Page 12 of Much Ado About a Scot

“I haven’t forgotten,” Isobel said softly. I will do anything to protect my child and my land. She had made that vow fully aware of what he expected as payment. “I will honor my words, but tonight my son needs me. He’s upset that I took his knife away.” She set her jaw and continued, “And I’m still angry with you for overstepping your authority with my son. I’ll not have him carrying around a weapon he could use to harm himself.”

“You of all people should know that in order to survive in this world you must get up every time you fall, heal your wounds and learn from them, turn them into an advantage, and aye, sometimes even fight back.” He drew closer with every word until he stood before her. “Don’t tell me you would deny your son the chance to learn from his mistakes or how to fight when he needs to fight?”

“He’s still a child,” she said, her voice raw. The only thing that meant anything to her was her son. If she lost him, she didn’t know how she would go on.

“He’s old enough to start learning how to be the man he will someday become.”

At the words something inside Isobel snapped, and in a move that was swift and unexpected, she swung her hand up and slapped him squarely across the face. Xander’s head remained turned for several heartbeats, and when he finally turned back to face her, the dull red imprint of her hand stained his cheek.

“God’s blood, woman,” he said softly, keeping his anger in check.

Isobel balled her tingling hand at her side and tried to tamp down the remorse that churned in her stomach. She hadn’t meant to slap him. She hadn’t fought back when Ezra challenged her. What made her do so now? And even as she asked the question, she knew the answer. Because deep in her soul she knew he wouldn’t strike back. That realization told her more about this man than anything he had said or done up to this point.

“You might not like my words or the fact your son is growing up, but they do not change the truth.”

Isobel nodded, trying to regain control of her emotions. “It is hard for a mother to let her child grow up sometimes.”

“I can understand that. Jamie is fortunate that you care so much about him. Not all parents would.”

What did he mean by that? With effort, she forced her thoughts back to the situation at hand. Reluctantly, she stretched her hand out. “May I have the blade back? If you truly believe Jamie is better off with the weapon than without, I will give it back to him.”

Xander drew the sgian dubh from his sporran and set it lightly atop her palm.

“I’m sorry I struck you. It will never happen again.” She curled her fingers around the sheathed blade as she drew a steadying breath. “If you’d like to come inside the house tonight, that would be all right.”

A shadow crossed his face before he cleared his expression. “It might be best if I remain out here tonight. As you said, you and Jamie have a few things to discuss. I don’t want to get in the way.”

She nodded. “Do you mind if I bring the animals in here for the night?”

“Would you like some help with that?”

The question rocked her. “You would do that even after I was so horrible to you?” She flexed her hand at her side. The appendage still tingled where she had struck him.

“Of course.” He headed for the door and opened it, waiting for her to go through before he followed her toward the cow and sheep grazing on a grassy area near the back of the house. The goats were penned closer to the barn. If she let them loose, they would eat everything, including the harvest.

The chickens were the only animals that truly needed to shelter in the barn overnight to protect them from foxes, but it gave Isobel peace of mind to know all the animals were safe while she and Jamie slept.

Once her little menagerie was tucked safely away, she stood with Xander at the barn door. An awkward silence descended around them. Even the mist seemed to stop curling across the fields to pause and listen.

Isobel bit her lip, feeling uncertain of how to proceed. “If you change—”

“If that’s all—” They spoke at the same time.

She swallowed and took a deep breath. In spite of what they had decided, she didn’t want to abandon him to the barn where her animals slept. She should walk away. Leave him alone. But she couldn’t. Not after she had been the one to hurt him this day. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable in the house?”

“Are you inviting me in?”

She steeled herself against the shudder that slid through her at the warmth in his eyes. “Into the house. Not my bed.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Agreed.” He ducked inside the barn to retrieve the blankets she had given him earlier, while she gathered the neglected food, then in silence they walked to the house as the colors of the sunset faded from a vibrant pink to a dull gray. It would be nightfall soon.

Inside the house, Isobel walked past the entry and toward the only available bedroom on the lower floor, the one that would have belonged to the steward, had they had one. Since they did not, it would be the perfect place for Xander. “The room is a little sparse, but it has a comfortable bed.” Other than a small writing desk, the bed was the only furnishing in the chamber. They had no spare tapestries for the walls or rugs to cover the floorboards. But there was a small fireplace that would help keep the room warm at night as the seasons changed.

“This is more than adequate.” Xander set the blankets upon the bed, then reached for the plate of supper she still held in her hands. “It’s been a long day. I’d like to eat then retire for the night. I don’t want to be overtired for the work ahead of us on the morrow.”

“Of course.” Isobel backed out of the chamber. At the doorway she said, “Good night, Mr. Godric.”

“Xander,” he corrected her.