Page 9 of Highlander's Wild Lass
“I’m Chester,” he said after he retracted his arm to balance himself on the fence. Chester bobbed his head to the left, “And that’s Hugo.”
“Well, greetin’s to ye both. And ye may call me Anthony.”
He motioned for the boys to follow him into the stable to begin the task of getting rid of the old hay in each stall. However, he noticed that Hugo’s attention had turned toward the garden, watching Celestia and a very tall, hulking man in what looked like a heated conversation.
“Uh, oh…” Hugo muttered, nudging Chester in the side.
“Nae him again,” Chester said darkly.
“Who is that?” he asked. Anthony felt a heated protectiveness course up his arms as he watched the impassioned arguing happening only fifty feet away.
“Ah, well…he’s our da’s biggest rival, Ryder Koll. He’s been tryin’ to steal his clients right out from under his nose for years, but now that Da’s been sick, he’s been a little bit more…aggressive,” Chester told him.
Anthony squinted and shielded his eyes from the sun, hoping to get a better look at the man.
Hugo jumped from the fence to the opposite side of the paddock, landing neatly on his feet. “Aye, he’s a huge pain in all of our ar—”
“Ye bloody foul bastard!” Celestia shouted loud enough for Anthony and the boys to hear her plainly.
Hugo took off toward his sister. Chester jumped off and followed closely behind his brother. Anthony watched for only a moment before gripping the top of the fence and hopping over it himself. There was no way he was going to let two fourteen-year-old boys get into a fight with a grown man.
Anthony reached the garden just when Celestia seemed to lose her composure.
Celestia lunged for him, but Anthony caught the crook of her elbow and pulled her to him. He grabbed hold of the hoe, but Celestia wouldn’t let go. She was seething, breathing heavily, and trying to rid herself of Anthony’s grasp. His body reacted to her being pressed flush against him, and he took a breath to relax, hoping she hadn’t noticed anything.
“Calm down, lass,” Anthony murmured gently just behind her ear. The intoxicating scent of her hit him, being so close to her. She smelled of lavender and homemade soap. “Give me the hoe.”
Celestia threw the tool aside. It tumbled away from them, landing with a muffled thump in the grass.
Koll smirked. “Did the wee damsel finally find someone to rescue her?” He reached forward, softly tapping the tip of Celestia’s nose.
Celestia recoiled from the man’s touch before pulling and twisting forward, straining against Anthony’s hands. “I swear on my mother’s grave if ye touch me again, I’ll—”
Good lord, woman.
Anthony was quick to grab her around the waist to get a better hold of her raging body. “Ye’ll be kindly leavin’ the lady and this family alone, sir,” Anthony spoke up, cutting off Celestia.
“Ye won’t be speakin’ for me, Anthony Moore,” she growled, still struggling to pull away from him. “Ye’ll never get my Da’s clients. I’ll be takin’ over the business, and I’ll run ye dead dry, Ryder Koll.”
“Rein in yer woman,” Koll said, glaring harshly at Anthony. He saw a slow realization hit the man. “Oh, Chief Moore, I barely recognized ye.” The burly man stooped into an unnecessary deep bow. “Where are my manners?”
“Oh, ye have manners, do ye?” Hugo spat, advancing with fists clenched.
“Easy, lad!” Koll shouted, glaring at the twins.
“Mr. Koll, I’m goin’ to ask ye only once more to leave the McLean’s alone,” Anthony said, restraining his voice to a low growl. He felt it was safe to let go of Celestia, but he still stepped in front of her and shielded her from Koll.
“Aye, as ye wish, m’laird,” Koll said, sneering at Anthony. His eyes then connected with Celestia. “This is nae over, lass.” He tipped his hat and walked away.
The twins followed behind Koll to ensure he was leaving while Anthony turned to check on Celestia, but she was already storming away down the worn dirt path back to the house.
“Wait,” he called, catching up with her. He reached out toward her, but she jerked away.
“No need to finish the stables, ye can go,” Celestia muttered, her voice unsteady. She fiercely wiped at her eyes.
“Wait, lass,” he said again. “Are ye alright?”
She turned on him quickly and Anthony saw the tears streaming down her ruddy cheeks. She fisted them away harshly, deepening the redness of her face, especially under her eyes. Anthony was distracted at how illuminated her light green eyes looked in comparison.
