Page 69 of Bound to a Scot
“Aye. I’ll see ye later.”
Maddox gave him a nod then turned and started off again. He made his way out to the sparring yard, thinking he might have a fair chance of catching up with Lorn there. And sure enough, when he stepped through the archway and into the yard, he found the man going through his forms alone. He was shirtless, his body slicked with sweat as he worked. The large man caught sight of Maddox and finished his current set for forms then turned to him.
“Laird MacLachlan,” he said with a respectful nod.
“Good morrow.”
Lorn walked over to the table and set his blade down, then picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from his face. He took a long drink of water and wiped his face again. Maddox gave the man a moment to catch his breath and collect himself. He dropped his towel onto the table then perched on the edge of it.
“What can I dae fer ye, Laird MacLachlan?”
“I wanted tae thank ye fer last night. Fer tellin’ Laird Macfie that ye sent me after her.”
Lorn waved him off. “I didnae dae it fer ye. I did it fer Emmeline.”
“I understand that,” Maddox replied. “Still, I want tae thank ye all the same. I ken ye didnae have tae dae that.”
The man picked up his cup and took another long swallow of water. He remained silent, his eyes fixed on Maddox as the air in the sparring yard crackled with tension.
“Ye’re welcome,” he finally said, his voice low.
Maddox shuffled his feet, kicking a small stone that sat near the toe of his boot. Thanking the man was only half the reason he’d tracked him down. But getting to the other half of the reason was difficult and he felt like he had a large stone stuck in his throat. He was trying to swallow it down but couldn’t seem to be able toget it dislodged. Lorn stared at him blankly, expecting him to go on. When he didn’t though, he frowned.
“Was there anythin’ else, me laird? I’ve got things tae attend tae,” Lorn said.
Maddox sighed. “Aye,” he finally managed to croak. “I’ve got somethin’ else tae say.”
“And what is it?’
“I need tae apologize tae ye. I—I want tae say I’m sorry,” he replied.
Giving voice to those words was like spitting up something sour and the words stretched his mouth in ways he was unaccustomed to. But he was in for a penny, in for a pound. For his part, Lorn looked as surprised by his words as he did in speaking them.
“I treated ye badly, Maister MacMillan,” Maddox said. “I was… unkind. Ye didnae deserve it.”
Lorn was silent for a long moment, seeming to be considering him. He finally lowered his gaze and wiped his face with his towel again then looked up.
“’Tis all right, Sir. Nae harm done,” he said.
Maddox nodded. “Thank ye.”
The two men stood in an awkward silence, neither seeming to know what to say to the other. Maddox chuckled to himself and ran his hand over his face. He hadn’t expected giving an apology to be such an excruciating exercise. He raised his gaze to the war chief’s.
“Ye care fer her, eh?” Maddox said.
“Aye. I day. But nae in the way ye think.”
“Nay?”
He shook his head. “I swore tae defend the lass, tae keep her safe,” he said softly. “She’s remarkable. Kind. Carin’. She sees the good in people. She was only fifteen summers when she came here and we grew close. I never liked how Burchard treated her. So, I try tae be her soundin’ board, her shoulder tae lean on when things are difficult fer her. Which in this household is more often than I care tae see. So, aye. I’m protective of her. But I treat her the way I’d treat me own little sister, which is how I see her.”
It was surprising to hear. Maddox had seen the affection between them firsthand and had just assumed there was something there. Or thought at least, that Lorn wanted there to be. But when he searched the man’s face, Maddox only saw sincerity. He was telling him the truth.
Lorn looked at him, his expression sober. “I see what’s happenin’ between the two of ye.”
“There’s naethin’ goin’ on between us,” Maddox said, almost choking on his words.
Lorn pulled a face. “I’m nae blind, lad. I ken somethin’ happened between ye the other night. ‘Twas written all over both yer faces. Ye’re just lucky Burchard isnae the most observant man. Ye’re even luckier his man Laith wasnae in that room with us because that man doesnae miss a thing.”
