“Nay, she didn’t like it, but she wouldn’t dare speak against him.”
“What aboutyou?” she asked. “Didyouever try to defy him?”
“Aye, more than once, because I didn’t always like what he did to me, or others. But he was my father and I respected him, and I’m the man I am because of him.”
She took another drink and began to appreciate the subtle, aromatic flavors beneath the spirit’s sheer muscular brawn.
“But what about right and wrong?” she asked. “Did he teach you anything about that? Or just how to fight and survive in the Highlands?”
He considered that for a moment. “That’s quite a question, lassie. I cannot say for sure whether or not my father always did what was right, or tried to convey an adequate set of morals. In fact, I know sometimes he didn’t. But maybe I know that because of what my mother taught me. She was a thinker and taught me to be one, too. My father, on the other hand…” He stopped. “He was just a warrior. Mostly muscle.
Not much in the way of a conscience.”
Just a warrior.… Not much in the way of a conscience.
Amelia was shocked to hear Duncan say these things. “At least you had two different perspectives to influence your life.
They both played a part in making you into the person you are today.”
Indeed, she had seen two different sides of him over the past few days. She had seen a kind and helpful man who tousled a young boy’s hair, while previous to that she had witnessed the Butcher’s fury. She’d watched him toss an English officer into a lake, then pursue in order tokill.
A wolf howled in the distance,followedby a scuffling sound nearby. Duncan alerted to the sound. He picked up his pistol, which he had placed in the grass beside him. He cocked it and rose to his feet. Amelia stayed low, looking up at him.
Slowly hepulledthe dagger from his boot and handed it to her.
She looked up at him curiously, and their eyes locked with a dark fervor as she wrapped her hand around the grip. He was giving her this weapon to protect herself should anything happen to him—or to help him fight, if need be. He was trusting her with it.
He pointed down at her, then at thetallstanding stone, suggesting she move behind it. Silently he strode forward through the grass, away from the snapping fire. He stood with his back to her for a long moment, listening careful y to the sounds of the night.
There was another wolfish howl, but it seemed very far away, a mere echo, probably from the opposite mountain range. For a moment Amelia believed there was nothing to fear, until she heard the sound of movement swishing through the grass.
Herbellyfired with panic. Was there never a moment’s peace in the Highlands?
Duncan crouched low andpulledhis axe from his belt.
Amelia crawled behind the standing stone.
What if it was a wild boar? Or an enemy soldier?
Perhaps she should be praying to see a man in a red coat, marching toward them with his musket loaded or his bayonet fixed and ready for battle, but after what had happened back at the beach, she was not sure of anything anymore.allshe knew was that Duncan was standing between her and this uninvited guest and, whatever the root of his motivations, he was ready to lay down his life to protect her.
The moonlight was bright overhead—so bright, it was easy to see the edge of thehillside. Peering out from behind the stone, Amelia watched with keen, focused eyes.
At long last, the intruder reached the crest of thehilland took a seat not ten feet away from Duncan, facing him squarely, and without the slightest sign of fear or aggression.
Chapter Twelve
“Don’t move,” Duncan said. He had not yet lowered his weapon.
Amelia was crouched behind the stone, her heart crashing like thunder in her chest, while she watched the extraordinary exchange.
“What does she want?” she asked in a whisper.
“She’s curious.”
It was the white wolf, sitting calmly.
None of them moved. Duncan was down on one knee, his pistol aimed squarely at the sharp-toothed beast while he held his axe low in the other hand. Amelia suspected he was ready to fling it through the air if the wolf suddenly charged, but for the longest time nothing happened—until Duncan slowly, careful y, sat back on his heels and lowered his weapon.
