Page 34 of Saved By the Highland Beast
The dog under his arm whimpered and looked at her for help as he attempted to escape, flailing his tiny paws in the air.
Her eyes followed Dean as he stalked toward the bed with the dog under his arm.
“Ye will be responsible for looking after the beast,” he barked, placing the very wet dog beside her on the bed.
The poor creature quickly scurried away from the bed and buried itself beneath the blanket at Sophia’s side.
“I spent all night lookin’ for the wee bastard,” Dean said accusingly. “I nearly got meself bitten an’ eaten by a pack of wolves,” he spat bitterly before stalking back over to the door.
Sophia bit her lower lip as she placed one hand on the trembling bundle that was the dog and looked at Dean.
“An’ I dinnae want to see any mess around the castle!” he growled before slamming the door shut behind him. “I am goin’ to sleep, an’ God help the man that wakes me up!”
Sophia could hear him yelling all the way down the hall. She sat in stunned silence for a while before looking from the door to the dog, who poked his tiny grey head from beneath the sheets to see if the coast was clear. She suddenly burst into fits of giggles as she lifted the dog in her arms. Dean had cut quite the comical figure as he raged at her about the poor creature. Yet, he had stayed up all night and braved the elements to find the dog she’d wanted to save.
“You are something else entirely, Dean O’Brien,” she whispered to the closed door with a smile on her face as she hugged the dog to her chest. “There isn’t another man out there like you, that’s for sure.”
CHAPTER13
Dean grumbledto himself as he entered the corridor. He’d only had a few hours of sleep, and the sun was about to set again. He could hear voices and laughter coming from the great hall as he made his way down the stairs. He didn’t know why he had gone after the blasted dog, but he couldn’t have gone to bed knowing that Sophia was worried. He had braved the elements, and he even had to hide from a pack of wolves until God only knew how late in the morning.
It had taken him hours to track down the silly thing, and then several hours more for him to bribe it with food and gain its trust. He wanted a very large mug of ale and something to eat before he slapped the next person he saw for no good reason.
Why did I go after the blasted creature?
What was it about Sophia that made him want to keep her happy all the time? It wasn’t as if he could have a relationship with the woman who tutored his son. He froze when he realized the direction his thoughts were taking.
Why am I thinking of what could go wrong with Sophia? It’s not like I want to have a relationship with her… Do I?
He brushed off the thought in annoyance and continued walking toward the great hall.
The voices made his head hurt as he pushed open the door and stepped into the hall. Dinner was already on the table, and Duncan was tucking in as Sophia played with the dog. Seeing the scene before him, he was glad he had rescued the blasted puppy.
“Look, Faither!” Cillian squealed with delight and clapped his hands. “Miss Harrison found a splendid little dog for us to play with!”
Dean grunted in reply as he watched the dog jump on its hind legs in an attempt to reach a treat that Sophia dangled over his head. Cillian was beginning to sound like an English child the more time he spent with Sophia. A situation that annoyed him at present because of his lack of sleep, but one that he chose to ignore. It was better to keep his head down and only speak when he once again felt rested. It would have been counterproductive to cause problems now that he’d saved the dog and gotten into her good graces.
“Actually,” Sophia corrected Cillian in her sweet manner, “it was your father that found little John. He stayed up all night looking for him in the snow and brought him back.”
Cillian’s eyes lit up as he ran to his father and wrapped his arms around his legs. “Did ye really, Faither? Thank ye ever so much, Faither! Yer a hero! Wee John’s life has been saved because of ye!”
“Who decided to name the dog John?” Dean asked grumpily under his breath. He could have thought of a hundred other names for a dog other than John.
“It was Miss Harrison,” Cillian said proudly as he beamed up at him. “Ye should see all the tricks he can do, Faither!”
Dean felt his heart warming slightly, and a part of his grumpiness faded away as he embraced his son. Things had definitely changed since Sophia had come to the castle. Cillian was more open and loving with him, and the atmosphere in general had taken on a lighter tone.
The boy ran off again and continued to play with the dog as Sophia smiled at him. The laird pulled out a chair at the table next to Duncan and reached for the jug of ale, watching her play as he poured himself a mug.
“Mighty good dog that Jove,” Duncan said through a mouthful of roasted chicken, spraying tiny pieces of food over his plate. “I used to have one just like him when I was a lad. Very intelligent dogs those Aberdeen Terriers.”
“Nae, Duncan, his name is John, not…” Dean shook his head and decided to pick his battles. Duncan was not someone he was currently willing to fight. “It doesnae matter.” He lifted his mug and allowed the warm and frothy liquid to wash down his throat.
“What in God’s name is that thing?!” Amalthea screeched as she entered the hall.
The dog immediately began to growl as soon as he caught sight of her and rushed to her feet, snapping his tiny jaws.
“Oh, my goodness!” she screeched again. “Control the wee beast! Dean, do something!” she yelled as both Cillian and Sophia rushed forward in an attempt to catch the dog and stop him from attacking the older woman.
