Page 8 of It Began With A Kiss
Aiden’s gaze traveled to the red-haired beauty who continued to keep his attention. She was a fiery one, that was for sure, and he would not mind getting to know her. “Mayhap with time… as Finlay suggested.”
“We could be waiting for the second coming and I still do not think ’twill be enough time for such a miracle tae occur, my friends,” grumbled Finlay. “Perchance we should just head back home tae Berwyck.”
Aiden was startled by his friend’s reply and shook his head. “You all, of course, are welcome to come and go as you see fit. As for me… well… I am now home.”
Silence filled the group as each man decided his own fate. Aiden held his breath hoping his friends would remain as loyal to him as they had since they left Berwyck’s gates many years ago.
“Ye know I shall stay by yer side, Aiden,” Finlay replied placing his hand upon Aiden’s shoulder.
“As will I,” Logan chimed in.
“Aye!” Duncan and Colin said in unison as they also placed their hands in the circle around Aiden that had been formed. A sign of camaraderie along with years of friendship that apparently would remain unbroken. Aiden would not take their sacrifice on his behalf lightly.
“You honor me with your vows to stay with me,” Aiden humbly replied with a sincere heart. “I know what you are giving up by continuing to serve me along with the other knights that even now guard the castle walls.”
“We have not lifted our swords with ye all these years to give up on ye now, Aiden,” Finlay said with a final pat on Aiden’s back.
Logan gave a low laugh. “Well, if we are all now done being overly melodramatic with our brotherly bond, mayhap we should continue our vigil at these graves for a show of support to the villagers.”
“Aye,” Duncan nodded. “I think we should be done with this public display of affection for one another before the locals think us all daft.”
The group of men gave a low laugh and began making their way ahead. Aiden lingered in thought as he espied the boy who had summoned the alarm last night. He waved the lad over. He seemed reluctant to leave his friends, but finally began making his way toward Aiden whilst he heaved his shoulders back as though he carried the weight of the world on those small shoulders.
Dark brown hair and eyes just as brown filled with hatred stared up at Aiden. The boy was surely not more than ten summers whilst he jutted out his chin in such defiance that Aiden held back a laugh. A lad making every attempt at being a full-grown man. He fell short but Aiden gave him the credit he deserved for showing no fear in the face of what the boy would consider the enemy.
“What is your name, boy?” Aiden asked folding his arms across his chest.
The boy copied his gesture. “Why do ye wish tae know my name?”
“How else am I to address my subjects if I do not know what to call them?” Aiden responded with authority.
The boy pondered Aiden’s response before he finally answered. “I suppose it canna hurt for ye to know it.”
Aiden waited for the boy’s answer and when none came, he gently prodded the lad. “And are you planning on giving it to me or do we stand here all day?”
“I thought making ye wait might be good for ye,” the boy said before laughing in childish delight.
Aiden’s brow lifted at the boy’s nerve to defy him. “You are a brave one, you are. First you watch me climb a cliff in amusement and then you run to alert the night watch. You will make a fine knight one day.”
The boy puffed out his chest at the compliment. “I will be better than you because I will not get caught when I take siege of a keep!”
Aiden threw back his head and gave a hearty laugh. “I will look forward to hearing of your tales of your quests as I feel there will be many. Now, young lad… your name.”
“’Tis Gregor,” the boy answered.
“And I am Aiden of Clan MacLaren but now calling Dunborough my home.”
“Ye be Scottish?”
“And English but that is another story. What is your surname, young Gregor.”
He hesitated before finally answering him with tear-filled eyes. A startling contrast to the confident lad that disappeared into a grieving youth. “Ferguson,” Gregor whispered.
And that was the moment that Aiden realized that the young boy standing before him would have stood to inherit the estate that Aiden now claimed. A sense ofdéjà vufilled Aiden with regret whilst his past collided with his future. ’Twas as though everything in his life was repeating itself now that Aiden had stolen this boy’s future.
“Your father?” Aiden asked, already knowing the answer.
“Over there,” Gregor pointed to the grave where he had seen the lady he was curious about grieving.
