Page 16 of Taken by the Heartless Highlander (Falling for Highland Villains #2)

CHAPTER 16

What the hell am I thinkin’ invitin’ her to stay for longer? Noah thought feverishly. I havenae been able to keep me hands to meself until now, it isnae as though things will get easier if she is around me even more.

He resolved to go about his duties and try to rid his mind of thoughts of Keira for the remainder of the day—simply to prove to himself that he could.

He looked down at his shoulder. Once again it felt cool and refreshed. His chest was free of any aches. He rubbed at it absently, wondering whether what Keira had said was right.

Is it all in me mind? It was not a pleasant thought to acknowledge.

He hurriedly left his room, knowing of several tasks he had been putting off for many weeks. Today was the day he would finally complete them. They would act as a good distraction from the messy thoughts inside his mind.

Even so, he barely managed to stop himself from thinking of the kiss for more than a few minutes together. as he spoke to his servants on some matters around the estate. Finally he escaped to his study to write to Camden and Murdoch to tell them of MacDunn’s recent activities.

It was several hours before the tension and frustration built up to such an extent that he had no choice but to try to relieve them with physical activity again.

Callum had traveled to one of the villages on an errand for him, so his regular sparring partner was unavailable. Noah decided to go into the forest to chop some wood to clear his head.

The courtyard was a flurry of activity as usual, and he was grateful that he did not run into Keira on his way out. He did not have the strength to face her just now, and he refused to allow his weakness to overtake him again.

As he left through the main gates and headed toward the dark treeline in the distance, the pain in his chest throbbed unpleasantly, and he picked up his pace.

As he walked below the canopy, breathing in the scents of the forest and filling his lungs with the musty smell of wet moss and tree bark, he instantly felt calmer.

He walked a little further, but there was something nagging at the back of his mind that he couldn’t shake. He stopped, suddenly hearing the crack of a twig behind him as his ears pricked up.

He spun around, squinting at the nearby tree trunks, and sighed, putting his hands on his hips and relaxing his stance as his alarm subsided.

“Ye need to be quieter than that if ye wish to sneak up on a man, lad,” he stated loudly as Scott slowly emerged from the trees ahead of him, looking a little sheepish. “Ye’ll get a sword in the belly if ye arenae careful, I dinnae like bein’ followed.”

Scott rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he approached him. Whoever the boy's father was, he must have been a tall man; the boy was lanky but wide with it. He was going to get even stronger as he grew up.

Good. Someone else to protect her when I’m nae there to do it.

“What do ye want lad?” he asked, as Scott made his way through the undergrowth toward him.

“I wanted to apologize again, Me laird. I ken ye said ye dinnae care, but ye are injured because of me.” He stopped, his bright hair contrasting with the green of the forest behind him. “Me sister is all we have, and she’s always looked out for us. I thought ye had taken her against her will, just like that bastard Lucas.”

Noah hid a smile at the boy’s loose tongue. He wondered where he might have heard such language. He couldn’t imagine such words coming from his sister’s berry lips. Get a grip, man .

“I have already told ye it is nae bother. Ye are best to forget it,” he said quickly.

“Thank ye for helpin’ her. Twice now. I dinnae ken what would have happened if ye hadnae been there for her.” He looked frustrated suddenly as he shifted his weight. “How are ye such a good warrior? I wish I could be like ye someday and protect me family as ye did for Keira. I was nae use to her whatsoever, and she could have been burned alive because I’m nae strong enough to save her.”

Noah shook his head, taking a long stride forward. “I’ve seen a lot of death to make me the way that I am, lad,” he said kindly. “Ye dinnae wish to see pain and sufferin’ as I have seen it. Not even to protect those ye love.”

Scott looked surprised by his answer, his brow furrowing in a deep groove as he worried at his lip. When he met Noah’s gaze, it was with renewed determination.

“At least ye can protect yer people. All I can do is stand back and watch while they turn against me sister and harm her for who she is.”

His face was strained with pain and suffering, and Noah felt his heart go out to the boy. He was so like Noah had been when he was younger: idealistic, strong in spirit, and desperate to prove himself.

All he wanted to do was protect his sister.

And that is what ye wish for, too. Admit it. Ye want him to be strong so he can make sure nothin’ ever happens to her again.

He dismissed the thought firmly and put out a hand, beckoning at Scott.

“Come at me, then,” he remarked solemnly.

Scott paused, staring at his hand and looking into his eyes with a confused expression.

“Me laird?”

“Ye wish to learn how to fight? Then come at me. Try to attack me as ye might a man hurtin’ yer sisters.”

Scott remained puzzled, and Noah sighed, stepping forward.

“While ye’re at the castle, I’ll teach ye everythin’ I ken lad. Ye will be feared across the lands…if that’s what ye want.”

Understanding suddenly dawned in Scott’s eyes, and his expression changed from confusion to excitement. He nodded as his stance changed, and his shoulders tensed. He stood sideways on to Noah, ready to charge.

“Try nae to kill me, lad,” Noah quipped as Scott huffed a laugh and prepared to run at him.

Noah could tell the angle of attack before he tried it; his arms were flailing all over the place, and he hadn’t thought to turn his body away from him to protect himself from a blade.

Noah side-stepped him, gripping his shoulders and spinning the boy around in a harmless circle. If he had had a weapon of any kind, Scott would be dead for sure.

Scott spun back on him, disoriented, but he was already returning to his stance, ready for a second try.

“Protect yer chest, if ye’re unarmed, always imagine yer opponent has a weapon, even if they look like they dinnae. Ye want to make sure he cannae uppercut ye with a dirk, or worse.”

Scott nodded, clearly making a mental note of the suggestion and lowering himself a little more to the ground.

“Keep yer weight on yer back foot; always keep one eye on yer opponent,” Noah said, rattling off some of the lessons he’d been taught in his youth.

Scott ran at him again, his position a little better than before. He managed to get one long arm around Noah’s waist, trying to tackle him to the ground before Noah kicked his legs gently out from under him, and he sprawled against the leafy floor.

“Good!” Noah said, but Scott just scoffed and pulled himself to his feet.

“Ye beat me,” he said as though Noah had been placating him.

“Of course, I beat ye, lad. That was yer second time attemptin’ it, and I’ve been doin’ this for years. It doesnae happen overnight; ye have to practice and keep practicin’, or it’ll never happen at all.”

Scott nodded, and they tried a few more passes again. Each time Noah gave him pointers, explaining the ways he was leaving himself vulnerable. Every time Scott looked as though he stowed the knowledge forever—he was a quick study and enthusiastic to boot.

Noah found that halfway through the lesson, he was enjoying himself immensely. Scott was a tenacious young man. He had the same determination and drive for everything he did as his older sister and the same intensity of gaze when he spoke of things he was passionate about.

Noah wondered what his own life might have been like if he had had a younger brother. His sister Amelia had not been able to live with him growing up, and he wondered who he might have become with her influence around him every day.

He enjoyed sparring with Scott. By the end of their little game, they were both soaked in sweat, but the boy was grinning up at him with a light of excitement in his eyes.

“Ye should get to dinner, lad,” Noah said finally as he held out a hand and pulled Scott from the floor and back on his feet.

Scott nodded, giving him another wide smile.

“Do ye think I am better than when we started?” he asked eagerly.

Noah found himself grinning back at him. “Aye, without a doubt. Ye are a good fighter. Strong. Ye should keep it up.”

“Will ye keep teachin’ me?” Scott asked, his eyes bright and eager.

Noah hesitated. They are leavin’ in less than a month, dinnae get attached.

“Aye. I’ll help ye learn until ye're ready to leave,” he said, a hint of sadness in his voice, and Scott’s happy expression faltered a little. But he rallied quickly, shaking Noah’s hand and jogging back toward the castle. He had certainly earned his dinner.

Noah looked back at the forest. He had entirely failed to chop even one log of wood, but the ache in his chest was gone.

Nothin’ good will come of befriendin' the boy, he can never be yer family, he thought sadly. Just as I should keep the lass at a distance, so must I do with him.