Chapter 14

“Lunch was excellent, Pearson,” Ran said as he pushed in his chair and Niall nodded in agreement and followed Ran around the table.

“I need to check on a few things but I’ll find you later and we can go to the loch. I’ll keep you company while you’re fishing,” Niall offered and Ran brightened.

“Great! They’re telling me it’s overstocked for this late in the year so I should have some luck. Bring something to read,” he said then spun. “Is that Lorna I hear?” Ran called as he stepped into the hall then ducked and growled as a giggling blur with a wild mop of orange curls and a pink wool coat launched herself at him. Ran spun her like a top then scooped the toddler into his arms and swung her onto his hip.

“Uncle Ranulf!” She squealed as she clasped his cheeks. Ran laughed as he turned his face and gnawed on her fingers and she shrieked with glee.

“You’d better put a brick on her head, Brundy, or she’ll grow too fast,” he warned. “She’s almost too heavy as it is!” Ran said then pretended to drop Lorna and she was insensate. She laughed as her arms wound around his neck and Niall smiled despite the searing, stabbing pain in his gut. Ran obviously ached to have a child and it wasn’t a secret that he planned to have at least one, some day. It was never lost on Niall that Ran would probably have children if it weren’t for him and his marriage to Isla. “Can I take her out to see her pony before she’s outgrown it, gran?” Ran asked and Ms. Brundage smiled warmly and nodded.

“Of course. Bring her back when she’s too much trouble,” she said and Ran shook his head as he twirled the end of Lorna’s pigtail around his finger and tugged it gently.

“Never. I’ll let her sit on Buttercup for a bit then put her to work,” he declared and Ms. Brundage and Niall exchanged knowing looks. Buttercup was a tiny blonde Shetland pony. Ran bought her just after Lorna was born, for her to ride when she was old enough and until she was big enough to graduate to a full-size horse.

“Buttercup!” Lorna cheered as she waved her chubby fists and Ran nodded at Niall and Ms. Brundage.

“My lady has commanded me,” he murmured deeply as he bowed and tipped Lorna back and she laughed and stretched her arms over her head before he stood and tossed her over his shoulder. Ms. Brundage pressed her hand against her chest and sighed as she watched them go.

“He’ll be an excellent father,” she declared then gave Niall a hard dose of side-eye.

“He will,” he agreed through the pressure in his chest and tried not to sniff as his eyes burned.

“Still hoping he’ll get married first, though,” she said then raised a brow at him expectantly and Niall’s teeth scraped over his lip as he stalled.

“Didn’t you mean to take hold of my ear first?” He asked and she shook her head as she reached for his hands.

“I’m not trying to give ye grief over it but neither of ye look too happy, dear,” she said tenderly as she patted his hands and Niall nodded.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make him happy. Even if that means leaving him free to find someone who can make him happier than I can,” he said and she gasped as she tossed his hands and spluttered angrily.

“Ach! Yer heid’s full o’ mince!” She swore as she stormed off and Niall didn’t disagree with her so he shrugged it off then looked around to make sure it was clear before he sprinted up the stairs silently. The hall was empty and he hung along the wall, in the shadows, as he jogged to the end then pressed his ear to Isla’s door.

“I am so bloody tired of excuses!” She whined and Niall hurried to the door to her dressing room and pushed it open just a crack. He jumped and swallowed a curse as Catriona grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him inside.

“You’re just in time!” She breathed then waved for him to follow her. They slipped through the narrow aisle, past Isla’s gowns and fur coats and Catriona crouched by a row of pink heels then slid them aside and pointed at a crack between the stones where the mortar was worn away. It must have occurred when the closet was remodeled and was missed after the shelves were installed. Niall lowered to his knees and ducked then shut one eye so he could look. Isla and Simon were naked and Niall’s face twisted in disgust. They were in Isla’s bed and Simon’s head rested on her ass as he read something from his phone and an ash tray was balanced on her back. He took a drag from his cigarette then reached back and tapped the ash into the tray.

“I’ll go to his father if he doesn’t go through with it this time. He took our money, he has to do it or I’ll ruin his life and then I’ll kill him,” Simon said and Isla nodded in agreement as she typed a message on her phone.

“Ran’s going soon. Something happened. Poor Niall’s been a wreck for days and Ran’s staring at him like he’s made of rainbows and puppy dogs and cum,” she said and Niall’s eyes flared and his ears burned.

“Pay her no mind, it’s really sweet,” Catriona whispered and Niall might have jumped through the window if it was designed for something wider than a cannon.

“I’d happily put my head in a cannon,” Niall muttered to himself and Catriona pulled in her lips to hold back a laugh.

“We’ll give him one more chance. If he fails again, we’re scrapping the plan and trying something else,” Simon said and Niall and Catriona exchanged tense looks.

“I might do it myself,” Isla declared then wiggled her ass and waved at her back so Simon would move the ash tray. He set it on the edge of the bed and put out his cigarette as she rolled and stretched on her back. “He’d never see me coming and nobody would believe it,” she said. Simon purred as he crawled over her, kissing his way up her stomach and nibbling at her nipple before he pounced and attacked her lips.

“I love to see you coming,” he drawled and she giggled as her legs wrapped around his waist.

“Oh, God… No,” Niall said as he put his hand over the crack. He felt sick and he needed a shower. Catriona’s tongue pushed out as she gagged before she tugged on his sleeve and cocked her head at the door. He nodded then followed her back into the hall. They ducked into his room and they were both stunned and horrified as he leaned against his door and waited for her to say something.

“It’s my first time witnessing…that, too,” she finally said as her hand flapped wildly and Niall swallowed the acid burning the back of his throat.

“I wasn’t in the habit of listening until I found out they were planning to do something to Ran,’ he said and her lips pulled tight as she studied him.

“I never wanted to hear any of that but I’ve paid attention,” she said and Niall’s head craned forward as he became nervous. “I know what she says you did but I don’t believe it,” she said quickly and he gasped loudly.

“Please don’t!” Niall said as he held his hands up defensively. “You think you know what kind of man I am but you don’t. I don’t even know! Just because you think I’m good and kind doesn’t mean I always have been,” he said and she shook her head.

“No, my lord!” She protested before her face scrunched in frustration. “Niall. Sorry.”

“Just leave it!” He begged but she grabbed his hands.

“I know what she said and I don’t believe it. I think she’s made it up,” she stated clearly and Niall shushed her.

“Please. I saw enough proof,” he said. He did his best to be as lordly as possibly as he looked firmly and authoritatively at her and waited. Her brows pulled together and her mouth opened and closed a few times as she watched in confusion.

“Whatever that was…” She muttered then shook her head again and offered him an encouraging smile. “Mark my words: you didn’t do it. That’s not you,” she said and gave him a pointed and final look. “Do you think we can stop them?”

“I feel better knowing you’re keeping an eye out for me,” Niall cringed as he rubbed his forehead. “I hope so but I don’t know if this is going to work next time. He’s going to catch on and Simon said they were scrapping the plan if it failed again,” he said and she nodded slowly.

“We’re going to have to keep a closer eye on them but let’s get his lordship through this mess first. Maybe their luck will run out so we won’t have to worry about next time,” she offered hopefully and Niall wished he could have just a pinch of her optimism. He didn’t know how much longer his luck would hold. It was so rare for him to have any, he wasn’t sure how luck actually worked.