Page 57 of The Laird's Secret Bairn

Cook muttered something under his breath about a goat needing to stay out of the kitchens unless it was dinner.

Dougal shot him a look, and the man bowed his head apologetically. The last thing he wanted was for Lily to hearabout her goat being cooked. Which would not happen, of course.

“Aye,” Lily said.

“Really?”

She pouted. “All right, Da, I did bring the goat into the castle, but he wanted to play chase with Blossom and me. He’s outside now!”

“Did yer grandmaither take him outside?”

“Aye, Grandmaither and Skye said it was time for him to go outside. Blossom was sad.”

The kitten mewled in protest.

Dougal had a feeling that little Blossom was not as fond of the goat as Lily thought.

“The goat needs to stay outside, Lily.”

“All the time?” Lily pouted again.

He was well familiar with that pout. His little girl had perfected it over the past year, especially after finding Blossom and talking him into keeping her. It had been difficult to refuse her when shebegged him to let her new friend remain in the castle during the day.

He could already feel his resolve faltering. When it came to Lily, he only had so much strength.

“I’ll allow the goat in once a day, but only once,” he warned in the gentlest tone he could muster.

Lily nodded, throwing her arms around his neck. “Aye, Da. I’ll only allow the goat in once a day.”

“With supervision. And Blossom doesnae count. She’s a cat.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Alright, I’ll ask Grandmaither or Skye. They like the goat!”

Dougal wasn’t sure they felt as strongly about the goat as she did, but they would be willing to supervise them. He didn’t even have to ask.

“Aye, I think they are fond of the goat.”

Lily laughed. “Are ye fond of the goat, Da?”

“I am happy ye found a new friend.”

Skye’s words about how Lily’s only friends were animals came back to him. All he wanted to do was protect his little girl. It had been the only thing on his mind since he took her home.

Was he stifling her?

He did not want to believe he was, but it was difficult when his protectiveness took over. With Lily, it was instinct. But that same instinct was extending to Skye in a different way.

It wasn’t until the next day that he had a chance to talk with Skye.

He found her at the breakfast table, pages tucked beside her plate, a shy tentativeness about her that he hadn’t seen since her first night under his roof.

“Ye look as though ye’ve something to confess.”

Her cheeks colored instantly. “I wrote more last night and the night before. I think I’ve overcome me writer’s block and now I can finish writing the story.”

Dougal should be happy about that. He should be happy that Skye was finally able to finish her story. It was the point of her coming here. He helped her finish the story, and in return, she helped restore his reputation.

He had thought it would take the entire month. There was no reason to think she was going to leave before the month was up, but he knew there was always a chance.