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Flynn decided to listen to his beautiful betrothed this time and went to sit beside her on the floor. Her familiar scent of lilies encircled her still and reminded him of every single time he had been close enough to smell her. She was beautiful, inside out. He waited patiently as she took his hand in hers and slowly, almost hesitantly, extended it towards Bannock as if she herself was scared the moody cat would reject him.
“Be gentle,” she whispered, stealing a glance at him. Flynn had already been looking at her, unable to tear away his gaze from her face, which was focused on his hand and Bannock. “Just pet her carefully now, all right. I am certain she will accept ye this time.”
“Let’s see,” Flynn murmured, before finally taking his hand further and lightly grazing Bannock’s soft fur.
His eyes widened in amazement as the cat did not shy away or jerk away from his hand. Instead, she leaned into his chest and turned her small head sideways, purring softly.
Flynn felt tears come into his eyes as he realized what had just happened, and he confidently moved closer, petting Bannock with both hands. It was evident she was enjoying the attention as her eyes closed, and she continued to purr.
He dropped lower and kissed her head, and the cat did not mind at all. It was both jarring and unbelievable for him, since he never could have expected this from Bannock. He had come to believe the fact that the cat would always dislike him no matter what, but it felt as if the furry creature finally had a change of heart.
“Astrid, can ye see this too, or am I just imagining it?” he asked, turning to look at Astrid as she sat beside him with happy tears in her eyes.
“It is real, I am afraid. Bannock loves ye now,” Astrid confirmed, and Flynn wanted to shout his victory.
He couldn’t remember feeling as elated after winning a battle as he did after earning the love of a cat. It seemed as if he had not only gained Bannock’s love and trust but also Astrid’s, and this victory was what truly mattered to him.
He sucked in a sharp breath as the cat came closer to him and settled comfortably in his lap as if she had been doing that for days now. Both he and Astrid knew it was the first time Bannock had trodden this close to him, and his awestruck expression was proof of how he felt.
“I am slightly jealous now,” Astrid whispered, moving closer to him and placing her head on his shoulder as she petted her cat with one hand.
“And I am the happiest man in the world,” he returned, truly feeling like a man who had it all.
With Bannock resting in his lap and Astrid resting her head on his shoulder, Flynn was certain he would want nothing more. It was as if nothing else even mattered at that moment.
* * *
Flynn looked up as a knock sounded at the door to his study, quite early in the morning. He had woken up earlier than usual and resumed work since he had not been able to get much done in the past few days due to his touring of the clan lands. His mind was still rather caught up with what had happened with Myles and the villages located at the borders, and he wasn’t certain how to move forward with that business. He knew that he needed to solve the matter immediately before Myles tried to trick him some other way.
“Come in,” he called out, wondering who had come to him at this hour. He knew Billy would still be asleep, and he had not asked for anything to be brought to him.
The door opened, and he was slightly surprised to see Laird O’Donnely walk in. The old Laird looked rather hesitant, and Flynn could not blame him after what had happened last night with Astrid. If Laird O’Donnely was embarrassed, he should have been. He had not treated Astrid the right way.
“Do ye have a moment?” the old Laird asked.
Flynn nodded, immediately standing up out of respect. He walked out from behind his desk and motioned for Laird O’Donnely to sit down on the sofa. Once both of them were seated, Flynn looked at him expectantly, still wondering what the man could want now. He was certain Murray was not here to apologize for his conduct.
“What is it, Laird O’Donnely?” he asked, breaking the silence that had descended upon them.
“I just came to tell ye that I am about to leave. I must return back home, but Keira will be staying a little longer with Astrid,” Laird O’Donnely explained, and Flynn nodded, carefully concealing the relief he felt upon hearing this. “Will that be all right?”
“Keira is more than welcome to stay as long as she wishes to. Ye were too, but I understand that the clan needs ye,” Flynn replied.
“Yer right. There is much work to be done back home,” Murray said, turning to look at Flynn’s desk. “Ye seem quite occupied yerself.”
“I am stuck with an unusual problem. Just need to make sure it is sorted out sooner rather than later,” Flynn explained, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What problem?”
Flynn looked up at the old Laird and wondered if it would be wise to share the issue with him. He knew the O’Donnely and Gallagher clans had never been close, and Myles and Murray were not long-lost friends. The two men had always been at odds with one another, since Myles had a rather peculiar nature that did not allow anyone to get close to him. Hence, Flynn could assume that telling the old Laird would not be harmful to him in any regard. It might be helpful, since Murray had greater experience and had lived longer. He might know of a solution.
“I recently discovered that Myles Park, the Laird of the Gallagher clan, had captured some of our villages located at the northern border. I went to talk to him about it and threatened him to get him to return my lands, but the man refused, saying that I am apparently mistaken and he did nay such thing. I ken he is lying, but I need to somehow get my lands back without sending an army to do it.”
“Myles Park. I have never liked that man,” Murray said, a scowl on his face. “This situation is rather unusual, though. Why would he do such a thing, knowing that yer clan is far bigger and stronger than his and that ye can easily crush him if ye wish to? This disnae sound right to me.”
“I dinnae ken his motivations behind the act, but I ken it has been done, and I won’t sit still until I have me villages back. That’s it,” Flynn stressed, once again feeling angry.
“If ye wish to do it without a battle, ye will only need to keep threatening Myles. He is a poor excuse of a man and will give in sooner or later. He cannae stand against ye for very long.”
