Page 185 of The Highlander's Christmas Bride
The boy pulled out of her embrace to throw himself into his father’s arms. “Thank you for bringing Donella home, Papa.”
“Och, laddie, both of us will always come home to ye,” Logan gruffly said as he fiercely hugged his son.
“What happened? Are Uncle Nick and Uncle Graeme and Uncle Braden all right?”
“Everyone’s fine. I’ll tell you the whole story in the morning. Now, though, I want you to lie down and go to sleep. It’s very late.”
Joseph cracked a huge yawn. “I couldn’t go to sleep before you got home.” Then his eyes popped wide. “Oh, this is your bed, Donella.”
“You stay right there, dearest.” She plumped his pillows and helped him slide under the covers.
“Will you lie down with me a bit?” the boy shyly asked.
Donella’s eyes stung. “Of course I will.”
“You too, Papa.”
Logan made a suspicious, throat-clearing noise before sitting on the edge of the bed to yank off his boots.
Donella dispensed with the remains of her footwear, dropped her ghastly cloak on the floor, and climbed onto the bed. Joseph snuggled against her. Logan spooned her from behind, reaching around to hold them both in a strong but tender embrace.
The little boy soon fell asleep. Out in the hall, the longcase clock struck the first notes of the approaching dawn.
Logan kissed the top of Donella’s head. “A good New Year to you, Mrs. Kendrick,” he whispered.
It was better than good. All things considered, it had been the best Hogmanay of her life. “And to you, Mr. Kendrick.”
A few minutes later, she drifted to sleep in her husband’s loving arms.
