Читать книгу Highland Hearts - Eva Hamilton Maria - Страница 13

As the door to the Montgomerys’ house closed, Logan thrust himself from the rock to stand at his full height. Only then did he realize his hands bled. He stared at them for a moment in disbelief. He’d injured them on the jagged edges of the rock that separated him from Sheena as he leaned against it, pushing with all his strength to maintain his self-control.

The bloody cuts annoyed more than they hurt, serving as a reminder of the hate coursing through his veins. He held his hands up trying to stop the bleeding, using his sleeves to dab at the blood as he made his way home.

“Logan?” Angus’s voice whispered from the dim light of the fire when Logan came through the door.

“Aye.” Logan went over to his brother’s side by the dying flames and sat on the wooden stool next to him. He welcomed the solitary walk home, for it had given him time to calm down.

But in place of the anger came despondency. He felt like a soldier on the losing side of a battle. “I’m sorry if I woke you Angus.” He leaned forward, putting his head into his bloodstained hands and closing his eyes. He kept his head down. Did he make everyone’s life more miserable? It certainly seemed that way.

“Nay. On the contrary. I’ve been too excited to sleep.” Angus’s enthusiasm glowed brighter than the flames. “Nessia was in complete shock when I first told her of your plans, but after I explained everything you’d said, she agreed. She sees the advantage. It’s an opportunity for a better life. Did you talk to Cait about it? Is she coming? Because we can’t leave her behind.”

Despite himself, Logan’s lips twitched slightly upward at the pair of opposites they made: Angus, with his hope for the future and Logan with his belief in a future devoid of anything worthwhile.

Resting his face on his weathered hands, because he couldn’t summon the energy to lift his head, he answered, “I spoke with Cait and she will be onboard.”

Angus just about jumped off his stool. And that made Logan look up. “Angus, you must contain yourself.” Irritation tinged Logan’s voice, even though he would never begrudge his brother his happiness.

Hopelessness wrapped itself around Logan’s heart, leaving him more fatigued than any day of hard physical labor had ever left him.

“Aye. Did Cait make it home all right?” Angus’s solemnity touched Logan. He didn’t want his brother to set his own happiness aside for him. And he surely did not want anyone to pity him.

“Aye, no harm came to her. I wish I could say the same for Sheena, though.” Logan shook his head as if he could somehow shake away what happened.

“Sheena?” Angus looked at Logan without understanding. “What did she have to do with Cait tonight?”

“Sheena was looking out for her and got herself into trouble.” Logan stared off at the dark sod wall. “Actually, I got Sheena into the whole mess.” How could he forgive himself for being the cause of Sheena receiving such torment?

“You?”

“Aye. It’s a long story. One I don’t want to relive.” Logan stretched out his legs and then his arms. “Angus, why didn’t you tell me Sheena’s father and brother had died?”