Page 11 of Intrigued By A Highlander (Highland Revenge Trilogy #2)

CHAPTER 11

D ru moved quickly through the village, keeping her steps light and her ears sharp. The morning mist curled around the ground, lingering in pockets while clouds hovered overhead. Men gathered in groups to join the search while the women were busy with morning chores, gathering water, tending to animals, and exchanging quiet words about the runaway chieftain’s son.

She didn’t head to the spots where the others searched. Ethan wouldn’t go somewhere easy to find—at least, not on purpose. His emotions would have driven him, not logic. He’d run without thinking, and by the time he realized he was lost, it would be too late to turn back.

That meant one thing—he had gone deep.

Dru left the village behind and took the narrow path leading toward the hills, where the land rolled in uneven waves before breaking into dense forest. It was wilder here, the trees thick and the undergrowth tangled. She searched for footprints but found none. The night’s damp air had hardened the ground, hiding his tracks.

She pressed forward, the morning quiet except for the occasional call of a bird and scurrying of small animals. Time stretched, the mist thinning, clouds partying, and the sun peeking through, but still, she found no sign of Ethan.

She climbed a steep incline, pausing at the crest to scan the land below. The woods stretched before her, darker and less tamed than the land around the village. If Ethan had gone this far, he’d be truly lost.

Then, something caught her eye—a disturbance in the tall grass near the edge of the trees. Dru hurried down the slope, her heart pounding. She crouched and ran her fingers over the flattened grass, noting the broken stems. Someone passed through here recently.

Straightening, she let out a slow breath. “Ethan,” she called, her voice carrying through the still air.

Silence.

She took another step forward, her senses prickling. She wasn’t alone out here.

Then, faintly, carried on the breeze, she heard it—a sniffle. A small, choked sound, barely there.

Dru turned toward the trees, scanning the shadows beneath the branches. And then she spotted him.

Ethan sat curled against a thick tree trunk, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees. His face was pale, his clothes marked with forest debris. He looked up at her, eyes red-rimmed, his breath hitching as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t.

Relief swept over her, but she kept her voice calm. “So, here you are.”

Ethan sniffed again, scrubbing his face with his sleeve. “I—I didn’t?—”

Dru crouched beside him, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. “Think. You didn’t think and it got you lost.”

He clutched his knees tighter. “My da is right. I’m useless and he let the whole village know I’m a liar. I don’t want to go back. I can’t go back.”

Dru sighed, brushing a leaf from his tangled hair, then sat beside him. “You’re not useless, Ethan. You just haven’t found out who you are yet and your da isn’t helping you and that’s not his fault. He just doesn’t know how and that probably worries him. Sometimes we’re left on our own to figure things out and that takes time and plenty of mistakes.”

“Were you left on your own?”

“Aye, but not as young as you and you’re not completely alone. You have your mum, who loves you so much and your brothers, who can probably be annoying at times but are searching for you right now, and so is your da and Knox. And your grandda truly loves you.”

“My grandda is my best friend. My brothers don’t treat me so badly. It’s my da who hates me and is probably furious with me right now.”

“He doesn’t hate you, though he has a right to be angry. You shouldn’t have run off. You let your anger rule just like your da does.”

Anger sparked quickly in his young eyes. “I’m nothing like my da.”

“You are more like your da than you think which doesn’t make it easy for you. But staying out here, not facing your da, won’t fix anything.”

“My da made sure that everyone knows I’m a liar,” he said, tearing up again.

“Then prove him wrong. Think before doing anything. Don’t rush into anger like your da. Anger never solves anything.”

He sniffled. “My grandda tells me that often.”

“Then pay heed to your grandda’s wise words. Learn from those willing to help you and even those who aren’t willing can teach you something.”

“Like what?” he asked curiously.

Dru chuckled. “Like how you don’t want to be just like them.”

Ethan laughed softly.

Dru rested her hand on his arm. “You have a family who loves you. That is a precious gift to be treasured.”

For a long moment, he sat in thought saying nothing. Then, hesitantly, he reached for her hand.

Dru helped him to his feet, keeping her grip firm as she scanned the woods around them. Something felt off.

And then, from not far off in the forest, came the unmistakable sound of a branch snapping.

They were not alone.

“Women. They never learn to obey,” Liam said, shaking his head, then scolded. “And why didn’t you keep an eye on Dru, Agatha? You just let her go off on her own? Now not only is our son missing but Knox’s wife as well.”

“It is not my place to tell Dru what she can or cannot do,” Lady Agatha argued.

Knox had enough of their bickering. He walked over to where Robert was sitting in the Great Hall. “Where did my wife go? And don’t waste my time telling me you don’t know. I know you lied for her about the incident with Ethan.”

“She told you?” Robert asked surprised.

“Nay, I never got a chance to ask her, but you just confirmed my suspicions. Now where is she?”

Robert shook his head. “I truly don’t know. The only thing she said was something about how Ethan would run without thinking and get lost.”

Knox nodded. “So, he’d be in the most unlikely place.”

“Your wife is a wise woman,” Robert said.

“Not always,” Knox said, annoyed and left the keep, leaving Liam and Agatha arguing.

He didn’t have to inquire in the village if anyone saw his wife. There were a few women only too glad to tell him that they had seen his wife and the direction she went.

Knox hurried his pace, worried. He had seen signs of mercenaries in the area, and he feared Dru might run into a few before he could reach her.

Dru tightened her grip on Ethan’s hand, her pulse steady but rapid as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Running, she took the chance of losing Ethan and there was no good place to hide. So, she stayed put, hoping she could handle whoever was coming their way. She turned, placing the lad behind her as three men emerged from the trees, their grins sharp as blades.

“Well, well,” the tallest of them said smugly, his dark eyes raking over Dru with interest. “What have we here? Two lost pups?”

The second man, lean and wiry, chuckled. “Not just any pup, Roddick. That one’s got fire in her eyes.” He shifted his gaze to Ethan. “And the other one? Looks like he’d make a good addition to Phelan’s crew.”

The third man, broader than the others with a jagged scar running down his cheek, crossed his arms. “What do you reckon, men? We sell the lad to Phelan and enjoy the woman before we sell her to Phelan as well for his men to enjoy. Unless, of course, she wants to beg for mercy.”

Dru arched a brow, unimpressed. “Beg? For the likes of you?” She gave a sharp laugh. “I’d rather teach you a lesson you’d not soon forget.”

Roddick grinned, stepping closer. “I like a lass with spirit.”

“I like a man who knows when he’s about to lose a limb,” Dru shot back.

The men barked out laughter, but there was an edge to it now, their amusement laced with calculation. They weren’t used to women who didn’t cower. They wouldn’t take kindly to it.

Ethan clung to her cloak, his breathing uneven, his small fingers twisting the fabric. Dru bent her head slightly, her voice a whisper only he could hear.

“Listen to me, Ethan. You are your father’s son.” She glanced at him, her gaze firm. “You have his strength, his courage. Do not let fear rule you. You fight when you must.”

The lad swallowed hard but gave a tiny nod.

Scarface cracked his knuckles. “Enough chatter. Let’s see if the lass fights as well as she talks.”

He lunged.

Dru moved like lightning, her dagger flashing as she sidestepped him, slicing a thin line across his forearm. He cursed, jerking back, blood staining his sleeve.

The other two started forward, but before Roddick could reach Dru, Ethan gave a sudden yell and swung the biggest rock he could find. It struck Roddick square in the temple with a sickening thud.

The man staggered, shock flickering across his face before rage took over. “You little?—”

He surged toward Ethan, but Dru was already moving.

She dropped low, kicking his knee out from under him. He collapsed with a curse, just as the wiry man drew his blade, his patience spent.

And then?—

A deep, cold voice cut through the chaos.

“That’s enough.”

The mercenaries froze.

Dru didn’t need to turn to know who had spoken. She saw it in the way the men stiffened, the way their expressions shifted from aggression to unease.

Knox stepped into view, his stance relaxed but deadly. His eyes, dark and knowing, swept over the scene. “If you lot want to keep breathing, I suggest you take your leave.”

Roddick wiped the blood from his temple, his jaw tight. “This has nothing to do with you, Knox.”

Knox gave him a slow, humorless smile. “It has everything to do with me.” His voice lowered, laced with quiet threat. “That woman you threatened is my wife. So, unless you want to suffer a slow, painful death—leave.”

A tense silence stretched between them. Then, with a reluctant scowl, Roddick spat on the ground. “That’s a lie. She’s not your wife. You like meaty women. She barely has any meat on her.”

Knox’s fist hit him so fast and hard that he swirled around before dropping to the ground out cold.

“Get him out of here before I cut his tongue from his mouth for calling me a liar,” Knox threatened.

The two men didn’t hesitate. They nearly fell over each other scrambling to grab Roddick by the arms and drag him into the forest.

Dru sheathed her dagger but kept her eyes on the woods until the men were out of sight.

Then she turned to Ethan, gripping his trembling shoulders. “You did well.”

The lad stared at her, his breath still ragged, but there was something new in his expression. A flicker of pride.

Knox approached, his gaze lingering on her. “I will deal with your disobedience later. We need to get the lad home now before more mercenaries descend on us. Stay quiet as we go and keep alert.”

“Aye,” she agreed and took hold of Ethan’s hand to hurry him along, Knox following behind them, his eyes scanning the area and his ears alert to every sound.

Ethan breathed a sigh of relief when the village came into sight and it turned into a smile when Dru spoke for all to hear, thanking him profusely for saving her from the mercenary. She was surprised and pleased with his response.

“We did it together, you saved me as well, then Knox saved us both.”

Cheers rang out, his da’s berating earlier forgotten replaced by his courageous act.

His da walked toward them as they neared the keep. “What’s this nonsense I hear?—”

“It’s not nonsense,” Knox snapped. “Your son was brave and did not cower. It is time you taught him how to handle a sword and fight. He’s ready.”

Kyle stepped forward and slapped Ethan on the back. “My little brother, the hero. I’ll teach you what you need to know.”

“You can help, Kyle, but it’s a da’s duty to teach him just as I taught you and your brother,” Liam said.

“But we’re better skilled than you,” Kyle said with a wink at Ethan.

“Mind your tongue. You’re not too old for me to give you a good lashing,” Liam said, anger sparking in his eyes.

“You’ll have to catch me first,” Kyle challenged, dancing backward away from him.

Liam spurted. “You dare to run from me.”

“Come on, Ethan, we’ll easily outrun the old fool,” Kyle said, laughing and got Ethan laughing along with him.

“When I catch you two, I’ll—” Coughing cut off his words, but Liam kept running.

“He’ll be too out of breath to do much of anything once Kyle lets him catch them,” Lady Agatha said with a smile. “Thank you both for finding my son and for reminding my husband of his duties to him. He warns me often that Ethan is no longer a bairn, but I believe he is the one who is having a difficult time accepting it. Come now and eat a good meal before you take your leave. And I will have food made ready for you to take with you.”

“That’s generous of you, Lady Agatha,” Knox said.

“Nonsense, your short visit has done much to help my family, and I do hope your search works out for the best.”

They were on the road by mid-morning with full stomachs and plenty of food, and Dru resting comfortably in her husband’s arms to her continued dismay. If she continued to feel this comfortable with him, she would miss him when they parted, and she didn’t want that. She didn’t want the pain of losing someone she cared for.

Cared.

Is that what she felt for him? Did she truly care for him? Care more than she should? She didn’t want to admit it but the faint touch of his lips against hers had sent a thrill through her this morning. Shock at how she felt had her jumping out of bed. She had never known such a pleasant sensation and she was reminded of a warning—that pleasure with a man could be amazing and could also prove dangerous.

“We go to Autumn’s home now?” Dru asked, refusing to linger in the disturbing thought.

“I need to make a stop first,” Knox said, looking as if his thoughts were elsewhere.

“Where do we stop?”

“Not we—me.”

“And me?” Dru asked, having an idea of what he might be thinking.

“I will leave you at an abbey where you will be safe with the monks.”

“Safe with the monks.” She shook her head firmly. “I trusted a monk once and it was a huge mistake. No thank you.”

“These monks are trustworthy,” Knox assured her.

Maybe he believed that, but she didn’t. “Where are you going?”

“You don’t need to know.”

She shrugged. “I already do.”

His brow narrowed suspiciously. “You are not going to trick me into telling you.”

“I don’t have to. You’re going to see Phelan and warn him to stay away from us. Huge mistake.”

“My choice.”

“And my choice as to where I stay,” Dru said.

“Aye, at the abbey with the monks and I will have them keep you locked in your room if you give me any trouble about it,” he warned.

I’d like to see you try , she thought but didn’t say it, not wanting to antagonize him any more than she already had.

“You need to obey me for your own good,” Knox cautioned.

“I’ve heard that before,” she muttered. “It never turns out well.”