He was weeping all over Judith's plaid now, begging her forgiveness. He hadn't meant to hurt her. Nay, his intent was to frighten her into wanting to go back to England.
Judith was ready to beg his forgiveness for not leaving the Highlands when the little one sobbed out his reason.
'You made my mama cry.'
Judith didn't know why she'd made Helen cry, and Andrew wasn't making enough sense to give her a proper explanation. She decided she would have to talk to Helen in order to get the problem straightened out.
She sat on a low boulder with the sobbing little boy on her lap. She was pleased he was properly contrite. Since he had already confessed his transgression to his mother, she told him she didn't believe he needed to bother his laird with this matter.
'What does your father think about your behavior?' Judith asked.
'Papa died last summer,' Andrew told her. 'I take care of mama now.'
Judith's heart went out to the little boy. 'Andrew, you've given me your word you won't get into any further mischief and I believe you mean it. This matter is settled now.'
'But I have to tell the laird I'm sorry.'
She thought that was very noble of the child. Courageous, too. 'Are you worried about talking to your laird?'
Andrew nodded.
'Would you like me to tell him for you?' she asked.
He hid his face in Judith's shoulder. 'Would you tell him now?' he whispered.
'All right,' she agreed. 'We'll go back and-'
'He's here,' Andrew whispered in a voice shivering with fear.
Judith turned and spotted her husband standing directly behind her. He was leaning against a tree with his arms folded across his chest.
No wonder Andrew was trying to hide under her plaid.
She could feel him shaking. She decided not to prolong the dreaded ordeal for him. She had to pull him away from her and force him to stand up. Then she took hold of his hand and led him over to Iain.
Andrew's head was bowed low. Iain must have looked like a giant to the boy. Judith smiled up at her husband, then squeezed Andrew's hand.
'Your laird is waiting to hear what you have to tell him,' she instructed.
Andrew peeked up. He looked terrified. The freckles covering his face were more white than brown, and his brown eyes were filled with unshed tears.
'I threw the rocks,' Andrew blurted out. 'I didn't mean to hurt your lady, just make her scared so she'd go back home. Then mama wouldn't cry.' After making his speech, he lowered his head again until his chin was nicked in his chest. 'I'm sorry,' he added in a mumble.
Iain didn't say anything for a long while. Judith couldn't stand to see the child suffer so. She was about to give her own defense of the child's behavior when he raised his hand and shook his head at her.
He didn't want her interference. He slowly moved away from the tree he'd been leaning against and shook his head at Judith.
He stood directly in front of Andrew. 'You do not give your feet your apology,' he announced. 'You give it to me.'
Judith didn't agree with her husband's announcement. She was the one who had been injured, and Andrew had already given her his apology. Why did he have to tell his laird he was sorry?
She didn't think now was a good time to argue with Iain, however. He might believe she was trying to undermine his authority.
Andrew looked up at his laird again. His hold on Judith's hand tightened. Couldn't Iain see how he was frightening the little boy?
'I'm sorry I hurt your lady.'
Iain nodded. He clasped his hands behind his back and stared down at Andrew a long minute. Judith thought he was deliberately dragging out his torture.
'You will walk with me,' he commanded. 'Judith, wait here.'
He didn't give her time to argue with him, but started down the path. Andrew let go of her hand and went running after his laird.
They were gone a long, long while. When they came back, Iain still had his hands clasped behind his back. Andrew walked by his side. Judith smiled when she saw how the child imitated his laird. His hands were also clasped behind his back and his swagger was every bit as arrogant as Iain's was. He was chattering away, and every now and then Iain would nod.
Andrew acted as though a heavy weight had just been lifted from his shoulders. Iain dismissed him, waited until he was out of earshot and said, 'I asked you if you saw anyone, Judith. Would you care to explain why you didn't give me a proper answer?'
'Actually you asked me if I saw a man or a woman standing nearby,' she reminded him. 'I didn't lie to you. I saw a child, not a man or a woman.'
'Don't use that lopsided logic on me,' he countered. 'You knew what I was asking. Now I would like to know why you didn't tell me.'
She let out a sigh. 'Because the matter was between the child and me,' she explained. 'I didn't feel the need to bother you with it.'
'I'm your husband,' he reminded her. 'What the hell do you mean, you didn't feel the need to bother me?'
'Iain, I was certain I could take care of it.'
'That wasn't your choice to make.'
He wasn't angry. He was simply instructing Judith in the proper way to handle her problems.
She was trying not to get worked up over this issue, and failing miserably. She folded her arms across her waist and frowned. 'Do I ever have any choices?'
'It's my duty to take care of you.'
'And also to take care of my problems?'
'Of course.'
'That makes me no better than a child. God's truth, I don't believe I like being married very much. I had more freedom when I lived in England.'
He let out a sigh. She was saying the most outrageous things and acting as though she'd only just realized her lot in life, as a woman. 'Judith, no one is completely free.'
'You are.'
He shook his head. 'As laird, I have far more restrictions than any of the warriors serving under me. My every action is accountable to the council. Everyone has a place here, responsibilities as well. Wife, I don't like hearing you tell me you don't like being married to me.'
'I didn't say I didn't like being married to you, husband. I said I didn't like being married very much. It's most restrictive. There is a difference.'
The look on his face indicated he didn't agree. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. 'You will like being married to me, Judith. I command it.'
It was a ridiculous order. She pulled back and looked up at him. She was certain he was jesting and his amusement would be there, in his expression.
Iain wasn't jesting however. Lord, he looked… worried, vulnerable too. She was surprised by that notice, and very, very pleased. She went back into his arms. 'I love you,' she whispered. 'Of course I like being married to you.'
He squeezed her tight. 'And you will, therefore, like giving me your problems to solve,' he announced.
'Sometimes I will,' she said, refusing to give him her full agreement. 'And sometimes I will solve them myself.'
'Judith-'
She interrupted him. 'Frances Catherine told me that you were more of a father to Patrick than an older brother. You grew up solving all his problems for him, didn't you?'
