She tried her very best not to pay attention to it as she pointed to the tree, directing Louis’ attention.
“Do ye see how it doesnae have leaves,” she said, pointing to the greenery decorating the branches, “but rather, it looks like it has needles?”
Louis nodded eagerly, seemingly excited that he understood what she meant.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aurora hovering just over her shoulder. Emilie shifted, making space for the young girl to come up next to her so she could see.
“That’s how ye ken it’s a pine tree, any kind of pine,” Emilie explained once both twins were close enough to see what she was talking about. “But ye ken that it’s Scots Pine when ye can see that the needles look like there’s a bit of blue mixed in with the green. And they’re always in bundles of two, see.”
Emilie was careful as she moved the branch, careful not to allow the pine needles to poke her skin as she pointed to their base. Sure enough, pairs of needles sprouted all along the space.
“I daenae have another pine to compare it to for ye right now,” she explained, feeling the twins press in closely to her. “But if ye ever hold a Scots Pine needle next to almost any other pine needle, it’ll be much shorter. And they have a little bit of a twist to them.”
“I see it!” Louis chimed, reaching forward eagerly to run his finger along the edge of the needle.
The boy’s enthusiasm was infectious, and soon all three of them were grinning. It was almost enough for Emilie to push all awareness of her husband’s presence and how the heat of him threatened to cloud her mind out of her brain.
Almost.
It went like that for quite a while. Emilie and the twins walked deeper and deeper into the forest as she pointed out different trees, as well as some of the plants that decorated the floor.
Archer hovered the entire time. He was never really a part of the conversation, always on the outskirts as she talked to the bairns.
But he never complained. Never chimed in or offered any thoughts. He was always there, though. Watching over them like a silent sentinel.
The longer they were out there, with the smell of the wood and the earth encompassing them, the more the children started to relax.
They had been tense at first. Even in their excitement, the twins had been constantly throwing glances over their shoulders, so they were constantly aware of where he was.
But that had stopped a little while ago. Something that Emilie noticed but did not comment on.
They’re gettin’ used to his presence,she thought excitedly, realizing that her plan to get them all out and interacting together was working.
A quick snap of motion caught her eye, and she stood up straight, her eyes immediately scanning the area.
“Did ye see that rabbit?” Aurora chimed, her voice filled with excitement.
“Is that what that was?” Emilie asked, cocking her head to the side.
She hadn’t been able to see anything; it had all happened so quickly.
“A rabbit?” Louis asked just as excitedly.
He didn’t wait for his sister to answer. Instead, the small boy immediately started bounding through the woods, his legs carrying him quickly as he rushed forward.
“Louis!” Emilie called out, suddenly worried as he got farther and farther away from them. “Daenae go too far. I daenae want ye to get hurt.”
“Get back here, Lou!” Aurora yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth so that her voice would travel.
But Louis was too lost in his search for the rabbit to pay them any mind. Emilie shook her head.
She cupped her mouth just like Aurora had, readying herself to chastise the boy for running off. But she did not get a chance to.
Just as Louis jumped, trying his best to clear a fallen tree, his heel snagged on the wood beneath him. Emilie could barely make out what had happened.
All she knew was that one moment he was there, and the next moment he had fallen to the ground with a thud that resounded through the forest around them, the brush covering him almost entirely from view.
“Louis!” She screamed, beginning to run.