“But Cody and Ty get to go! Why can’t I?” Ryleigh whined again, stomping her foot.
“Ryleigh, stop it! Will isn’t going, neither are you. I understand you’re a daddy’s girl, but baby, daddy’s already promised to spend tomorrow with you.”
“Daddy’s always gone!” Ryleigh cried as she ran from the room.
Pratt sat back on her rear and sighed heavily, her head hitting the wall behind her.
“She’s so much like her aunts. They used to do the same things when their da left for work or on a mission.”
Pratt looked over at Sylvia. She could see where Highlander got his eyes. “How did you handle it? This is honestly the first time she’s done this. It’s going to break Joe’s heart.”
Sylvia smiled down at Pratt as she patted her shoulder. “There’s not much that can be done. Our men have made great sacrifices to protect our countries. What most don’t talk about are the sacrifices their wives and children have made too. As she gets older, she will understand what her father has done and why. I wouldn’t be surprised as spirited as she is, if she doesn’t make her own mark in that world. She’s a true MacCleod in every sense of the word. She has ye, a strong warrior on ye own, for a mother. Her father, so much like his own, a Highland warrior like his father’s ancestors, far gone. All ye, either one of ye, can do is assure her that she is just as important as the work ye both do to make the world, her world a better place.”
“Thank you, Sylvia. I didn’t have parents to guide me growing up. I’m so afraid of failing my kids, even Joe, eventually.” Pratt admitted softly, taking a deep, shuddering breath.
“Lass, ye could never let my son or ye wee ones down. I have seen how ye have taken care of Cody. Joseph has told me how close ye two are. Ye are a good mum. Ye are an amazing woman. That is what attracted ye to my son.”
“Thanks…”
“Go, take care of Aurora. I’m sure she’s hungry and needs her nappy changed. Ryleigh will be ok, lass. I’ll go get dinner started before the horde shows up tonight.”
“I’ll come help you after I get Aurora situated.” Pratt got up from her spot and left to go tend to her youngest daughter. Her mind still racing on how to handle the other daughter, her daddy’s girl.
Two hours later, after changing, feeding, changing the baby again, a short nap during said feeding and a hot shower, Pratt walked out of the room, with Aurora in her arms to check on Ryleigh in her room. When she saw that the room was empty, she walked down to the kitchen expecting to find her at the kitchen table.
When Pratt arrived in the kitchen, she only saw Raso, their mother-in-law and little Will at the table. Bella was in the bassinet next to Raso. Pratt walked past the kitchen towards the living room as well as looked out into the yard, which was empty. Walking back into the kitchen, Pratt looked under the table before walking back towards the hallway to the stairs to go back upstairs, thinking Ryleigh may have been in the bathroom.
“What’s wrong Red?” Raso asked, confusion in her eyes.
“I can’t find Ryleigh. I thought she was in here.” Pratt responded, turning back to go upstairs.
“She’s probably in her room, lass. She hasn’t been down here since she threw her tantrum.” Sylvia answered, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
“She’s not. I checked there first. I was going to go back and look again, thinking she may have gone to the restroom.” Pratt answered, going back upstairs.
Several minutes later, Pratt came back into the kitchen frantic. “She’s not in the restroom, my room, either of the boy’s room, your room or her room. Her backpack, a couple of her outfits, and her favorite stuffed animal are gone too.”
“Shit!” Raso jumped up. “Sylvia, can you watch the babies and Will. I’m going with Laura to look around outside for Ryleigh.”
“Go, go! I have the wee ones. Go find that baby! And Laura?”
Pratt turned around at Sylvia calling her name. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Have patience with her. Don’t be angry, yell or scream. I know ye wouldn’t do that with her, but right now ye emotions are running ramped. Have patience when ye find her.”
Pratt nodded a smile before kissing Will and Aurora on their heads as she ran out of the house behind Raso. They searched around the house, under the porch, the shed, the cars, in the cars, everywhere they could think of near the house.
“Where could she have gone?” Raso asked, breathing heavy with her hands on her hip.
“Where are the guys at?” Pratt asked, looking around the yard again, taking a deep breath.
“They are out in the pasture, where horses are. Their dad has a ‘he-shed’ out that way where he does some of his woodwork according to Marcus. He was talking about how his dad wanted to show them some of the stuff he was doing for one of the local family here that lost everything in a fire a few weeks ago.”
“Shit! Let’s head that way. She was angry earlier because Highlander wouldn’t take her with him.” Pratt said, heading towards the pasture.
“She is a daddy’s girl that’s for sure. I have a feeling Bella is going to be one too.” Raso laughed, walking beside Pratt. “She’s going to be fine. We’ll find her and deal with it.”
All Pratt could do was nod. Her emotions were on overdrive at the moment. Feeling like she had failed as a parent because her daughter was missing. She hurried as fast as she could towards the pasture, praying that’s where her daughter was, hiding so her father wouldn’t see her and get upset with her.
