Seduction of a Highland Lass - Maya Banks [64]
CHAPTER 21
“Keeley! Keeley!”
Keeley turned her head to see Crispen bolting across the great hall toward her. She braced herself, having become well acquainted with the way Crispen “greeted” her.
He flung himself around her, nearly knocking them both to the floor, but Keeley’s preparation kept them upright.
She laughed and pried him away from her. “What are you about, Crispen?”
“Will you go outside and play with us in the snow? Will you, Keeley? Mama can’t go. Papa has forbidden her outside the doors. She’s not happy, but Maddie says ’tis good because Mama is ungainly and as round as a pumpkin and she might fall on the ice.”
Keeley hesitated, nearly laughing at the flood of words from the lad’s mouth.
“The storm is over and the sun’s out. ’Tis a beautiful day. Papa has been out training since dawn. We can play on the hill and Gannon and Cormac can come along.”
“Slow down,” she said with a chuckle. “ ’Tis the truth I’d welcome a bit of fresh air.”
Crispen’s face lit up. “Then you’ll come? Really?” He all but danced out of her reach and around the hall.
“If you’ll give me a moment to don warmer clothing, I’ll be glad to come out with you as long as you have the laird’s permission.”
Crispen nodded eagerly. “I’ll go ask him now.”
“Very well. I’ll meet you back belowstairs in a few minutes’ time.”
She watched as Crispen dashed out of the hall at full speed and then shaking her head, she headed toward the stairs to don clothing appropriate for the bitter cold.
When she returned, both Cormac and Gannon stood in the hall surrounded by Crispen and several other children. They looked wearily in her direction as she approached.
Grinning, she made it a point to enthusiastically greet each of the children and then she asked if they were ready to proceed outdoors. Surrounded by their lively chatter, she stepped into the cold and shivered as chill bumps prickled up her spine.
“ ’Tis cold today!” she exclaimed.
“Aye, ’tis,” Cormac grumbled. “Too cold to be standing still watching over children.”
Keeley slanted a sly smile in Cormac’s direction. “ ’Tis likely Christina will be joining us.”
His expression brightened and then he glanced rapidly in Gannon’s direction and adopted a more bland look.
“Come on!” Crispen urged. He tugged at Keeley’s hand until she gave in and hurried up the hill toward the area where the children played.
Teams were quickly formed and Keeley groaned when she realized the game was tossing balls of snow at one another with as much force as they could muster.
Thankfully for her, Gretchen was on Keeley’s team and she was quite adept at hitting her target. The boys howled with outrage every time Gretchen pelted one of them in the face.
Breathless with exertion after an hour of steady warfare, they called a truce and stood, hands on hips, gasping for air.
Crispen and Gretchen were whispering in low tones and kept staring over at Cormac and Gannon.
“You ask,” Crispen muttered.
“Nay, you ask,” Gretchen demanded. “ ’Tis your father’s men. They’ll more likely do it for you.”
Crispen jutted his chin out. “You’re a girl. ’Tis fact girls always get what they want.”
Gretchen rolled her eyes and then punched him hard in the arm.
“Ow!”
Crispen glared at her and rubbed his arm. “We’ll both ask.”
Gretchen smiled serenely and the two ran in Gannon’s direction. Keeley watched with interest when the two warriors visibly recoiled. Then they began shaking their heads and making negative gestures. They frowned, then scowled, and the children argued on.
It wasn’t until Gretchen’s expression turned from fierce determination to pitifully woeful that the men began to look uneasy. Her big eyes shimmered with tears and her chin quivered.
“Oh dear. They don’t stand a chance now.”
Keeley turned to see Christina approaching, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
“Gretchen isn’t opposed to using womanly wiles if it gains her what she wants. A more clever lass I’ve never met,” Christina said ruefully. “If she can’t