Page 40 of Saved By the Cruel Highlander
She didn’t know how true that was. Elias had told her that he got the scars from his brother but hadn’t told her any more than that.
“How about ye dinnae mention them again,” she suggested. “Can ye do that for me?”
“Aye, I can do that,” Cole replied.
“Good boy,” Holly said. She went to him and kissed him on the top of the head. Then, she turned to the closest maid. “Cassandra is out in the gardens pickin’ some flowers for her medicines. Will ye take Cole out there and see if she needs a hand? Tell her that I sent ye, all right?”
“Aye, Me Lady,” the maid said.
“Can ye help Cassandra?” Holly asked Cole. “It’s mighty important that she has enough flowers and herbs to heal everyone in the castle.”
Cole nodded quickly and eagerly. “Aye, I’ll help heal everyone.”
Holly tussled his hair just like the Laird had done. Then, she got up from the table and left the room. She needed to speak with him.
Elias sat at the desk in his study, with his head down and his shoulders hunched. He pored over the papers before him, going over the same numbers over and over, and each time, they slipped from his mind. He slammed a fist on the table.
It was not the boy’s fault, but the child still needed to be taught some manners.
Elias swiped his hand across his desk, throwing all the documents to the floor. He got up from the desk and paced the room, trying to push the dark thoughts out of his mind.
Five years and he still felt an insurmountable rage toward his brother for what he had done. Five years and he still had to live with the memory of killing his brother. Five years since he had learned the truth about everything and become alone in the world.
I willnae ever go through pain like that again! I willnae do it! Then I’m sent the boy, and I cannae do anythin’ to stop him from goin’ through the pain of losin’ his family! It’s a twisted joke!
Elias put his hand on the wall and held it there, pushing on it as if he could push the castle back into the past and fix everything. He suddenly thought of Cassandra. She seemed to have a remedy for everything, but there was no fixing him.
A knock sounded at the door, a tentative thud, like a small child afraid to face their father.
“What!” Elias asked with practiced control.
He needed to shout to release some of the pent-up emotion and make himself feel better, and it worked for a moment before the anger came flooding back, stronger than before.
“Well!” he called when there was no reply. “Are ye comin’ in?”
The door was pushed open hesitantly, and Holly walked slowly into the room.
“I announced meself, but ye didnae reply to me,” she told him, a wary scowl on her face.
“Aye, well, I didnae hear ye, so ye need to speak up in the future.”
He saw the fear in her eyes, a reflection of the rage he showed. He knew it flared up in his eyes and on his brow. She didn’t deserve his anger, and neither did the boy, but they had both chosen to come to the castle, so they must deal with it.
“Are ye doin’ all right?” Holly asked.
Elias knew she had mustered the courage to come and talk to him, but he couldn’t stop himself from snapping at her. “Aye, I’m fine. Will ye just leave me be?”
“He didnae mean anythin’ by it,” Holly explained.
“I ken that, and I dinnae need ye explainin’ it to me. I’m nae a dobber.”
“I didnae say that ye were,” Holly countered.
“Then why did ye come here?” Elias growled.
“To make sure ye are well,” Holly said, her eyes welling with tears.
“And ye’ve done that, so ye can go,” Elias said.
