“Tough day?” Sophie asked.

“Rather,” Elise bit out, still fighting the lump in her throat.

A wrinkle appeared between Sophie’s brows. “Pain wearing you down?”

Elise shook her head. If it were only pain, she could deal with it. Her issues lay with the doctor’s verdict, then hunting for Sammy all afternoon. Then Sophie rode up, and in two shakes, she had the boy eating out of her hand. Too bad Sophie wasn’t available to childmind. She was a natural.

A 4x4 appeared in the distance, coming up the drive faster than the posted speed limit. Sophie frowned at the vehicle.

“One last pat, Sammy. I need to go before Goliath spooks.” Sophie indicated the approaching vehicle.

“Bye, Goliath.” Sammy rubbed the horse’s nose.

Sophie led Goliath alongside the bottom step and used the extra inches to spring into the saddle. Well acquainted with high-spirited horses, Elise tugged Sammy out of the animal’s vicinity.

Sophie clicked with her mouth, and Goliath sprang forward, taking the graveled path that led to the freshwater loch.

A horse and rider bolted away from the castle steps as Harry slowed the Land Rover. He didn’t recognize the rider but raised a hand in greeting as they paralleled one another for several seconds. The horse shied and tacked to the right, but the rider instantly brought the stallion under control. Harry nodded with approval. Nice hands.

Pulling up beside the castle steps, he set the hand brake. Sammy bounced on the balls of his feet. Beside him, Elise bore a determined expression that did not bode well. Sammy must be up to his old tricks.

Harry’s stomach tightened, and he lowered his gaze to the sheet of paper on the seat beside him. The recruitment agency in Melrose had faxed him a list of available childminders. All unsuitable. Even if one showed promise, he couldn’t get off base early enough to interview them. Full-time child care for Sammy had proven more difficult than he had anticipated.

He climbed out of the 4x4 and took in Elise’s expression. Though she wrapped that tough demeanor like a wall around herself, color flooded her face, and her eyes were overbright. Tenderness filled him.

For him, Elise embodied everything he wanted in a woman. Her external toughness might repel some men, but not him. It didn’t mean Elise was incapable of deep emotion—she simply expressed it in other ways. Action. Service. Honor. Things he valued and respected.

After all she had dealt with in the last few months, she deserved a break. Maybe he could find a way to help her relax.

“Dad, Dad, I’m going to have horse riding lessons.” Sammy hopped all the way to the 4x4, his cowlick flapping like a flag.

“You are?” Harry cocked a brow in Elise’s direction.

She tilted her head in acknowledgment. “My sister offered to teach him.”