When he had first seen her before her mother had become indisposed, he had smiled at her with interest, in a way that sent delicious tingling up her spine. Their pheromones had clashed and collided, and she knew he was just as intrigued by her as she was by him.
No one at the castle interested her like he did, and she planned to make excursions past his farm any chance she got to get to know him better. Then she thought about her mother’s reaction to him. Had he been violent or unkind toward her mother at some time when Aisling hadn’t been with her?
She returned to check on her mother, who had finally stopped crying and was resting. “Has Coinneach ever done anything untoward to you before?”
“Nay, nay.” She sounded sincere about that.
Aisling couldn’t imagine what was wrong then.
“We have guests for the meal,” Coinneach said to someone, and Aisling went to the doorway to see who he was talking to.
A gray-haired woman and a man, whom she assumed were his parents, and a blond-haired man who looked like the older man, but was physically smaller than Coinneach. She didn’t think they bore a strong resemblance. She didn’t have a sibling but had seen enough children in the pack to recognize those who favored each other.
Coinneach washed up and put on his shirt. “A lovely woman, Blair, who had become indisposed, mayhap because of the heat on this bright sunny day, and her daughter, Aisling.”
They all looked at the croft door and saw Aisling standing in the doorway. She smiled, hoping that feeding her mother and her wasn’t a big imposition. They might not have a lot of food to spare. She couldn’t help but want to spend more time with Coinneach though.
She returned to her mom and said, “Coinneach’s family has returned. Can you eat?”
“We canna stay, Aisling.”
Aisling let her breath out in exasperation. “Can you walk? If you can, we’ll go home.” Despite wanting to stay and get to know Coinneach's family longer, she owed it to her mother to take care of her. And if her mother really couldn’t eat, they might as well return to the castle. “But know this, Coinneach is taking us home, so if you collapse again, he will be there for you.”
“How now,” Coinneach’s mother said, entering the abode first. “Welcome. Coinneach said you were feeling unwell. I am Elspeth.” The dad came in after that. “And he is my mate, Magnus.”
“I’m feeling better,” Aisling’s mother said.
“Good. Then you will eat with us, and Coinneach will take you home.”
“Aye, we always have plenty of food for guests,” Magnus said, smiling.
The blond-haired man entered the croft and smiled at Aisling. “I’m Tamhas.”
Coinneach joined them then, bringing water for his mother to cook the fish they had brought home from the market. “I’m pleased you are looking more revived,” he said to Aisling’s mother.
She sat up and had her feet planted on the floor, but didn’t make a move to leave Coinneach’s bed. “Thank you.”
“Come,” their dad said to Coinneach and Tamhas. “We’ll join them when the meal is done.”
“I can help you, Elspeth,” Aisling said. “I work as an assistant to Cook at the castle.” She was eager to help Elspeth, as they now had two more mouths to feed. Besides, she had been trained to do this.
Coinneach smiled at her as he followed his da and brother out of the croft.
“Aye, that will be welcome,” Elspeth said.
Aisling made the unleavened bread, while Elspeth cooked fish stew.
“It’s good to have another female here who knows how to cook,” Elspeth said cheerily.
“Aye. I love it.” Especially when Cook wasn’t getting after Aisling for doing things wrong.
Elspeth glanced back at Blair. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Aye, thank you.”
“Well, a bit of food in you will make you feel even better,” Elspeth said.
Once the meal was done, Elspeth called out to the men, “Supper’s ready.”
