The summer day was extraordinarily beautiful. They had decided to pack lunch and explore the meadow.

“It’s too hard!” Mary complained, her blonde curls coming loose from their braids. “I’ll never be able to learn it.”

“Now, now,” Evanna said, tucking her daughter’s hair behind her ears. “Ye just need to follow my instructions.” She picked another daisy from the pile they had collected. “Just thread the stem in like a needle. Look at Sarah.”

Sarah was on her fourth daisy chain. In the past seven years, she had blossomed into a beautiful and accomplished young woman.

“Take it slow,” she suggested. “And dinnae squeeze the stem too much. It needs to have some structure to it to slide inside.”

Mary tried again, sticking her tongue out as she concentrated. Evanna’s smile was full of affection for her only daughter. The youngest of her three children, Mary wanted to play with her brothers, but they considered themselves much too old for her babyish games.

A few yards away, Aleck was busy teaching the boys how to wrestle. Callum, their eldest, was the spitting image of Aleck. At six he acted like a young Laird, serious and earnest in doing his part well. Evanna was reminded of Aleck at the same age. It delighted her every time she saw her eldest son and how life gave you a second chance to relive your childhood with your children.

“Watch what I can do, Da!” Raymond, five, did a headstand. His little arms were only able to support him for a few seconds. He tumbled to the ground on his bottom “Did ye see, Da? Did ye?”

“I sure did.” Aleck helped him up and ruffled his sandy-brown head. “Is there any food in those baskets, Evanna? I’m a little hungry.”

“Nae,” she called back, a mischievous smile lifting twitching her lips. “We forgot to pack any food. It’s full of flowers.”

“That’s alright,” Aleck said. “I’ll just eat one of the children.”

“Oh no!” Raymond squealed with horrified delight and ran. Aleck ran after him, glowering like a hungry animal. Mary clapped in delight. Callum pretended he was too old for such silly games, but he ran as well, and laughed when he tripped on a rock and was captured by Aleck who promptly tickled him.

“Stop! Da!” Callum laughed.

“Oh wait!” Evanna called. “I think we have a few slices of cheese and bread.”

“Yer mother’s saved ye,” Aleck said, giving Callum a hand. He brushed off Callum’s clothes and walked with his sons towards the women, a deep pride in his straight back.

They were both proud of the family they had made. Laird MacLeod had delighted in every child, but ever since his death after Mary was born, Evanna hadn’t managed to conceive. It had been a source of worry for her. She wanted a large brood of children, and she knew Aleck wanted that too. But every month her time would come, and she would be hopeful for good news, but it never came.

Aleck told her that she needn’t get disheartened. They had three wonderful children, and he did not want to be greedy, but Evanna craved another child.

And just like that four years had passed without any good news.

As soon as Aleck sat down, Mary planted herself in her father’s lap. She was her father’s favorite. It was to be expected, not only was she the only daughter, she was the spitting image of her mother. Much better dressed than Evanna had been at that age, to be sure.

They ate the food Mrs. MacTavish had packed and enjoyed the cakes and a few more jaunts in the grass and then it was time to go back. Once home, Evanna busied herself tending to the children. They were bathed, given their suppers, and tucked in bed. This was her most favorite time of the day; the five minutes she got to spend individually with her children, sending them off to sleep with a kiss and a cuddle.

She felt keenly in these moments that she had longed for these moments with her mother as a child. Now she got to live them with her own children.

God had blessed her beyond her expectations. She was married to the man of her dreams, their lands were prosperous, and Aleck had proved time and again that he had been the right choice for Laird. He was fair and just and didn’t mind getting his hands dirty with his people. He had recently started construction on a school for the children where every child so inclined could study. Upon Sarah’s suggestion, he had also converted the old, abandoned shack into an apothecary where people could come with their ailments and find some cure. Glenlivet was advancing under Laird Aleck Bryce.

“Ma?” Mary asked when she tucked her under her sheets. “When I grow up will I have to marry?”

“Of course,” Evanna said. “All of ye will.”

“I willnae,” Raymond said. “I’ll go off with my horse to fight the Fae King. There’ll be dragons and kelpies, and all sorts of adventure.”

“Will there be a fair maiden that needs saving?” she asked.

“I have nae time for fair maidens,” Raymond shook his head.

“Aye,” Aleck said, joining them in their chamber. “Fair maidens have a habit of taking care of themselves,” he teased Evanna.

“Oh, Aleck,” Evanna laughed.

“Did I tell ye of the time yer mother was attacked by brigands, and I tried to save her?”

“Nae!” Callum sat up. “Tell us please.”

“Tried, is the right word.” Evanna pinched Aleck’s cheek.

“Aye. We were riding hard to save her. There were six men, all on horseback, armed with swords!” The children were captivated, their eyes so wide Evanna could see their father reflected in them. “And there she stood, a wheel spoke in her hand, shouting instructions to her party like a general marshalling her troops.

“Wham!” Aleck yelled. The children jumped in their beds. “She struck the spoke against the legs of a horse, sending one of the men toppling. Smack! They were already scarpering by the time we arrived.”

“Aye, but if ye hadnae arrived, they wouldnae have left,” Evanna said, kissing his cheek. “Ye saved me that day, in more ways than one.”

“Ye saved me,” Aleck insisted.

“Ye saved each other,” Callum said, and flopped back in bed. “Now, can we sleep?”

“Yer a right bossy nanny goat,” Evanna laughed. “Bleating us to bed, eh?”

“Baaa!” Raymond imitated a goat.

“Alright now,” Aleck chuckled. “Callum’s right.” He placed a hand on Callum’s head. “It’s time for bed.”

Each child received a kiss from both parents, then they retired to their own chamber. Evanna sat on her vanity and removed the pins. Her hair cascaded down her back. They were not as long as before, but they were thick and lustrous still.

Aleck took his position behind her and began to brush. Evanna smiled up at him through the mirror. A smile that hid secrets. Aleck was quick to spot it.

“What are ye hiding?” he asked, stroking her hair. “Out with it,” he threatened. “Or I’ll take the brush to yer behind.”

Evanna giggled, a pretty blush spreading across her cheeks. They had been married seven years, but she still felt like a new bride when he made love to her.

“If that’s the case I might hold the secret longer. Make ye work for it,” she bit her lip, smiling slyly.

“Ah ye delectable minx,” Aleck pulled her up and held her, his kiss passionate as if they were kissing for the first time. His hands clutched at her derriere and squeezed. She trembled with desire.

Their lovemaking was slow and languid, then slowly became more urgent as their need for each other grew more passionate.  Once they were done Aleck kissed her forehead, his arms lying lazily across her breast.

“Now, I’ve worked for it. Tell me yer secrets ye impertinent miss.”

Evanna ran a finger through the tangled mass of his chest hair. Prolonging the moment as much as she could. Then she couldn’t keep it in any longer. She placed her lips next to his ears and said, “I’m with child.”

Aleck’s arm stiffened around her chest. He clutched her close. “Are ye certain?” he asked.

“Aye. It’s been four months since I bled last.”

“Evanna! Oh, this is wonderful news!” He kissed her forehead, her eyes, her nose, her cheeks, and every inch of her face. “Ye’ve made me the happiest man!”

“Ye say that every time I’m with child.”

“That’s because it’s true,” he laughed. “Yer a miraculous fount of good fortune and happiness for me, Evanna. I cannae thank God enough for ye.”

“I feel much the same for ye.”

“Do ye, exactly?” he asked.

Evanna felt the hard bulge of his desire pressing into her thigh. The news had excited him again. Evanna laughed.

“Aye,” she said, kissing the tip of his nose. “Exactly the same.”

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