Three
A month later
Katie laughed as she dodged his attempts to gain on her.
She felt free.
Confident.
Almost happy.
James had taught her how to carry, hold, and use both a dagger and a larger blade, such as a small sword.
He’d told her that because of her smaller size, a smaller blade would be easier for her to wield. They focused her training with that approach. He’d warned her that this could make her uncomfortable, since she seemed reluctant for physical contact and her smaller blade would require her to be closer to her adversary.
While she agreed it would make her uncomfortable, she was committed to overcoming this issue.
As it was, their hands had touched on a few occasions.
And Katie no longer moved her hand away as if burned. For her, that was an accomplishment in and of itself.
Katie turned and sliced downward with her smaller sword. James jumped out of the way, and she erupted in laughter anew.
“Enjoying this, are ye nay, lass?”
She leaned down to inhale deeply.
“Aye!”
James approached her cautiously. The last month had been enjoyable for him. He’d sent a letter to his father about his staying on and training Katie. His father had replied with agreement, and so James had begun teaching her skills that would help her to never be at the mercy of men again.
“Fine performance, lass.”
He made to grab her blade, their exercise complete, and his fingers brushed her hand. It surprised her that she did not feel the usual nausea and need to pull back that accompanied a touch that was not her family’s. Even then with them, she had limited tolerance.
They’re eyes locked onto one another.
Her smile didn’t fade as she continued to look upon him. He was a fine man to her eyes. He stretched above her, towering like a tree, with shoulders just as broad. When he sparred with her, he was bare-chested, and its massive width was covered with the same dark hair that fell from his head. James kept it tied back from his face, and she was curious about its length. Her fingers flexed as she tried to ignore the desire to run her hands through it.
His eyes were magnificent. They gleamed like the sun on a clear, crisp day. It’s golden hue reflected the intelligence that was innate in him. She had the impression that this giant man knew what one would do even before the thoughts formed in one’s mind.
The kindness that emanated from him to her, that was what had her heart beat in a frantic rhythm.
Yes, he was most certainly the most splendid, handsome man she had ever rested her eyes upon, but what was more important to her was that he was kind and gentle.
Patient.
His heart was larger than his body.
Though it had only been a mere few weeks, Katie felt the beginnings of strong emotion for him.
But she couldn’t reveal that to him. She would never be a whole woman after what had happened to her.
And Sweet James deserved a wife befitting him and his eventual station in the Menzies clan as future laird.
And Katie could not, and would not, be the wife at his side.
She would never be her.
He deserved better than her.
And that thought hurt as much as her dagger through her heart would.
“Katie, lass. Are ye hale, mo stòr?”
His treasure.
When he called her that, her heart missed beats as it swelled in her chest. His burr was the strongest of any she’d ever heard, and its deep rich tones caused bumps on her skin more times than she could count.
“My thoughts. They took me far away.”
He studied her too closely for her liking.
James Menzies had eyes like a hawk and he missed nothing.
“Seems to me that far would be the castle, but ye were in England, lass.”
Her eyes rounded at his words. “I apologize.”
He continued to look at her a little longer making her shift on her feet.
“Soon, we will begin training on defending yerself without a blade or weapon.”
“Alright.”
Her breath was halting, as if waiting for bad information to accompany his words.
He looked away for a second before the golden jewels of his eyes focused on her again.
“This requires contact, lass. Touch.”
The roundness of Katie’s eyes was now joined with the roundness of her mouth.
“Oh.”
“We can begin with evasive maneuvers and the like, but eventually, I will have to show ye what to do if someone holds ye, captures ye.”
Katie’s eyes roamed over his gleaming arms, sweat making them glisten. Odd, warring emotions passed within her.
The reluctant feeling to never be touched again, which always gave way to repulsion, was at odds against the curious desire of wanting to know what it would be like to have James’ safe and massive arms around her.
“Lass?”
Her eyes focused on his expectant ones. Finding her mouth suddenly dry, she croaked, “Aye. I understand.”
He nodded but kept the peculiar look on his face.
They sparred a bit more before deciding to leave their private wooded area near the loch. Once they reached the courtyard, James nodded at her as he veered towards the stables.
“Learn much with James, lass?”
Connor watched her. He always did that. It was as if the unjustified guilt of not having protected her gnawed at him daily.
“Yes, dear brother. Quit looking at me thusly. I’m bettering. I’m becoming stronger. I’ve never blamed ye, or anyone else, Connor, except for those actually responsible.”
“‘Tis my responsibility to look after ye, lass.”
“It is as much yer fault as Maddie’s upbringing is Sweet James’.”
She covered her mouth with her hands, horrified that her mind’s name for him was betrayed by her mouth.
Connor laughed.
“Sweet James, is it?”
Kiel and Iain walked over having seen Connor laugh.
“What has our sour brother laughing so heartily?”
Connor looked at Iain. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Katie close her eyes in embarrassment.
“Connor!”
Katie’s warning was met by Connor’s genuine laugh. It had been a long while since he and his siblings had shared this simple moment. Since Katie could walk, they’d teased her mercilessly.
It was heartwarming to him that they had the fortune to experience this again, as if for a fleeting moment nothing horrible had ever befallen their precious sister.
“Connor!”
She growled his name again as she’d always had, making the brothers laugh all the more.
“Do tell, brother, and share in this delight. I havena heard Katie growl like that in too long of a span.”
She growled without any intelligible words, sending them into another fit of laughter.
“Katie here just called James the Manslayer, sweet.”
The brothers looked at one another for a quiet moment before erupting in guffaws. Katie’s cheeks were red but her nose flared slightly, signaling her rising annoyance.
“Lass, the Marbhaiche? Ye jest. There’s nary a sweet quality about the man even if he were to eat fruit pudding for the remainder of his life.”
Katie’s lips pursed as she looked at her brothers.
“Truly?”
They nodded.
“Surely he’s known by another name?”
They smiled and she closed her eyes.
“Aye. James the Blackheart.”
Connor said that, and Iain added, “But he’s most assuredly nay known as Sweet James.”
“James Menzies has a repute as one of the fiercest warriors in the Highlands, lass. He’s never been bested in battle. ‘Tis why I didna object to his instruction to ye. ‘Tis the truth, and I say this without the least bit of bitterness or envy, he’s mayhap the best man to show ye. Even without his sword, he’s a force from legend and lore.”
Katie thought about Connor’s words, attempting to reconcile the man he’d described with the man who was patiently and thoughtfully teaching her how to defend herself.
“Sweet James…”
Kiel’s mimick brought her out of her thoughts. They continued to laugh as she gave them annoyed looks before entering the keep.
“Sweet James…”
The loud groan in reaction to Kiel’s words made them chuckle all the more.