Free Fated Hearts 02 - Highland Echoes by Ceci Giltenan

finish the game,” one of his friends called.
    “Well, if yer sure then. But save a dance for me tonight.” Michael went back to his friends before she could tell him she wouldn’t be at the feast.
    “Mama, I want to pway peevers,” Kristen squealed when she saw a group of children playing the hopping game on a course scratched into the dirt.
    Grace played this game with Kristen, but with very lax rules. “We’ll go watch.”
    As they drew nearer, Grace noticed several women chatting to one side as the children played. They were perhaps a little older than Grace and she assumed they were the mothers of some of the children.
    “Can I pway wif them?” Kristen asked.
    “They look very good at this. Maybe today we should just watch.”
    “She can play,” said a slender lass with dark hair who looked to be about eight. “We let my baby sister play.” The lass leaned in and whispered loudly, “We don’t count their mistakes. It’s just for fun.”
    “Thank ye, lass, that’s kind of ye. Her name is Kristen.”
    “Mine’s Teasag,” the lass said, taking Kristen’s hand and walking her to one of the courses.
    “And my name’s Una,” said one of the women with a grin. “Teasag is my daughter and it’s a good thing they don’t count mistakes because they practically have to redraw the course when my little one is through.”
    “I’m Grace. Very nice to meet ye.”
    “Yer Innes’ Grace? I’m Senga and this is my sister, Nell. My older sister Nell.”
    “Aye, I’m Inne’s granddaughter. It’s a pleasure to meet ye.”
    The third woman smiled warmly. “Aye, I’m her older sister—by a few minutes. We’re twins. She loves telling folks that.”
    Grace enjoyed chatting with the women. Not surprisingly, the story about Grace’s arrival and why her parents had fled to Lewis had apparently made the rounds but the knife throwing incident seemed to capture even more attention. She enjoyed the light banter and they made her feel very welcome.
    After a while, Teasag came over and tugged at her mother’s hand. “Mama, ye said ye would play with us.”
    Una grinned at Grace. “Have ye ever played peevers with a burden?”
    Grace laughed. “Aye, I have.”
    “Then ladies, choose yer burdens,” said Una as she scooped up a giggling lass of about two. Nell and Senga also picked up small children who squealed with glee.
    To the absolute delight of the older children, the women took turns hopping the course for roughly half an hour, each with a child on her back. Nearly through with one turn, Grace stood balanced on one foot with Kristen clinging to her back. She had leaned forward to pick up her stone when she lost her balance. She toppled forward, catching herself with her hands, but having failed that round, rolled to one side, landing on her arse to the vast amusement of everyone present.
    Kristen chortled with an abandon Grace hadn’t heard in months. She pulled the child into her lap, planting kisses on her face, causing Kristen to laugh harder.
    The laughter from the onlookers quieted rather suddenly when Una said, “Good afternoon, sir.”
    “Don’t let me interrupt ye ladies,” a smooth masculine voice said.
    Grace looked up into the mirth-filled eyes of Bram Sutherland. “Mistress Breive, allow me to help ye up.”
    Mother of God . Grace felt the color rise in her face. What a sight she must be sitting in the dirt with her skirt twisted around her legs. She looked more like a ragamuffin than a responsible, grown woman with a child. Sighing, she accepted the hand he offered, letting him pull her to her feet.
    “Are ye enjoying yerself?” Bram asked, his impossibly blue eyes twinkling with delight.
    She brushed the dirt from her clothes to focus her attention on anything but his eyes. “Aye, thank ye, sir.”
    “Mama, can we go again?”
    “Nay, Kristen, I think it’s Nell’s turn now and we should be going. I promised Grandmother we wouldn’t be too long.” Turning to the women,