Page 36 of The Ruthless Highlander's Hellion
Charles nodded eagerly, dark curls bouncing in the sun.
Marcus approached from the corner, brow still furrowed. “About the guard shift on the east rampart?—”
Nicholas raised a hand, stopping him gently, then put Charles on his shoulders. “We’re walkin’ the walls, lad. Listen close. One day, this’ll all be yers to guard.”
Charles’s small hands held onto his father’s head as they moved, his eyes wide. “I’ll remember, faither,” he said solemnly, voice high but steady. “I’ll protect it all, like ye do.”
Nicholas felt the boy’s words sink into his chest like a warm blade, deep and fierce.
“Aye, good lad,” Nicholas said, smiling to himself as they stepped onto the stone path and back up the stairs to the top of the walls. Marcus fell in beside them. “Reinforcements —ten men, trained well. We’ll position them on the inner gatehouse come sundown.”
Nicholas nodded, half listening, half focused on Charles’s curious gaze sweeping over the battlements. “See there?” he pointed. “That’s where the archers stand, rain or snow. And that corner yonder—’tis always the first to take the wind.”
Charles leaned forward, eyes sharp. “Why the wind, faither?” Nicholas chuckled, glancing up at him. “Because the north never sleeps, lad. It’s the side the worst trouble comes from.”
They reached the edge of the wall walk, where the land spread out in fields and forest, all painted gold by the low sun. Nicholas turned slowly, letting Charles take it all in. “This is yers to love and defend. Nae with pride alone, but with honor.”
Charles whispered, “Aye… with honor.” His small voice was quiet, but fierce with meaning. Nicholas closed his eyes for a beat, the weight of hope and legacy resting on his shoulders—his son’s hands clinging gently just above.
After walking the walls, he took Charlie to the small pond in the gardens.
Nicholas walked up with a slow smile. “Ye’ll need a flat stone for skippin’, lad.”
Then he flicked a stone across the water. Charles lit up with delight.
Charlie looked up, bright-eyed. “I’ll find a better one, Faither. I want to make it bounce like ye showed me.”
Nicholas knelt beside him, rummaging through the stones at his feet. He picked a smooth, flat one and held it up. “Try this. Give it a flick of the wrist—nay heavy throwin’.”
Charlie took it with solemn care and tried again, this time getting one neat skip before it vanished. His face lit with victory. Nicholas laughed, full and warm, and ruffled his hair.
Behind them, soft footsteps approached. Nicholas turned his head and found Alexandra coming across the courtyard, skirts lifted slightly above her boots. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and the wind played with the strands. There wassomething softer in her face today, and he wickedly thought he had something to do with it from the night before.
“Looks like a proper lesson in stone-throwin’,” she said with a teasing lift of her brow, but her face flushed pink, and Nicholas understood that she was embarrassed about her previous wanton behavior.
Charlie spun around. “Mistress Alexandra! Did ye see? I made it skip!”
“I did,” she said with a smile, kneeling beside him. “That was a fine throw.”
Nicholas stood, offering her a nod. “He’s takin’ it serious. Says he wants to skip stones like a proper Highlander.”
Charlie puffed his chest. “And be laird one day.”
“Aye,” Nicholas added, hoisting him up onto his shoulders. “Best start young. This castle will be yers, lad. Learn how to guard it, how to love it, and how to keep yer folk safe.”
“I will, Faither,” Charlie said, holding tight to Nicholas’s hair like reins.
Alexandra walked beside them, keeping pace with Nicholas’s steps. “He’s got yer spirit,” she said quietly. “Stubborn and bold.”
Nicholas glanced down at her. “Ye sound like that’s a curse.”
“Nae always,” she replied, lips twitching.
They reached the stables, and Nicholas lifted Charlie down. The lad rushed to the chestnut mare he favored, and Nicholas grabbed a brush from the wall. “Go on, gently now. Show her kindness and she’ll trust ye.”
Charlie began brushing with focused care, humming to himself.
Alexandra stepped closer to Nicholas. “He’s a good lad.”
