Page 50 of Saved By the Highland Beast
Sophia screamed and tried to rush forward just as Nessie came running from the side out of nowhere and bit hard on Luke’s ankle.
“Get off!” Luke screamed as Nessie dug her teeth into his leg. “Get the beast off!” He frantically shook his leg until Nessie let go and flew through the air with a yelp, landing with a thud in a pile of snow.
“Ye dinnae dare hurt Nessie!” Cillian cried again and rushed at Luke before Sophia could reach them. He gripped Luke’s arm in an attempt to pull him down. “That’s our dog! I’ll kill ye for hurtin’ her!”
“Let him go, please!” Sophia screamed as Luke caught Cillian by the hair and held him at arm’s length, eliciting a cry of pain from the boy. “He’s just a boy, don’t hurt him!”
Luke looked at her before flinging Cillian across a pile of snow.
Cillian cried out in pain and gripped his arm just as Luke was about to advance on him again.
“I’ll go with you!” Sophia yelled in panic.
Luke turned to look at her with his head cocked to the side.
“I’ll go with you. Please, just leave him alone.”
Luke stared at her for a minute before placing the dagger back in his coat with a smile. “I knew that you would see sense again, my sweet. Let us leave now and begin our happily ever after,” he said as he advanced on her and gripped her wrist.
“No! Sophia!” Cillian cried as he attempted to stand, falling face first in the snow as Luke dragged her away.
Sophia felt the hot tears stinging her eyes as the boy lay motionless in the snow. Her heart cried out as she looked on helplessly.
Dean!Help us! We need you…
CHAPTER18
Dean pulledthe dark grey cloak a little tighter around his shoulders as he tried to shrug off the chill of the blizzard that was quickly surrounding the castle. The day had been long and unfruitful. He’d tried his best to scope out the woods as well as the town, but nobody stood out or looked suspicious. He’d thrown in the towel and returned to the castle.
Sophia seemed more at ease with the situation and had taken Nessie and Cillian for a walk, promising not to leave the safety of the castle walls.
He tried to ease his mind with the thought that the man could have gone back to London, but a nagging feeling at the back of his mind told him that it was best to remain vigilant and not let anything slip through the cracks. It was that feeling that had him come to the front steps and check to see if everything was in order.
“Everything is clear, my laird,” Hamish said as he stopped at his side. “The perimeter has been checked and guards have been stationed in the towers to keep an eye out during the storm tonight.” His nose and cheeks were a bright red as he blew into his ham-sized fists in an attempt to warm his pudgy fingers.
Turning his head, Dean looked at Hamish, who was wearing a black fur cloak, not unlike the one the laird was wearing. The only differences were the color and the way the thick fabric hung on the men. Dean’s was snug and covered his body, while Hamish’s large belly protruded from the front.
“Aye, that was a good call, Hamish. I doubt there will be a need for patrols tonight. The guards can stay in the towers an’ at the front doors to the entrance hall. Naebody will be getting through that blizzard.” Dean turned back to the gates and nodded at the sheet of snow that was already obscuring the view and partially hiding the massive wooden gates.
“Everythin’ has been seen to. Anthony has nae left her side all day,” Hamish said and rubbed his hands together in an attempt to keep the blood flowing. The chill in the air was worsening by the second. “Ye can rest easy now, my laird. Sophia is safe.”
Dean nodded without taking his eyes off the gates. Something was nagging at the back of his mind. Sophia and Cillian should have been back from their walk already, unless they had slipped past him on their way back into the castle, which wasn’t likely, given the current situation. He hoped that Anthony was still with them.
“Ye really love her,” Hamish said as he tucked his arms inside his cloak. “I’ve never seen ye this bent out of shape ‘afore.”
“Aye, that I do.” Dean nodded. There was no use in hiding his feelings anymore.
The whole castle would soon know that he intended to keep Sophia at the castle as more than just the tutor to his son. Amalthea presented a problem to the equation, but she’d have to come to terms with the arrangement.
“Anthony an’ I could see that ye loved her from the moment she came to the castle,” Hamish continued. “She brings out a softness in ye that wasnae there ‘afore.” He paused, shifting on his feet. “There’s nae shame in the love of a good woman, my laird, an’ Sophia is that.”
Dean cleared his throat in an attempt to stifle a laugh. Neither Anthony nor Hamish had ever spoken to him in such a manner before, yet he had to admit that he’d changed since Sophia had come to the castle. Even he knew that there was a side of him that wasn’t the same anymore. He walked around with renewed hope in his chest. “Get inside an’ have some ale ‘afore I knock that silly smirk off yer face,” he said with a serious expression. “Naethin’ beside yer face is soft around here.”
Hamish gave a deep chuckle as he turned to leave. “Aye, my laird,” he responded. “All I meant was that happiness looks good on ye. Ye deserve to be happy, even if it means I have to stand by that great bampot Anthony’s side an’ run the castle while ye honeymoon with yer bride.” He shut the doors behind him as he mumbled curses under his breath.
Dean shook his head as the man he entrusted the running of his castle to left. Hamish and Anthony would feud no matter what the circumstances were. He made a mental note to be tougher on them in the future, just in case they thought he’d gone soft because of Sophia. The last thing he needed was for the two of them to think they could slack off because he was distracted. His smile turned to a frown as he spotted something small struggling through the snow toward him.
The tiny speck seemed to be bounding up and down in a frantic manner as it fought through the heavy snow.
