Will’s face drained of color. “Spread out,” he bellowed. “Look everywhere.”
Blair raised his hand. “Wait. Let’s just take one minute to think. Why wouldn’t she go back to the house?”
“I was angry, she tipped the basket of seed but I…” Will rested his head in his hands, scrubbing his face. “You don’t think she left because I was upset?”
Gemma chewed on her lip. Fiona was always going on about how good she would be if they just allowed her to stay. “She wanted to be perfect for us.” She shook her head, looking at the ground. “Poor thing is worried we won’t love her enough to keep her if she isn’t.”
Will let out a low groan. “Ye really think that’s the reason?”
“We’ll know for sure as soon as we find her. Where would a little girl go?” Blair scratched his head.
Gemma tapped her foot as her arms crossed about her chest. “She could be anywhere…she’s quite smart and determined.” Normally that would be a compliment but it made Gemma’s foot tap faster now. “If she puts her mind to it, she could get quite far.”
“Especially if she had a horse.” Will looked over at her. “She loves horses.”
Gemma gasped. “Of course. Are there any barns nearby?”
“McPherson’s is close. He’s got Shetland ponies.” Will was already striding toward her. “It isn’t far.”
“We’ll fan out, just in case.” Blair put his foot in the stirrup. “Let’s meet back here in an hour.” Then he swung up on his horse and began directing the men he’d brought.
Will and Gemma started for the barn, quickly breaking into a run. It likely took them less than five minutes but it seemed an eternity.
The barn was quiet, except for the three ponies grazing in the nearby field. They whinnied as Gemma and Will passed. “Have you seen a little red-haired girl?” Gemma asked them. Somehow, she felt better to be saying something instead of the worried silence that had settled over them.
The barn door was partially open and Will held his fingers to his lips before he slipped inside. Gemma followed holding her breath. She wanted to ask why they had to be quiet but before she had the chance, she understood why. As they stopped, she heard the soft sound of someone crying.
Will crossed the barn, his head swiveling back and forth until he stopped in front of a stall. “Fiona.”
The crying abruptly stopped.
“Fiona?” Gemma called more loudly, choking on the word, She rushed to where Will stood and looked into the stall. Fiona stood with her arms about a pony, her face red and puffy. “Fiona, we were so frightened.”
The girl let out another loud sniff. “Please don’t send me away. I’ll be better. I promise.”
Gemma dropped to her knees. Her legs refused to support her as her heart shattered in her chest. “Sweetheart, you’re not going anywhere no matter how naughty you are.” She looked to Will, her own eyes filling with tears. “Tell her, Will.”
He reached into the stall and plucked the girl up into his arms, hauling her over the short gate. “Fiona, my little lass, you are stuck with Gemma and me forever.”
“But I spilled the seed. How will you plant it?” Fiona began crying again.
“I’ll get it done. My brother came to help me and my other brother can help too if I need it. Can I tell you a secret?”
Fiona wiped away a tear with the back of her hand.
Will took a breath. “I made a mistake too. I thought I had to do this all by myself. I forgot that it’s all right to ask for help now and then.”
“You made a mistake?” Fiona’s tears stopped as she looked into his eyes. He lowered them both down to sit next to Gemma.
“I did. And so did Gemma. She thought I wouldn’t love her if she couldn’t—”
He stopped looking over at her. Her own heart swelled, understanding what he was doing. “I was worried that I couldn’t give Will everything he wanted. We all made mistakes, Fiona. And we’ll make more. None of us is perfect and we don’t expect you to be. We certainly won’t stop loving you ever and we’re not sending you away.”
“In fact,” Will reached for Gemma’s hand. “I was thinking I’d ask Gemma to marry me. What do ye think, Fiona?”
“Oh yes.” Fiona gave a little clap behind his back.
Will gave Gemma a wink. “What do ye say, love? Will ye be my wife?”