Page 27 of A Rogue and a Noble Lass

“As far as I recall ye told me tae gae.”

“Then ye admit that I am yer superior. I should like ye tae tell Da and Donal, then they can formally make me a captain,” Beitris lifted her head airily, while Logan laughed.

“Ye are impossible. Ye would hae me abandon my friend?”

“I would hae ye recognize that I am a skilled warrior.”

“Skilled, aye, I will concede that, but nae wise. Ye should hae kenned he was too strong for ye.”

“Like ye ken? Ye still hae nae answered how ye ken him.”

Logan curled his lip and averted his gaze. “The enemies all look the same tae me. Dinnae ignore what I’m saying. How are ye supposed tae lead men if ye cannae remain in control of yer emotions? Ye were reckless.”

Beitris snorted with laughter and shook her head. The soft curls bounced against her cheek and her eyes narrowed.

“Ye think I’m reckless? That’s rich coming from ye. Ye are the one who threw yerself in front of me. Were yer emotions ruling ye then?”

She leaned towards him and teased him, just as she used to tease Angus. For a moment Logan paused. A conflicted look came upon his face and he twisted his mouth around. The features of his face were shadowed, and he muttered his reply.

“My orders were tae protect ye. Emotions hae naething tae dae with it,” he said, and this time she thought that she detected a lie. “Yer Da is right. I should rest, especially if I am tae become the personal guard. I ken I am gaeing tae hae a lot of work if I am tae guard ye.”

He turned away from her, closing his eyes and pressing his head into the pillow.

Beitris stared at him. Suspicion lingered in her eyes and she pressed her lips together, still unsatisfied with the way the conversation had played out. She got the sense that he was hiding something from her.

But was it just his feelings, or was there something more threatening, more destructive?

She decided to leave it be for the time being and went to rest herself, for the battle had taken its toll.

Logan’s eyes were closed when Beitris left.

He listened to her footsteps as she departed his bedside. He’d become used to the sound of her steps, having focused on them when they were training together. He pictured her hips swaying from side to side and tried to ignore the twitch of arousal that appeared in the deepest part of him.

He opened his eyes and thought about her question.

Why had he thrown himself in front of her?

He could tell himself it was to make a good impression on Ryan. He could tell himself it was because she reminded him of Abigail. The truth was more troubling than that.

He sighed, pressing the heels of his palms against his eyes in the hope that it might eradicate these feelings. He had been disciplined for so long, avoiding all the coy looks of lusty wenches in taverns, of lonely wives and widows whose husbands had gone to war, of merchants’ daughters who wanted a thrill to pass the night.

Of all the people to garner his attention why did it have to be her? Beitris Knox, the daughter of his sworn enemy. Logan curled his hand into a fist, digging his nails deep into his palm. He could not allow himself to falter now. There was no room in his life for such feelings, especially not for her. However, he could not deny the terror and anguish he felt when he thought that Beitris was about to be taken away from him. He’d thrown everything into defending her, just the way he wished he had been able to do for Abigail.

“Ah, ye are awake at last. Thought ye would never wake up, although I was looking forward tae inheriting yer coin,” Brody said.

“What little of it there is,” Logan said.

“Sae, how are ye feeling? That was a close one, lad,” Brody sounded more serious as he settled down and noticed Beitris’ absence. “Where’s the lady of honor? She was worried about ye. I think there might be something there,” He winked.

“She left,” Logan said dryly, ignoring his tone. “I received some news. I hae been assigned tae the family’s personal guard. I am one step closer, Brody.”

Brody smiled and leaned in, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Then perhaps some good hae come of all this.” He glanced at Logan’s wound. “All ye need now is the right moment and this will be over.”

“Aye, and he will never see it coming. He thinks I spared his life on the battlefield, but I only saved it for myself.”

“And is that why ye spared Beitris as well?”

“It was my duty tae keep her safe,” he lied.