The Ghost Greyson, Maeve (reading an ebook .txt) 📖

Pride swelled in Magnus’s chest as he watched his son and the great horse move as though of the same mind. It was time. “Evander, release him. He’s ready.”

“Aye, that he is for certain.” Evander grinned as he unhooked the safety lead and stepped away. “He’s been ready for days, ye ken?”

“Ye are in full control now, Keigan. Dinna make me regret it,” Magnus warned.

“Dinna fash yerself, Da.” Keigan rode his mount around the paddock, as though he had been born in the saddle.

Brenna clutched her hands to her chest as if trying to keep her heart from escaping. “Are ye sure, Magnus? My precious one looks like a flea on that beast’s back.”

“He may be small, but look at him.” With an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer. “Look how proud he is. Fierce and braw as can be. A natural rider.”

She watched the lad with her bottom lip caught between her teeth. A mix of emotions played across her face, straining her brow tighter than a drawn bow. She looked as though watching the child ride around the paddock pained her. “He looks so grown,” she whispered. “No longer the sweet little bairn I once cradled and sang to in the wee hours of the night.”

Magnus envisioned the scene as easily as if it were his own memory and understood her bittersweet aching. “They canna stay babes forever, dear one,” he gently offered. “Take joy in how well ye’ve mothered him. Take heart in knowing what a fine man he will be because of yer loving care. He’ll charge into the world, fearless as a warrior, because of ye.”

“Aye, but it’s such a dangerous world that awaits him.” Her hands, still clutched to her chest, tightened into fists. “I fret for him and all he has yet to face.”

“I would think that is the woe of every parent.” Magnus brushed a kiss to her temple. “We can only prepare him the best we can, m’love.”

“And pray,” Brenna added.

Magnus was none too sure about that. As far as he was concerned, if a single powerful god did exist, he had abandoned this world long ago. But for Brenna’s sake, and to ease the heaviness in her heart, he would agree with her. “Aye, dear one, and pray.”

“Can we ride into the glen?” Keigan called out as he guided his mount closer to them. “Luchie is bored with the paddock.”

“What say ye, love?” Magnus understood the lad’s yearning, and it was a fine day for a ride, but he would leave that to Brenna to decide.

“Please, Auntie?” Keigan beamed at her, using the lethal charm possessed by all small children and beloved pets. “Ye can ride with us, too. I wasna meaning just Da.”

“Why, thank ye, sir,” Brenna replied in a tone that said she knew full well what the child was up to. After hesitating so long, Magnus feared she was about to refuse him, she smiled. “It would honor me to accompany such handsome men.”

It only took a short while to ready his horse and a sweet-tempered mare for Brenna. Magnus wasn’t sure who was more excited, Keigan or himself. The lad led the way out the front gate. Once they passed through the village, he tossed them both a wily grin. “Luchie would fancy a good run, ye ken?”

“Would he now?” Brenna’s knuckles whitened as her grip tightened on the reins.

It wouldn’t hurt the boy to give the horse its head, but Magnus feared she was about to refuse. “What do ye think, love? A steady run. No racing, but fast enough to get his blood moving. We’ll ride on either side of him.”

She gave him a sharp cut of her eyes. “Betrothed or no’, if my precious one comes to harm because of a deed ye’ve allowed, I will kill ye.” Her glare turned so serious it sent a chill down his spine. “Ye ken?”

After a roll of his shoulders to dispel the uncomfortable feeling, Magnus nodded. “Aye, mistress. I assure ye there is nay a doubt in my mind.” He urged his mount abreast of the lad’s. “Ye’ve only today gotten off the safety lead, so there willna be any racing. We’ll keep to a good pace. A safe, steady run.” Remembering the rebelliousness of his own youth, he added, “Mind my words, son, or ye willna ride again for a fortnight, understand?”

With a dark glare and a frustrated huff, Keigan nodded. “Aye, Da.”

They took off across the rolling glen. Magnus kept an eye on Keigan’s seating, proud at the way the boy and horse moved. Brenna rode on his other side, stealing glances so often it was a wonder she didn’t unseat herself.

Keigan slowed and pointed at the horizon. “Look! Smoke rising. Black as can be.”

Magnus studied the dark, billowing omen. At this end of the glen, in such close proximity to Fort William, the only thing that could render such a sight was a trio of shelters sometimes used by the herders when moving the stock. Thankfully, none of the clan lived at this end of the glen since no one wished to abide this close to the English.

“Stay here,” he ordered, urging his mount forward. Recalling how poorly Brenna had followed orders in the past, he came to a halt and turned back to her. “I beg ye—stay here whilst I ride ahead and see what’s what.” After mulling the possibilities of what he might find, he added, “Swear ye will head back to the keep as fast as ye can ride if ye sense the slightest thing out of place, aye? Swear it?”

“I swear.” Brenna rode up beside him, latched hold of his shirt, and pulled him toward her. “A kiss for protection?”

The churning in his gut paired with the warm sweetness of her mouth made him debate taking them both back to the safety of the keep before seeking the source of the smoke. He suddenly realized from now