Page 26 of Hunted By the Hard Highlander

Finally, Hendry cleared his throat and asked, “What exactly do ye believe ye are doin’?”

The boy looked up, blinking as though realizing for the first time that he was not alone in the yard. An uncomplicated smile spread across his face, the apples of his cheeks round with the force of his joy.

“I escaped while Aurora was busy with her drawin’ and Mrs. Duncan with her knittin’,” Adair said, picking up a stone and adding it to his structure. “I wanted to learn how the castle walls stay standin’.”

Despite his best efforts to keep his face stoic, Hendry could not help but smile. He took a few steps forward, crouching beside the boy and grabbing a stone of his own. Though he knew he should scold the boy for sneaking out of the castle on his own, he could not bring himself to.

“The walls are mostly held up by how the stones sit together,” he explained, grabbing another stone and passing it to the boy. “Ye can add clay and mud to add extra support, but it is important that the stones fit together most of all.”

Adair looked at the smooth rock in his hand before glancing back at their makeshift wall. Leaning forward, he placed the stone securely against another. When he shifted back on his haunches, he looked up toward Hendry as though he were waiting for the Laird’s assessment.

“Do ye see how the top is completely level?” Hendry said, running his finger along the surface. “As long as it is level and there arenae any spaces between the stones ye have stacked, the wall will stand.”

“Is that how the towers work?” Adair said, pointing at the towers sitting on the land.

“Aye, exactly,” Hendry said, quickly building a small tower between the two of them. He pushed at it, demonstrating the structural integrity. “They become even stronger as ye make the wall thicker.”

“If ye make the walls thick enough, would it keep all of the monsters out?”

The boy was staring at him with wide, trusting eyes. It was an overwhelming gesture. He could not be certain that he had actually earned it.

“Aye, the walls are meant to keep the monsters out,” Hendry said, picking his next words carefully. “But sometimes the monsters are smarter than the walls. That is where a Laird comes in.”

“I will protect me people from the monsters one day,” Adair said decisively, turning back to his own wall. Now that he had been given information, it seemed that he was intent on testing it out. “Just like ye.”

“Ye ken that I protect me people from monsters, aye?” Hendry said, watching as the boy tested out multiple stones before deciding on the best.

“Aye, I can tell,” Adair added another stone. “Yer people trust ye. And they are kind to me and me sister just because ye brought us into the castle.”

Hendry grunted in response, saying, “They are good people. It isnae often that we get visitors, let alone new members of our clan.”

“Hendry! Have ye seen Adair?” Aurora’s voice cut through the air, catching both of their attention. “I havenae seen him anywhere.”

“I am here, Aurora,” Adair said, not moving away from his work. “Laird Anderson has been teachin’ me about walls.”

“I’ve been worried sick!” Aurora said, a thread of panic still running through her. “I searched half the castle and nay one had seen ye. I did not⁠—”

She cut herself off abruptly, marching forward and snatching Adair’s wrist. He grunted as she pulled him to his feet. It seemed that he had been trained to obey her without question.

Before Aurora began hauling him back to the castle, she paused to look at Hendry once more. Her gaze was so intense that it threatened to steal his breath. It was like she was calling out to him, but he did not know how or why.

The moment passed, and she dragged Adair away, saying something to the boy that Hendry could not quite make out. It took all of his restraint to stay put, the muscles in his body coiled and ready to follow her back to the castle.

She has been challengin’ me since she first arrived. It is only a matter of time until she pushes me too far.

Chapter Thirteen

“Lady Aurora?” a soft, gentle voice that she did not recognize said.

Aurora turned, blinking when she saw a maid standing in the crack of her doorway. It had been an entire day since Adair had snuck out of the castle, so her mind jumped to the worst scenario. The knot in her chest loosened when she realized that the girl was smiling, clearly waiting to be invited in. She was a different maid than the two that had been assisting Aurora since she arrived.

“Aye, ye may enter,” Aurora said, smiling at the woman as she waved her into the room.

“Me name is Hilda,” she said as she entered. Her footsteps were careful, and her voice was soft and respectful. “Larid Anderson has assigned me to be yer maid permanently. I am pleased to make yer acquaintance, and I sincerely regret nae meetin’ ye before now.”

“Ye daenae have to worry,” Aurora said softly. “I havenae been able to meet everyone yet. I am pleased to finally meet ye.” Aurora put her knitting aside, giving Hilda her full attention.

“Laird Anderson told me that I’m to help ye get ready for supper,” Hilda told her, carefully closing the door. “Ye are expected in the great hall shortly.”