“I’m a weaver nae an innkeeper,” he said, stepping out of his home. He puffed out his chest. “Ye need tae get off my property.”
Angus was undeterred by the act of intimidation. “We’ve come a long way,” he said, starting to brush past the man. “I just want a word with one of them.”
“Now see here!” The weaver grabbed Angus by the shirt. “Ye cannae barge into my home.”
Just as Angus freed himself from the grip, the man drew back his other fist and slammed it against Angus’s jaw. Elspeth gasped. The force of the unexpected punch caused the Highlander to stumble into the common room. Meanwhile, the man’s wife stood to the side, waiting to attack with her spindle.
“Watch out, Angus!” Elspeth yelled.
But the warning came too late. The woman swung her wooden rod and struck the back of his head. Roaring in pain, he fell forward.
They had to get him out of the house, her mind screamed in panic. Elspeth threw the reins at Alec and grabbed Jon’s arm. “We need tae help him,” she said.
They dodged past the weaver and helped Angus to his feet. The Highlander appeared dazed, his large frame swaying slightly.
“I told ye tae get out of my home,” the weaver said through clenched teeth. He held his fists in the air as if he planned on using them again.
“’Twas a mistake coming here,” Elspeth explained to the irate homeowner. She and Jon firmly guided Angus toward the door.
But Angus pulled back, forcing the others to stop as well. He looked around him in amazement. “There is nay one here.”
“’Tis what I said.” The weaver glared at them and folded his beefy arms across his chest.
“And as I said, ‘twas all a misunderstanding.” Elspeth let out a nervous laugh. “We’re leaving now.”
The weaver and his wife stood aside to allow them to pass, although their hostility was palpable. When they made it outside, Angus turned sharply to Jon.
“Ye lied tae me. Why?”
Chapter 11
The force of his question caused Jon to cringe. “We dinnae lie exactly —”
Angus’s face hardened, and the tension between him and the lads began to rise.
“Ye better leave,” Elspeth said quickly to the boys.
“We’re sorry...” Jon said, backing away.
“Ye will be even sorrier when I wring your scrawny necks,” Angus growled. He took a menacing step toward them.
Alec ran to Jon and gripped the back of his shirt. They had every right to be afraid. This wasn’t the same man who risked his life saving them. This man was lethal and dangerous.
“Go,” Elspeth said sharply.
The lads didn’t wait for a second warning. Jon grabbed his brother’s wrist and ran.
Angus started to go after them when he let out a sudden grunt. His face paled before it twisted in pain. He lifted his hand to feel the back of his head. Lowering his palm, he stared at the red stain.
“’Tis blood,” she said, blinking.
Evidently, the weaver’s wife had struck him hard. Elspeth grabbed his arm to steady him.
“We need tae get a room at the inn,” she said but then frowned. “Unfortunately, we dinnae have any money.”
“I have some coins,” he said, digging into his sporran.
Angus placed a heavy arm around her shoulders and leaned against her. Elspeth almost staggered under his weight, but she managed to lead him to the inn.
Fortunately, the trek wasn’t far. She informed the innkeeper that her husband was injured by robbers, and they needed a place for the night. When this lie failed to elicit a reaction, she showed him the money Angus had given her. A spark of interest lit his eyes. He took the payment, handed her an extra candle holder, and led them to their room.
Elspeth led Angus to a small side table and placed the candleholder on the wooden surface. Just as the innkeeper was about to leave, she took him aside and spoke with him. A moment later, she returned to Angus. He was bent forward, his forehead pressing against his palms.
As far as she could tell, the bleeding in his wound had stopped, although she still needed to clean it.
“Stay here,” she said. “I need tae retrieve a few items.”
When she returned to the room a short while later, she heard soft snoring coming from the bed. For a moment, she felt comforted that Angus was resting. He had made considerable rescue efforts on the behalf of her and the lads, and he was probably exhausted.
Elspeth walked carefully to the bed and set the bowl of water on the floor. She peered down at him as he continued to sleep. His heavy arm was flung over his head, and his hair was tousled. She fought the urge to smooth away a dark strand that fell across his eye. His mouth was slightly opened, causing the tension in his features to disappear. Even in the flickering light, he was devilishly handsome. Who knew that a man could be so appealing in his slumber?
Aside from the occasional shouts and laughter outside the inn, their room was quiet. She allowed her thoughts to wander to something she hadn’t considered in years: marriage. Angus was a braw man, she knew. No doubt, he would sire fine, handsome bairns with some fortunate lass. Of course, she wouldn’t be that lass since she had already decided against marriage. There was too much work on the farm, and with her mother gone, her priority was to care for her family.
Her decision not to marry was well thought out. There wasn’t anyone she was interested in, and she had cast aside the notions of love long ago. The lads in town were foolish and lazy. After a day of working in the field, they could be found drunk at the tavern. She didn’t need much foresight to know that she would likely have to care for her father and sister, do all the household chores, and raise her bairns by herself. This wasn’t the kind of life she wanted.
But even as she reviewed her reasoning, she felt a twinge of regret. Somehow she knew that marriage to Angus would be different. However, as soon as the idea entered her mind, she pushed it away.
She picked up the washcloth and started to wring out the water when a sudden memory about head injuries seized her. At the same time, a cold streak ran through her body. Elspeth recalled a couple of incidents in town where people with severe head wounds died in their sleep. She should have known better than to allow Angus to nap.
Elspeth dropped the cloth back into the bowl and tried to rein in her mounting panic. “Angus, wake up,” she said, gently slapping his cheeks.
He stirred slightly and opened his eyes. She started to draw back when his soft brogue stopped her.
“Ye are an angel,” he said.
Was he still dreaming? If so, he would awaken soon and realize that it was just her, Elspeth MacFlikire.
“Ye are hurt,” she said. Likely the strike to his head was severely affecting him. “Ye dinnae ken what ye are saying.” Heat was rising between them and was becoming unbearable. She felt a need to withdraw.
He sat up on the bed and settled his hand on her forearm. “Stay, Elspeth,” he said.
She stopped. So he knew who she was and wasn’t delusional after all. Elspeth looked at him and saw that he was fully alert. And he watched her in return, although his expression was impossible to read.
The room was dimly lit, but time seemed to stand still. Unconsciously, she sank down on the edge of the straw mattress. Perhaps some spell wove between them, and she could pretend that it was just her and Angus.
He lifted his hand and skimmed it across her cheek. She shivered as she felt the heat from his touch. He concentrated on his long fingers as they moved slowly to trace her soft lips. After several excruciating seconds, his gaze lifted and caught hers.
“May I?” he asked.
“Aye,” she gave the slightest nod. “But, your injury...”
“’Tis nothing tae worry about,” he said.
Elspeth could feel his warm breath against her lips, and she was conscious of the strange flutter in her stomach. It was finally going to happen. For several days, she had wondered how it would feel to kiss him. Now, she would
find out.
But even as she entertained the inevitable, she wondered whether she was making a grave mistake. Then as his mouth worked its magic, her misgivings faded. She allowed him to pull her closer to him. His strong arms slid around her waist, closing any remaining gap between them. At the soft press of his firm, masculine lips, her eyes fluttered closed, and all thoughts ceased. The kiss felt so natural, so pleasant.
Elspeth gripped his muscular forearms as he angled his mouth, first kissing her one way and then the other. All the while, he held her gently as if she was precious and beautiful. She had never experienced anything like this, and she wanted to stay in his arms, encased in his strength.
She felt her body melting against his hard frame, and she opened her mouth to him. He sensed her crumbling defenses and slipped his tongue between her lips. His hand slowly slid down her back and finally came to rest on her hip.
His mouth was hot, moist, and full of dark desire. She let out a moan as her body began to burn. The odd sensation in her core intensified. Some strange yet blissful emotion also emerged and surrounded her with rapture. Of all the times she had thought about kissing him, she never dreamed that it would be like this.
Suddenly, Angus became rigid. He turned his head and fixed his gaze intently at the entrance. It was then she became aware of the knocking at the door.
“Are ye expecting someone?” he asked in a low voice.
“Nay.” She hastily stood and straightened her skirt. “Perhaps ‘tis the innkeeper.”
Elspeth opened the door and stared at the visitors in surprise. “What are ye doing here?” she asked.
“We came tae see Angus,” Jon said. “Is he here?” He stood on his tippy-toes, angling his head to the side until he caught sight of the Highlander.
Angus got up from the bed and strode to the entrance. “Ye have some nerve coming here,” he growled.
“We came tae explain.” Jon shrank away as if he were trying to avoid a beating. But then he seemed to recall the reason for his visit, and he stood taller. “We shouldnae have pointed ye tae the weaver’s house.”
“Nay, ye shouldnae have.” Angus rolled up his sleeves and folded his massive arms across his chest.
“As I said, we didnae exactly lie.” The lad grabbed the hem of his shirt and began to twist it. “After ye left our camp, we overheard the elders talking about the thieves. They guessed the robbers stayed in the merchants’ quarter. Unfortunately, when we got here, all the houses looked the same, and I — I just picked one.”
Angus drew his brows together and raised his hand to briefly touch the wound on his head. “Obviously, ye chose the wrong house.” He started to close the door.
“Wait,” Alec said. “We have something else tae tell ye.”
Angus narrowed his eyes, waiting for them to continue.
“Aye, we have something else,” Jon said, swallowing. “We went around the town, asking about the thieves. And we discovered that they arenae here.”
“After hearing your lies, why should I believe ye?”
Both boys looked uncomfortable and shuffled their feet. “Please, we want tae help ye with your quest.”
“Why?” Elspeth said, unable to hold back her curiosity.
“We dinnae want tae stay at the camp,” Jon explained. He sent a hopeful look at Angus. “And we thought if we join ye, ye might train us tae become true warriors.”
“That’s right,” Alec said, eagerly nodding his head.
“If ye told us the truth, nay one would have gotten hurt,” Elspeth said, reminding them of their folly.
The cautious enthusiasm on Jon’s face dropped. “Based on what we overheard, we thought we could lead ye tae the thieves.”
“If ye train us, we’ll do anything ye ask,” Jon said.
“I never claimed tae be a warrior,” Angus said.
“But ye have the build and strength of a mighty fighter,” Jon countered.
“’Tis obvious that ye are one.” Alec pointed to the Highlander’s muscular arms. “Ye have scars tae prove it.”
As everyone’s attention became fixated on his arms, Angus glanced down as well. He examined the raised skin for a long moment. He then twisted his other arm and found a few more discolored marks of various sizes.
“I dinnae ken where these came from,” he said almost to himself.
He tried to search through his foggy memory to discover the origins of the scars. Injuries like these would have cut down a lesser man. Yet somehow, he also possessed pieces of knowledge that no ordinary citizen would have. Was he some sort of leader then? Or was he merely a mercenary who fought many wars for money?
Angus closed his eyes as he tried to concentrate on his faulty memory. He was so focused on searching his identity that he neglected to ask the most essential things about himself. Where did he obtain his combat skills? And if he were highly trained, why wasn’t he able to defend himself against his enemies? If he had, he surely wouldn’t be in this situation now. As more questions arose, new and vague recollections began to appear in his mind’s eye. At the same time, the shouts and screams that he sometimes heard in his dreams resurfaced. But although the echoes of his past were starting to come back, the broken memories weren’t enough for him. He needed more.
“Perhaps I’m a warrior,” he said slowly.
Jon grinned. “I’m sure of it.” He glanced at his brother before he dug into his sporran. “We can pay ye for the training,” he said.
“I might nae remember enough tae teach anything useful.”
“I’m certain your memory will come back once we start training,” Jon said eagerly. He held out a paltry sum of money. “Here, take it.”
Angus looked at the tempting coins and then shook his head. Maybe the lad was right. If he practiced and taught hand-to-hand combat to these youths, more memories of his past could be unlocked. “Keep your money. Ye might find a use for it in our travels.”
Jon raised his brows as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “Are ye saying that we can join ye?”
“Aye. Meet us outside the tavern first thing in the morning.”
The boys beamed and hurried away before Angus changed his mind.
Elspeth let out a rush of air, appearing relieved that he wasn’t going to kill the brats after all. When they showed up, he was tempted to give them a thrashing, but now he saw that they might prove useful. No one had ever asked him about the scars or where he obtained his fighting skills. But now that the questions were raised, they demanded answers. At least these difficult questions would occupy his mind, and stop him from questioning why he had kissed Elspeth. When he woke earlier and discovered her watching him, he found it impossible to fight his attraction to her. It was a mistake to pursue it. But damn, he would never forget the taste of her honeyed lips.
Angus shook his head to rid himself of the unwanted thoughts; however, the quick movement triggered a dull pain at the back of his head.
Her brows knitted. “Are ye all right?” Elspeth asked.
“I’m fine,” he said.
Doubt reflected in her pretty eyes, but she didn’t challenge him. “Lie down, and I’ll clean the blood from your head,” she said, gesturing to the bed.
He hesitated, but her concerned expression made him comply with her wishes. Besides, it was getting late, he reasoned. He closed his eyes and allowed her to wash the dried blood from his hair. By the time she was done, he felt relaxed and no longer wanted to leave their room.
***
The next morning, Angus had Elspeth, and the lads wait across from the tavern while he went about his investigation.
“’Tis safer out here,” he said, eyeing two burly men who had just entered the drinking establishment.
The town was alive with the sound of people going about their daily chores. A lad ran past him, driving a couple of sheep toward the grassy patch near the edge of the forest. Meanwhile, a middle-aged woman and her daughter walked in his direction. They both had a basket of clothes at the
ir hips. The younger woman cast an admiring glance at him as they passed.
“I’m looking for a group of men who might have come through here,” he said, stopping them.
But the older woman shook her head and dragged her daughter behind her. He shrugged, figuring that they probably didn’t have useful information anyhow.
Once Angus arrived at the tavern, he slowly scanned the room and noticed only a few patrons present. He caught sight of a couple of men sitting near the door. At his approach, one man looked at him as if he spoke a different language.
Undeterred, Angus spoke to the rest of the men in the room, including the owner of the establishment. But none of them had any relevant information to share.
He stepped out of the building several minutes later and made a few more queries to those passing by. They didn’t have anything useful to tell him either. In all, there wasn’t much he could gain from this town or its people. He had been so hopeful when he arrived, but that hope was now quashed.
With a defeated heart, Angus returned to the group. Of all things, he needed to face the facts. He was an unfit teacher for the lads. And although he was attracted to the lass, he didn’t want to complicate his life further. Of course, the kiss they shared last night was enjoyable. But it was a diversion, nothing more.
“Did ye find anything?” she asked when he was within hearing distance.
“Nay, the quest is finished.” He looked at Elspeth. “The lads are returning tae their home. And I’m taking ye back tae the farm.”
Chapter 12
“Back tae the farm?” Elspeth repeated, blinking at him.
A group of women passed them on the main road, their chatter and laughter ringing in the air. With the loud distractions from the villagers, Elspeth decided that she must have misheard Angus.
She started to speak when Jon cut in. “We refuse tae go home,” he said, lifting his chin in defiance.
“Aye, we arenae going home,” Alec agreed. He stood in front of Angus, his small hands bunched into fists.
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