Page 22 of The Best of Brenna Grant

He turned to the earl and whispered, “Let. Her. Go.”

The earl shoved Bella toward Loki, grabbed the coin, and raced back toward the portcullis.

He ran toward the gate screaming, “Close the gate once I’m in and the archer is out!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Loki meets his real father.

Kenzie skipped along behind Loki and Bella, firing questions too fast for Loki to answer. “So is the Grant castle as big as they say? Do you think they’ll allow me to stay? Mayhap I could find a job to do…I know! I could be a stable lad, and I promise to work verra hard.”

Loki grinned and continued over to their horses, casting a sly grin at Bella, who was clearly as amused as he was by Kenzie’s exuberance.

“Oh, wait! Loki. Did you say during supper that you wish to marry your wife again? There’s a nice priest here who would love to marry you proper. He’s a Blackfriar at the kirk on the other side of town, but I like him.”

“Bella and I are married proper, lad. I just mentioned that mayhap we would have a celebration back in the Grant hall someday. We do not need to be married again.” He leaned over and kissed Bella’s cheek before he helped her to mount her horse.

“But you really would like Father Prestwick.”

He scurried over next to Loki, peering up at him with such hope in his face, it took him back a few decades. He remembered feeling the exact same way about Brodie Grant. “Kenzie,” he said as gently as he could, “we really do not have much extra time. Winter is coming to the Highlands soon, and ‘twill be a harsh enough trip as it is. If we delay any longer, it could be disastrous.” Loki lifted Kenzie up in front of Bella. That was a mistake, because now Kenzie could look at him eye-to-eye.

“Please, Loki. Father is the only one I need to say goodbye to. He’s the only one who would wonder what became of me. He gave me food many times and let me sleep in his kirk when the coldest nights fell in winter.”

He couldn’t deny the look in the lad’s eyes, so he peeked at Bella, who gave him a slight nod.

“I promise ‘twill be quick.”

Loki spun around and mounted his horse. “All right, lad, but only for a few moments.” He motioned to their guards to follow.

Kenzie’s face lit up and he clapped his hands. “You’ll no’ regret it.”

“Lead the way.” Loki tipped his head in the direction of the kirk, wondering when he’d turned into such a soft-hearted fool.

Once they reached the kirk, Kenzie jumped down and ran over to Loki’s horse, tugging on his hand. “Come along, I promise you’ll love Father Prestwick.”

“Bella and I will wait outside. You run in and give Father a hug.”

“Nay—” Kenzie’s face fell, “—I want you to meet him. ‘Twill only take a moment. Please?”

Loki sighed and slid off his horse, then wrapped his hands around his wife’s waist and helped her dismount. “Bella, let’s go inside and warm up for a bit.” He turned to the guards, “We’ll return shortly.”

Kenzie pushed the door open and ran down the aisle, calling for the priest all the while. Loki and Bella followed him inside. The kirk was remarkable, and the tapestries and woodworking were some of the most beautiful Loki had ever seen. The altar had red cloths trimmed in gold threads, covered kneelers, and thick pillows with carefully tended needlework on each one. The lad disappeared through a door to fetch the priest, presumably in the Blackfriar living quarters behind the altar.

A few moments later, Kenzie came through the door tugging on the hand of the priest, a tall man with brown hair peppered with streaks of silver. He had a kind smile, and when he finally managed to pull away from the wee lad, he bowed to them, his hands clasped together at his waist. He stood in front of the altar, a distance away from them yet.

“Greetings and welcome to the House of Our Lord. I am Father Francis Prestwick, and I’m pleased to hear you will be taking Kenzie to your home. He is a good, hard-working soul, whom I will miss dearly. He reminds me of my own son.”

Loki and Bella stayed at the back of the building, Bella seated and Loki standing next to her, his hand on her shoulder. “We promise to take good care of him, Father.”

“The lad tells me you are Loki Grant of the legend of the Norse battle?”

“Legend? I’m not sure about that, Father, but aye, I am Loki Grant and this is my wife Bella.” Loki took a few steps in the direction of the friar.

Kenzie bolted down the aisle and yanked on Loki’s hand. “Come closer, you must see Father Prestwick closer.”

His mischievous grin made Loki pause—the lad was clearly up to something—but he decided to venture closer to the priest anyway. Loki had to admit the man had a certain pull to him. He moved down the center of the aisle, Bella following directly behind him.

As he approached the priest, Loki dipped his head, then lifted his eyes to meet the other man’s gaze. Bella gasped behind him and wee Kenzie was practically dancing on his feet behind the priest, a wide grin on his face. “Do you see what I see, Loki?”