“Are you ready?” Ryleigh asked as she walked up to the man and took his hand, causing him to startle as he stared down at their joined hands in shock.
Ash had to clear his throat a few times before he could speak. “Um, aye, let’s get ye back to mum’s place. It’s going to get dark here soon. Ye don’t need to be out alone.”
Ryleigh shrugged as she waited for her uncle to walk towards his motorcycle. Ash helped Ryleigh onto the motorcycle then placed his helmet on her head and tightened it the best that he could. Instead of making her ride behind him, he relented and had her scoot up further so he could protect her if anything happened in the short distance it would take him to ride to his parent’s house.
On the short ride from where Ash had found Ryleigh, he made sure she was covered from the wind. There’s always a slight chill in the air here in the Highlands of Scotland, no matter the time of the year. It was one of the things Ash loved about it here in the Highlands.
Looking down at the little girl who was snuggled in close to his chest, peeking out from the lapels of the oversized jacket he put on her, he felt a small smile hit his lips for the first time in a long time as he noticed the wonder in her eyes at watching the scenery passed. His brother and sister-in-law are going to have their hands full with this one, he thought. Served his little brother right for the shit they tried to pull on him growing up.
Ash reached down and adjusted the jacket on Ryleigh a little more and wrapped an arm around her, to keep her close and safe. Fuck! He felt a slight cracking in his cold, dark heart starting to appear. None of his other nieces or nephews paid attention to him. They tended to run when he came in. This little spitfire just accepted him, smiled at him like he was her best friend. This was going to be a long couple of days, but he promised his mum and da that he would stay and help out with a few things and spend time with his brothers visiting from America. Fucking hell!
Thirty minutes later, he pulled into his parents driveway, watching his brothers, his two sisters-in-law, his mum and his da searching the yard, around the house, and beyond for the little spitfire sitting in front of him. He couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head.
“Ye know ye are going to be in some serious trouble spitfire.” Ash mumbled slightly so the little girl can hear him, without raising the alarm.
“Jacob! Oh Lord, thank ye Jesus. We need ye help. Joseph’s daughter has run off and we cannot find her anywhere! Please get off that monstrosity and help ye da and brothers.” Sylvia huffed without coming near his bike.
“They are looking for me?” Ryleigh whispered from inside Ash’s jacket.
“Aye, they are spitfire. Ye ready to face the firing squad?” Ash murmured back, shaking his head at his mum who huffed and walked off when he didn’t get off the bike fast enough.
“You’re not going to leave me, are you?” Ryleigh asked quietly, fear in her voice as she burrowed further into his jacket.
“Nae, spitfire, I’m going to stay with ye. I’ll make sure ye mum and da don’t kill ye before Christmas.” Ash chuckled low.
“Maybe for Christmas you can let grandmum cut your hair. It’s longer than mommy’s.” Ryleigh said nonchalantly, her fear slightly less since her uncle was going to stand by her.
“Negative, lass. That’s nae happening anytime soon. Nice try though. Let’s go face ye mum and da so we can enjoy the rest of ye vacation.” Ash chuckled deeply as he got off his bike.
Once he was off, he reached over and helped Ryleigh off his bike. Leaving his leather jacket on as her ‘shield of protection’, he grabbed her small hand through the hole in the end of the arm sleeve and walked towards where his da and brothers were standing.
“Son, glad ye came when ye did. Joseph’s daughter, Ryleigh is missing. Need ye skills to help find the lass.” The MacLeod elder advised his son.
“Hey da, did ye tell Jacob he could bring his doll with him?” Willie joked, looking down at the walking jacket.
“Did ye just insinuate that my niece, Joe’s daughter, is a blow-up doll?” Ash asked his brother, his voice calm as he held the tiny hand in his, his eyes going cold as he lifted a brow, glaring at his younger brother.
“What?” Highlander asked, looking down at the small figure hiding in the jacket. “Ryleigh?”
At her name, Ryleigh slowly pushed her head through the top of the black leather jacket, scooting closer to her uncle, her hand tightening as much as possible in his. “Hi, daddy. I found uncle Ash.”
“Child, his name is Jacob. Don’t let numbnuts tell ye otherwise.” Willie responded, ducking from Highlander’s flying hand.
“Grandmum may have named him Jacob, but he goes by Ash. Leave him alone. You’re just upset because he’s my favorite uncle and you’re not. You prefer the boys because they can do ‘boy’ stuff. I’m just a silly girl. At least uncle Ash likes me and doesn’t leave me out.” Ryleigh venomously fired back at her uncle.
“Ryleigh?”
Ashe heard the feminine voice say the little girl’s name questioningly and turned towards it. He saw two women come around the corner of the house, both holding a baby, and his mum walking behind them.
“Hi mommy.”
“Oh my God, Ryleigh! Where the hell where you, young lady?” The woman handed her infant to Ash’s mum and ran towards the group, dropping to her knees and hugging the young girl tight. “You scared the hell out of me young lady. Don’t you ever do that again or you’ll be grounded for life!”
“Ryleigh, why did ye run away lass?” Highlander asked, getting on one knee next to his wife, looking his daughter in her eyes.
“I wanted to be with you and grandda and the uncles. I called for you over and over, but you didn’t answer me. Uncle Willie said it was boys time, because I am a girl I needed to stay with mommy and do girl things. When Will asked about going, uncle Willie said he was too young and he had to stay and protect us silly girls from the boogeyman.” Ryleigh glared at her uncle who looked back in shock.
“That’s not what I meant lass!” Willie stammered, wincing at the glares he received from his father and brothers.
