping him up, I scratched his belly as he alternated between growls and grunting noises.

Orla, Finlay, Lachlan, Sophie, Willow, Ramsay, and Agnes were all sitting on couches in the lounge, while Hilda bustled about putting tea together and Archie sat in an armchair by the window tying his flies. He’d once told me that he just enjoyed making them, but I didn’t think it hurt that they commanded a high price from the visiting fishermen.

“How is she?” Orla stood and walked over to me. She hesitated for a moment before reaching up to squeeze my arm.

“Bruises are better she said. She’s resting now.”

“Should I still bring up some nibbles for her and Murdoch?” Hilda asked, stopping where she was preparing a tray.

“I’d give it a moment.” I suspected she was up there crying, or had given herself over to exhaustion, but either way it seemed she needed a wee moment to herself. “I’d like to ask all of you for help or maybe just to tell me if you think my idea is right stupid or not.” I put Sir Buster back on the floor, and he raced over to Hilda to see if there were any treats from the table for him.

“My favorite pastime.” Finlay patted the spot next to him on the couch. “Come to papa. I’ll be more than delighted to tell you how dumb you are.”

“Och, don’t listen to him. He doesn’t even know what you’re going to say yet.” Orla took the cushion that Finlay had just patted, and she leaned casually against him.

I stayed standing, too pent-up to sit. Walking farther into the lounge, I crouched by Orla’s dog, Harris, when he thumped his tail at me. He was cuddled on a bed next to Lady Lola, and I dutifully gave her attention as well.

“I’m sure most of you know that Kaia and I are together.” Were we though? I wasn’t sure anymore. It was all so new. Maybe it was just a house built with matchsticks, ready to tumble at the slightest wind. “Or were.”

“Oh no,” Willow murmured, and I turned to see the sadness on her face. “What happened?”

I stood and leaned against the windowsill, looking at the group. They all had equal expressions of concern on their faces, and I weighed keeping Kaia’s privacy versus opening up to them. I wasn’t much for asking advice from others, or talking over my problems, so this didn’t come naturally.

But growth was rarely comfortable. I couldn’t ask Kaia to trust in others if I didn’t do the same.

“I’m not sure. In fact, I don’t think she knows either. It seems she feels overwhelmed by it all.”

“Perfectly normal after a Kelpie tosses you thirty feet in the air,” Archie grumbled, snipping a feather with tiny scissors.

“True enough. But it’s more than that. It’s the move here. Starting her life over. She was determined to go it on her own. And she’s leased space at my forge, now we’re working together, and dating. It’s become muddled in her mind and she’s worried.”

“Och, I get that.” Willow nodded.

“She’s afraid if things go south, she’ll be out of a workplace,” Orla summarized.

“That’s one layer of it. It’s also her magick. It’s new to her, she’s not trusting it yet. And it’s her friends. I don’t think she’s used to having a big group of friends.”

“Now that I can fully understand.” Orla glanced up at Finlay with a smile as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “It takes time to get used to being a part of a group.”

“I’m afraid she won’t give me, or all of us, that chance. I’m worried she’s going to run home before she gives this an honest shot. And I think I have an idea, but I need to see what you guys think and if you’ll help me.”

“Give it to us,” Finlay said, leaning forward, his eyes lighting up.

“Och, there goes his project manager hat.” Orla laughed.

“We found an old cottage in the woods on her property. It’s run-down, but it used to be an old blacksmith’s shop. I’d like to shine it up enough to show her that she has a backup in case she ever needs some space from Blackwood Forge. I also want her to know it wasn’t just from me. That all of her friends helped because they want her to stay.”

“That’s a great idea. I see no issues. Let’s go.” Finlay moved to stand, and Orla grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Just give this a second. We need a list of materials required, and we need to know if this is meant to be a surprise. Since it’s on her property, she’ll know if we’re working on it.”

“Oh, right.” Finlay grimaced.

“I’ll keep her here,” Hilda said, crossing her arms over her chest. “She’ll not be allowed to leave under my watch. I think she needs some mothering, and at least two days in bed, don’t you?” Hilda was formidable on a good day, terrifying on any other.

“Och, that’s the lass stuck here for a couple of days. All right then, let’s see what we can get done,” Archie said.

“Oh, and I have the hearthwards. Can we get those delivered and put up all over Loren Brae? I think it might help her to see it.”

“On it.” Agnes nodded. “I can start there as I’ll be no use with any renovations of the cottage.”

“Willow and I will go with you,” Sophie agreed, then she turned to Lachlan. “Hearthwards or cottage?”

“I can help at the cottage. Just be safe, okay? We’ve had enough drama today.” Lachlan kissed her head.

“I’ll bring my dirk. It’ll be fine. My hope is the Kelpies are licking their wounds after that whole bridle situation.”

“What bridle situation?” Archie barked from where he was bent over packing up his flies.

“Kaia told us she grabbed the bridle of the Kelpie. And when she did he stopped moving completely.”

“He who has the bridle controls the Kelpie,” Hilda murmured, looking at Archie.

“We’d forgotten,” Archie admitted, thumping back in his chair.

“This is the first time I’ve even seen a bridle,” Sophie said. “If it’s any consolation, I’ve never seen one come on land before.”

“They’re getting stronger,” Archie said, ominously, looking toward the window, his bushy brows drawn together in concern.

“We just keep trying,” Hilda said, walking over to pat Archie’s arm. “We’ll get the Order sorted soon enough. Look how far we’ve come already.”

I had more questions I wanted to ask about the Order, but for now I wanted to get working on my plan. I knew the cottage was still open since we’d run straight from it to rescue Audrey. Speaking of which…

“Can I hitch a ride? My car is still up at Kaia’s.”

“Aye, lad. Let’s grab some tools and maybe supplies if you can remember what was needed,” Finlay said.

“Where are the hearthwards?” Agnes asked, coming to my side.

“In my lorry at Kaia’s.”

“We’ll meet you down there. Ladies?” Willow and Sophie left the room with Agnes, and everyone else circled me.

“How bad is the property? What are we dealing with here?” Orla asked.

“Not too bad, but I didn’t get to look at it for too long before we got the alert about the Kelpies. It’s a rectangle cottage, a few windows that seemed to be in good shape. Wood needs sealing, lick of paint. Shelving, storage, tables. Check the safety of the fireplace.”

“Electrics? Plumbing?” Finn asked.

“Didn’t get that far. I reckon no, but I can’t be certain.”

“Let’s get on with it then,” Archie barked. “Standing here talking about what it may have isn’t doing much for anyone.”

“Thanks, guys. I know you’re all busy, but I think this will mean a lot.”

“She’s one of ours now.” Hilda came over and surprised me with a hug. She smelled of lavender and baked goods and it made me miss my own mum. They’d been on holiday in Spain when I’d gotten back to Loren Brae, but I knew they’d visit soon. They never liked to stay away from their granddaughter for too long. “And so are you.”

“I appreciate that. I just hope this plan works.”

“It will. It has to. We can’t lose Kaia, and judging from your face, you can’t either.”

I shrugged, and just gave Hilda a quick nod. There wasn’t much else for me to say.

It was time to show Kaia that standing on her own didn’t have to mean standing alone.