Page 106 of Steel & Surrender

Nicol’s throat worked as he stared up at Greig, his features slackening.

The game was up. He understood that now.

Greig stepped back, waiting for the groom to get to his feet.

Nicol did, before limping off to gather his belongings, gaze averted.

The cur didn’t dare look Brìghde’s way now, for danger crackled in the air.

Everyone, including her, knew that Greig would make good on his threat. If he uttered just one more insult or cast her one more scornful look, the clan-chief’s son might just kill him.

Brìghde watched Nicol go before she shifted her attention to Greig.

Her heart was racing now, both in anger—for she had wanted to slam her fist into Nicol’s face—and in embarrassment.

Every eye in the courtyard was on her.

They’d all witnessed the scene, including Gareth, who had emerged from the forge when he heard the commotion, and the farrier and the guards. Two lasses watched from the steps to the backhouse.

All of them had seen him defending the Forge Maiden’s honor.

Her gaze met Greig’s then, squarely—for the first time in weeks.

Her heart bucked at the contact. “I could have handled him,” she said, hating how breathless she sounded.

Greig moved toward her, stopping when they were just a couple of feet apart.

Her cheeks started to glow then. Didn’t he care that they had amassed quite an audience now?

Everyone was staring.

Everyone would be wondering why he’d stood up for her and thrashed a man on her behalf.

“I’m sure ye could have handled him yerself,” he replied. “But he’s had warnings before … this was overdue.” He paused then. “The things he said to ye, Brìghde … I won’t have ye believe a word of it.”

Her cheeks were burning like embers now. “I don’t,” she said stiffly. “Now, if ye’ll excuse me, I must get back to work.”

Sidestepping the cart of muck, she hurried away.

“I heard what happened yesterday at the castle.”

Brìghde glanced up from where she was shelling beans on the doorstep.

Her mother crouched a few yards away, cutting a cabbage for the stew she was making for the noon meal.

It was rare for mother and daughter to work or spend time together at this hour, but of late, Brìghde had taken to leaving Eòghan alone in the forge while she helped her mother out with some of the chores he had once taken care of.

It seemed only fair.

Ada had a lot of work to do, and unfortunately, their father couldn’t help with most of it.

Even so, Ada’s comment made her wish that she’d remained safely ensconced in the forge this morning.

“News travels as fast as the plague in this place,” she muttered. “How folk love to gossip.”

Her mother arched an eyebrow. “Aye, well, it’s not every day they see the clan-chief’s firstborn defending a local woman’s honor and knocking a man down for disrespecting her.”

“Nicol Mackenzie had it coming,” Brìghde growled.