Page 47 of Saved By the Highland Beast
Dean listened with half an ear as he spotted a man wearing a dark hooded cape coming from behind the tavern.
“Perhaps I could look in at the castle on my next visit?” Luke asked cheerfully.
“Aye, that would be fine.” Dean clapped him on the shoulder as he kept his eyes on the man that was swiftly making his way in the direction of the woods behind the village.
“I’ll be sure to look in then. Until next time,” Luke called as Dean began to walk down the road.
The laird picked up the pace and followed the man who was walking away with increasing speed. He seemed to be in a hurry to get away from the village, as he kept glancing over his shoulder. The man kept his hood pulled over his face and set out at a trot as he reached the perimeter of the village, circling a building before ducking in the direction of the castle.
Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, Dean kept to the shadows and followed behind for a while to see if the man was truly headed toward the castle. It quickly became apparent that his motive was to remain unseen as he wove in and out of alleys.
Gaining ground, Dean quickly caught up with him once they were beyond the village. Creeping up from behind, he quickly gripped the man’s arm and spun him around.
“Hey!” the stranger yelled as he fell on his back in the snow.
“Jamie!” Dean growled in anger when he recognized the freckle-faced lad with his mass of red curls. “What in the devil’s name are ye doing sneakin’ around like that?”
“I only had one ale! I swear, my laird, please,” Jamie begged. “Dinnae tell me maither. I was headed to the castle to continue me lessons with Anthony,” he continued to plead almost tearfully. “I swear I only had one!”
Swearing under his breath, Dean gripped the boy’s arm and pulled him to his feet. “Get back to the castle, lad. I’ll deal with ye later,” he barked.
“Aye, my laird!” Jamie quickly complied and ran in the direction of the castle.
Taking a deep breath and shaking his head, Dean walked back to the town and watched the people go about their day.
Perhaps the man changed his mind and went back to London.
He attempted to reassure himself that there wasn’t anyone in town that raised his suspicions or even gave him the impression of someone that would stalk a woman. Luke had seemed honest enough with the fact that he was here to see the woman he was set to marry.
He set out toward the forest to see if he could spot any signs of a campsite, just to be sure.
CHAPTER17
Sophia huggedher arms around her waist as she watched Cillian playing with Nessie. The sun was about to set, and the evening chill was setting in as her breath billowed out in small clouds in front of her face. There was a blizzard on the way, as was evident by the thick curtains of snow that were forming around the walls of the castle.
He said he loves me.
She hugged herself a little tighter, biting her bottom lip to prevent a smile. In all of her wildest dreams, she’d never imagined that a man like Dean O’Brien would say he loved her too.
What does this mean now? Are we going to get married?
Her mind raced with all of the possibilities that a life as Dean’s wife could hold.
“Here, girl!” Cillian called as he held his wooden sword in the air.
The tiny white dog yapped as she jumped for the blade while Cillian held it just out of reach.
Sophia’s heart grew with warmth as his little cheeks grew brighter like two little apples in the fall.
I’ll be his mother…
She started. Cillian liked her, but would he accept her as a motherly figure? She’d always wanted children, but it had seemed so unreal as a possibility, until now.
“Sophia?”
She jumped and nearly fell into a pile of snow when a voice suddenly spoke at her side.
“Sorry, I didnae mean to scare ye,” Anthony apologized as he came up by her side and caught her arm before she fell, holding her steady as she regained her footing.
