Emma froze at the thought of Finn accompanying them. Generally, they tended to stay out of each other’s way, only stumbling upon the other by accident.
“Dunno look so shocked,” Maggie chided as she handed Emma her heavy winter cloak and then reached for her own as well as her children’s. “I told ye ye needed to speak to him. Today is as good a day as any.”
Staring at her friend, Emma swallowed. “Ye want me to talk to him?”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Were ye not listening? What have we been talking about these past days?” Stepping closer, she held Emma’s gaze. “Aye, I want ye to talk to him.”
“But…” Emma could feel her skin crawl at the thought of Finn’s glaring green eyes. “I thought…perhaps in the new year. I mean there’s no rush, is there?”
“Aye, there is,” Maggie objected as she rushed down the corridor leading out into the courtyard.
Pulling her cloak around herself, Emma hastened after her. “There is? Why? What do ye mean?”
As they stepped out into the cold, they saw Maggie’s children running toward them, their father in their tow…as well as Garrett, Finn…and Vaughn. Emma groaned inwardly.
“What were ye thinking rushing outside without bundling up first?” Maggie chided her children, their noses bright red from the cold. Quickly, she wrapped Blair in a warm winter cloak and handed Niall his lined coat. “Ye’ll be sorry when we’re all at the feast and ye’ll be in bed with a cold.”
Shock widened the children’s eyes; however, only for a moment. Soon, they were running through the snow once more, giggling and laughing.
“What did ye mean?” Emma whispered in Maggie’s ear as she watched the men approach, wondering at the way Finn glared not at her, but at Vaughn instead. Dimly, she wondered what the young man had done to draw Finn’s wrath. She doubted he had stolen a kiss as well. In fact, his eyes were on her, and a large smile drew up the corners of his mouth.
Emma sighed, disappointment filling her heart.
While Finn did little else but glare in her direction if, indeed, he paid her any attention, Vaughn always smiled at her, his eyes lighting up with joy. In fact, he had been smiling at her for a while now, and Emma was beginning to think that soon he might muster the courage to ask for her hand. Still, Emma could not deny that Vaughn’s warm brown eyes never managed to set her blood on fire the way Finn’s dark green blaze did.
Oh, why could she not have lost her heart to Vaughn instead?
“Ian told me,” Maggie whispered as they descended the front steps, “that Finn asked to accompany Garret to England.”
Emma froze as though the snow around her feet had suddenly frozen into a block of ice, stopping her progress.
Turning back, Maggie looked at her, a teasing smile coming to her lips. “Aye, I can see that he means nothing to ye.”
Swallowing, Emma reached for Maggie’s arm and pulled her to her side. “Why?” was all she could ask as her heart beat painfully in her chest at the thought of Finn disappearing from her life.
Maggie’s face sobered, and her blue eyes shone with compassion. “To find himself a bride.”
Pain shot through Emma’s middle, and her knees felt as though they would give out any moment. Her hands grasped Maggie’s, and she had to lean heavily on her dainty friend lest she drop to the ground.
“Are ye all right?” came Vaughn’s concerned voice as he rushed to their side, his warm brown eyes searching her face. “Ye look pale. Is anything wrong?”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Emma assured him that she was fine when Finn’s scowling face appeared beside Vaughn’s. His eyes were hard as they met hers, and Emma did not dare look at him a moment longer.
“The bairns said ye needed more branches,” Ian cut in, his gaze wandering over the various expressions on their faces before his own joined Finn’s, taking on a displeased scowl. “Are ye sure ye dunno have enough?”
Maggie rolled her eyes at her husband. “D’ye think I would drag all of ye out here for nothing. Aye, I need more branches. So, let’s be off.”
Grumbling something under his breath, Ian went off to hitch a horse to the small cart with runners that they used whenever the snow got too deep. While Finn went after him, Garrett chased Niall and Blair around the yard.
“Perhaps ye should stay here,” Vaughn suggested, his eyes still holding concern as he looked at Emma. “Ye still look pale. Perhaps ye need rest.”
Maggie smiled at him, gently patting Emma’s hand. “She’ll be fine. There’s no need to worry.” She glanced at her children flinging snowballs at a downed Garrett. “Would ye mind helping him out? He looks to be in need of aid.”
Turning to look over his shoulder, Vaughn laughed and then hurried off to lend a hand.
“He’s right,” Maggie said after returning her gaze to Emma. “Ye look pale.”
Gritting her teeth, Emma felt tears brimming in the corners of her eyes, and it took all her willpower to keep them from rolling down her chilled cheeks. “I’m fine,” she whispered as though she could will those words to be true.
“Aye, I can see that,” Maggie replied, disbelief clear in her voice. “Come, let’s get to work.” Then she looped her arm through Emma’s and together with the children followed after Ian as he guided the horse and cart out through the front gate and toward the woods.
Emma’s heart and mind felt numb as she trudged onward through the snow, the children’s voices echoing around her as they laughed and cheered, enjoying the winter wonderland around them. Vaughn stayed by her side, his calm voice soothing even though Emma could not concentrate on the words he spoke.
On they walked until they left the path and cut
