Page 98 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
“Where?” Amelia asked.
“I sent her away. It was for the best. She will be happy in the new world, and I can continue as before. Things are as they should be.”
“How?” Amelia asked, her gaze intense. “Who is this benefitting Noah? Ye may be plagued by yer demons but ye are nae the same man our faither was.”
“Oh yes? And how do ye ken that?”
“Because she kensye, ye daft dobber,” Jack cried, shaking his head and tutting under his breath.
“Ye believe that our faither’s madness runs in yer veins?” Amelia continued. “Yet there has been nae evidence of it. Faither was nae a good man throughout his life, ye have been. Ye may have a temper, but faither’s was different. Ye always lose yer temper for a cause, or because somethin’ is unjust. He ranted at anyone for no reason at all. There is a difference.”
Noah sighed, running a hand over his face and leaning forward. He held his sister’s hand in his own and examined her palm as though it held the answer to his future.
“Ye cannae ken that,” he said softly.
“I can. I do,” she said. “I dinnae think ye sent her away because ye fear ye’ll be like him.” Noah looked up at her in confusion. “I think ye sent her away because ye are scared she is exactly what ye need, and ye think ye arenae good enough for her.”
Noah sprang to his feet, flicking an irritated glance at Dougal, who was watching him with the same expression as his wife. Noah went to lean against the mantelpiece, wishing this conversation could be over.
“Ye ken what I think?” Amelia continued.
“Ye havenae already said enough?” Noah grunted.
“Ye arenae a monster. Ye are a good man. But if ye deny yerself love and companionship for the rest of yer days, then ye will become exactly what ye fear. Nae man can survive in this world without comfort and care, nae woman for that matter. We all need people to love, Noah. It’s what makes life worth livin’.”
Noah rubbed absently at his chest, the ache throbbing gently in the background.
“Have ye ever had chest pain with the healer close by?” Jack asked, breaking the tension in the room.
“I’ll ask ye to keep out of this, Dougal.”
“He is tryin’ to help ye, ye great fool.” Amelia stated, glancing at her husband and giving him a warm, loving smile that made Noah’s chest ache even more. “Answer the question.”
Noah thought back to the times when his chest had been bad and the methods Keira had used to calm him—the breathing, the distraction, and her very presence had always helped to soothe him. He had experienced pain around her, but it had always faded with her care and attention.
Whenever she had soothed him or she had been present, the chest pain had gone away. Now, with her absence, it had been a constant thing. Keira had been adamant that the pain stemmed from his mind. Perhaps she was right.
“Nay,” he confessed, glancing at Jack reluctantly. “Nay, I havenae. It usually started when she wasnae about, and she would resolve it. She always made me feel… better,” he confessed, embarrassed to admit the truth.
To his surprise, Jack wasn’t smug or superior about what he had said; he simply nodded, exchanging a knowing glance with Amelia.
“I thought as much,” his sister said. “And have ye ever had chest pain when ye thought of her?”
Noah sighed. “Aye, when I thought she was hurt. I had to be sure she was well, and then it left me again. She thinks…” another furtive glance at Jack, “she thinks it’s all in me head.”
Amelia nodded. “Well whatever the cause, one thing is certain—she calms ye braither. Ye are without her now and ye are clearly in pain. Do ye think that might be a coincidence? I have never seen ye so lovesick in me life.”
“I am nae lovesick!” he protested as Amelia just chuckled affectionately.
“Ye are in melancholy then. She is good for ye. That was clear from the beginnin’. Ye seemed calmer and more relaxed when we came to visit last. I remarked as much when we went back home, did I nae?”
Jack nodded, and Noah looked between them, trying to find the words to express his feelings without exposing himself completely. He cleared his throat, scratching at his chest absently.
“I am nae good enough for her,” Noah confessed—he was surprised at how good it felt to finally say it aloud. “She is a good and carin’ woman, who is selfless and strong and pure. I daenae deserve her.”
Jack placed his whiskey on the mantelpiece and took a step forward.
“I dinnae deserve yer sister, either, Noah, but I worked hard to win her, and prove myself worthy of her. Just as ye should.”
