The Highlander's Woman (The Reckless Rockwoods #3) by Monica Burns

girl had become attached to the baby, and Patience understood her fear for the infant.
    “We’ll see that she gets across as well,” Caleb said in a reassuring tone. Imogene’s expression suddenly became one of stubborn determination. If Patience hadn’t known better, she would have thought the child a Rockwood by birth.
    “ I will carry her.” Without waiting for anyone to object, Imogene went to the nurse and took the baby from her hands. “Come along, Greer, you’ll be safe with me.”
    Caleb stared helplessly at the young girl holding his baby girl in her arms. Patience could tell he didn’t know what to do, and she directed a nod of encouragement at him. With a grimace, he hurried Imogene back to the oldest boys. Caleb dampened three blankets then showed the children how to keep the protective covering over their heads. Quickly, yet gently, her brother guided them toward the flames. With instructions to keep their heads down and stay close to the wall, he sent Imogene with the baby first, followed by Theo and Jamie just a few steps behind.
    Lucien greeted Jamie and Imogene with thankful enthusiasm on the other side as Devin handed the children off to him. The moment Devin handed Theo to her eldest brother, Sebastian hugged his son tight, and Patience saw him shudder. With a kiss on the boy’s forehead Sebastian set his son down and pointed toward the stairs at the end of the hall. Her nephew nodded and set off at a run.
    Satisfied the children and the baby had reached safety, Caleb ordered Aunt Matilda to carry Tilly across. The woman shook her head and emphatically insisted Nanny cross the small stretch of wood with Charlie in her arms. An odd expression crossed her brother’s face as he gave her a grim nod. For the first time, Patience realized her aunt and Caleb didn’t think all of them would reach the other side. They were sending the heirs to safety first.
    She dragged in a sharp breath of fear, and coughed violently as smoke filled her lungs. Caleb urged Nanny forward who pulled a blanket over her head and wrapped it around Charlie who was sobbing with fear. Cautiously, the woman crossed what was left of the hall floor. Despite Sebastian’s continued efforts to keep the floor wet with splashes of water, the path to safety was quickly being eaten away by the fire. Seconds later, the nurse handed her small charge over into his father’s arms. Devin kissed the boy reassuringly and then handed his son back to the nurse and directed her to go to the end of the hallway.
    “Aunt Matilda—” Caleb didn’t get to finish before the Scotswoman shook her head.
    “Patience is tae go with Braxton, I’ll—”
    “ No ,” she shouted over the noise of the fire. “Take Tilly. Caleb will need help getting the rest of the children across. Go . Now .”
    With a look of resignation on her face, her aunt quickly closed the space between them and enveloped her in a tight hug. The Scotswoman pressed a tender kiss onto Patience’s cheek then stepped back and wrapped a blanket tight around her and Tilly.
    The four remaining children clung tightly to Patience’s nightgown as she watched Aunt Matilda slowly carry her precious cargo to safety. When her aunt reached the other side, Patience noted the wood flooring was growing more narrow by the minute despite Sebastian’s efforts to keep the fire at bay. If possible, Caleb’s expression was grimmer than before as he turned toward Patience and she offered him his son.
    “Take Braxton.”
    Caleb jerked his head in a sharp nod. Throwing a blanket over his head, he scooped Braxton up into his arms and moved through the flames toward safety. When he was within arm’s reach of Devin, he handed Braxton to the other man and returned to where Patience and the children waited.
    Without a word, she picked up Angus and handed him to her brother. Caleb winced as he glanced down at Alma. Patience met his gaze then looked down at the little girl clinging to her nightgown. She