Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

" R eed!" Sophia grinned as she walked up to him.

Reed smiled back at her, even more widely. "Milady, I didn't think ye'd really come."

"I am sorry," she said. "I ken, I am here instead of my sister. She had other things to tend to, ye see."

"Lorena?" Reed asked clearly surprised.

"Aye. The maidservant, Catherine—she said ye wanted to see Lorena," Sophia explained, but she felt suspicion bubbling inside of her. "Did ye nae?"

"Nae," Reed responded, still clearly astonished. "I requested to see ye, nae Lorena. The maid might've jumbled things up."

"Aye, Reed. She might've been mistaken," she said. Still, she was unconvinced.

She had offered to come to see Reed in Lorena's place because she didn't want herto get into any trouble, especially since she was already betrothed to the Laird. Andshe knew Reed would never try to compromise Lorena. He knew of her engagement. Which meant someone had lied.

"How is yer stay in the keep?" Reed asked. "Do ye feel uncomfortable in any way?"

"Nae, Reed. I am fine staying here." She looked at his arm. "How about ye?"

"I've been better." He tried to lift his hand.

"Yer arm… does it hurt a lot?"

"I've been through worse pain, Sophia. I will survive this."

"Ye've really grown up." Sophia felt the length of her smile widen. Clearly, Reed's grin was contagious. "Ye still joke in the most serious cases."

"Do I?"

"Ye certainly do," Sophia confirmed. "It reminds me of when we were younger." Reed's cheeks turned scarlet. Sophia knew why. "Does it still embarrass ye?"

"Does what embarrass me?" he asked, and his cheeks reddened more.

"The horse ride—when ye were, what, fourteen?" Sophia teased. She couldn't help it. She loved how red Reed became whenever he was flustered and tried to stifle a little laugh.

"Sophia… do ye have plans o' ever forgetting that?"

"Now, now, Reed. How could I forget? The way you strode off that evening!"

"Not nice, lass, Tis ye I wanted to impress," Reed defended himself.

"Aye! Aye! Captain Reed," Sophia continued to tease him.

"Ye never answered when I asked, Sophia." Reed leaned on the wooden fence of the stable. "Did it scare ye badly? That night, I mean?"

"Scare me?" Sophia joined him in leaning. "I was so frightened that I am certain my heart would've failed me if I were any older."

"And when I was found unconscious?"

" Especially when ye were found unconscious." They both laughed.

Reed and Kendrick had turned Sophia's nagging into a song, and Reed hummed it.

One of the horses neighed, as if seeking Reed's attention, and Sophia assumed it was hungry. Indeed, it ate the ryegrass Reed held up to it.

"Yer horse is beautiful." Sophia reached to brush the horse's brown poll.

"He is," Reed said. "Would ye like to feed him yerself?"

Sophia accepted his offer. She dipped into the bucket of ryegrass and lifted some to the horse. "Does he have a name?"

"Nae, never thought o' that," Reed replied.

"How can ye nae think of a name for yer steed?" Sophia was astonished. "Reed, I'm beginning to think ye really don't ken much about horses…"

Reed filled Sophia's hands with more feed. "Why dinnae ye tell me? What dinnae I ken?"

"Tis harder to control the horses if they dinnae have a name, I wager." The horse took the last of the ryegrass she was holding.

"Is that so?"

"Aye, ‘tis so, Reed." She moved to pet the horse again. "What name do ye want to give to him?"

"I've nae idea." He went back to lean against the fence. "Why don't ye give it one yerself?"

"Me?"

"Aye, do ye nae want to?"

"How about we call him… Sunshine?" Sophia suggested

" Sunshine ?" Reed appeared perplexed. "Why Sunshine?"

"I met him on a sunny afternoon," Sophia explained. "And he has a bonnie golden mane. What do ye think?"

"I suppose ‘tis perfect," Reed beamed.

Sophia thought he resembled the sun himself. He had always been a kind and considerate friend to her. He even checked in on her after she stopped visiting the keep—until she asked him to remain loyal to Kendrick.

"Do ye want to go for a ride?" Reed made to straighten himself from the fence but let out a groan. He clutched his left shoulder tightly.

"Reed!" Sophia darted to him. "Are ye all—" She stopped herself from asking, knowing it was stupid. He was obviously not all right. "May I take a look?"

"Nae, ‘tis nae that bad." Reed tried to pretend he was not hurt, but his expression gave him away.

"Don't argue with me. Let me see it." Sophia pressed against the cloth, searching for his injury. "Here, this is where it has shifted."

"How would ye ken that?" Reed seemed to not believe her discovery. "Tis nae as though ye were a healer."

"Nae, I'm nae a healer." She pried away the collar of his tattered coat to get a better look. "But it appears I ken much better than the healer who saw to this."

"Did he do something wrong?"

"Aye, yer bone is shifted. He needed to push it back before resting the muscle."

"Is this a thing yer herbs taught ye?"

"Dinnae be silly. Herbs cannae speak!" She returned his scowl. "Yer shoulder is all… out of shape. I will have to snap it back into position."

"All right," he mumbled. Sophia felt sorry for him. When she pressed the bone back in, it was obvious he had no idea how much it would hurt him. She took a deep breath to calm herself, fearful that she would do something wrong. She'd only done it twice, both times successfully... but what if she failed now? Still, she couldn't let him suffer when she could make him feel so much better.

"Take this." Sophia picked a short twig from the ground, cleaning it off on her skirts. She grabbed on his hand tightly. "Bite onto it so ye dinnae bite through yer tongue." Reed laughed, an ignorant type of laughter that made Sophia feel even more sorry for him. "Reed, ye need to bite down on it. I'm serious."

Reed looked down at the stick like he was going to complain further, but he obediently took it from her and placed it in his mouth instead.

"On the count of three," Sophia announced. "One, two…"

She pushed the bone back expecting a howl from Reed, but the most she got was his hands flexing around the fence. And a little groan.

He is a strong lad, this one, Sophia thought, and relief filled every inch of her body.

"Sophia, ye cheated," Reed complained. "Ye said three!"

"Aye, I did." She ran her hand over his shoulder hoping it might soothe him. "Reed, ye're nae allowed to ride horses or lift anything till yer arm heals properly. Do ye understand?"

He did not respond.

"Reed!" She blinked up at him.

His emerald eyes were locked on hers in a way they never had. In a way that reminded her of how Kendrick always looked at her. Yet the way Reed's gaze was fixed on her seemed… different. Warm. But he was only her friend. It didn't make sense.

She felt him tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, and he slowly lowered himself to whisper something to her, pressing his body against hers and leaning them against the fence.

"Reed, what're ye doing?" She froze, not knowing what to do. Not wanting him to do anything either.

He ignored her question. "Dinnae turn. Just stay as ye are," he instructed in a purr.

"Why?" she tried to argue. Along with the awkwardness, she felt embarrassed and scared that someone might see them and misinterpret the situation.

"Stay still, Sophia. Trust me," he replied, still so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. Sophia knew only a small moment of time had passed, but she would swear it was hours before Reed finally pulled himself away from her.

"I'm sorry if I made ye uncomfortable."

She straightened up. "What was that about, Reed?"

"Ye would nae understand. I was trying to help ye."

"With what?" She hoped Reed did not think her dim, but she was at a loss. "Surely, if ye explain, then I may understand quite well."

"I am sorry, Sophia," Reed said. "I cannae tell ye."

She decided to trust him. Sophia could still feel the embarrassment showing on her cheeks. Suddenly, she realized the sun was beginning to set after spending so much time together in the stables. It was time to leave and check up on Lorena.

"Tis fine, Reed. I think nothing much of it." Though she felt it was odd, she was not offended by his gesture. "I should leave ye now. I've to wash and prepare for dinner."

"Ye should," he agreed and moved a step back. "I will walk ye down to the keep."

"I do appreciate yer offer, but there is nae need." Sophia nodded resolutely. "Ye need to rest so yer arm can heal. Ye should also return home."

"I forgot to thank ye for fixing my arm." His shy grin made him look like a boy. "So… thank ye."

"Yer welcome." Sophia petted the steed once more. "Dinnae fail to inform me if ye have any more trouble with yer arm."

"I will nae," he replied. "When I am healed, will ye join me on a ride someday?"

"A ride? Only if my sisters can join us. They would love to see more of the Highlands."

"O' course, they can," he smiled sheepishly.

With a gentle laugh, Sophia walked away.

She ambled down the hallway leading to her chamber, trying her best not to think of Reed. She still found the way he had looked at her and had talked into her ear strange. He was never one to behave like that with her.

I wonder what his reason is.

"Sophia," called a rumbling voice. She recognized it as Kendrick's. She had passed him by a few steps, and she had not even noticed.

"Are ye returning from the stables?" She felt an urge to explain to Kendrick where she had been. An alarming thought crossed her mind.

What if he saw me with Reed?

But he was engaged to her sister, so there was no need for such worrying. Even if he had, he clearly had no interest in laying claim to Sophia himself. "Aye, milaird. I was at the stables."

She waited for Kendrick to leave, but he simply stayed put and gave her a dead stare. Cold. She thought of him standing beneath the oak tree, and the poor way he had treated her while they were in the healer's study.

She threw him a disgruntled glance as her blood started boiling. "Milaird, if ye would excuse me, I must wash and get ready for dinner." She did not wait for his permission before swiveling to continue her walk.

"Sophia," he called out to her again.

She was beginning to think he just liked the sound of her name.

"Were ye with Reed?" His voice did not sound gentle. He was not just asking. He was demanding .

"Aye, milaird." She faced him. "I was with Reed."

"Alone?"

"Alone, milaird ."

"Whatever for?"

"Do I really have to explain myself?"

"Aye," he answered, sounding quite the laird indeed. "Ye have to answer me."

"Why? Because yer the laird?"

"Dinnae test me, Sophia."

She could see his fury. The roar in his voice. The look on his face. He had not been able to conceal his anger as a child, no more than he could now. The difference was that, as a lad, his anger was never pointed at her.

"Well," she started, "It is quite a personal question, ye see. Reed and I were catching up. It has been years since we last spoke, lest ye have forgotten. I dinnae ken how this might bother another soul in any way."

"Why were ye holding his arm and letting him talk into yer ear?" Kendrick was looking everywhere but her eyes.

She realized he was embarrassed.

She realized he had seen them in the stables.

She would not flare his anger further, even though it would be his just deserts for the pain he had caused her. And yet she wasn't even sure why he had bothered to ask.

"I dinnae wish to tell ye anything further."

"Ye must," he commanded.

"Why?" She crossed her arms. "Do ye wish to tell the whole clan and marry me off to Reed as punishment?"

Kenrick furrowed his brow, his chest barreling outward. "Ye cannae marry Reed."

Sophia scoffed at his words. "Why? It is nae in yer place to decide whom I marry or nae, milaird ."

He ran his hands through his hair, then let his hands fall to his sides. "What if I tell ye it is?" He took three paces closer to her, setting off her reflex to move backward. "Do ye think I'll let ye run off with Reed after yer tryst with him?"

"Tryst?" She let out a short laugh. "Might I remind ye who is entertaining trysts between the two of us?"

"I order ye nae to speak another word."

"I shall have to disobey yer order," she retorted. "Yer betrothed to my sister yet share a bed with yer maid. I dinnae want ye to hurt her—"

"I am yer laird, Sophia! Ye dinnae—"

"Once ye were my friend, but now I'm not sure what we are. Who am I to ye?"

She wasn't expecting a response from him. And it was clear from his silence that he had no response for her either.

"Ye see, milaird…" She was fighting back tears and forcing words down her throat. "We're naething to each other."

"Sophia…" he murmured.

Kendrick's anger had been smothered. His eyes clouded over.

She wanted to hold him, to wrap him in her embrace. She wished to wipe the sadness from his expression… but she could not. He was not hers anymore. Not even to dream of.

He had never been hers to begin with.

So, she muttered the only words she could. "I will take my leave now."

As she walked away, she heard him call her name.

"It's better this way. Let Lorena have him."

But then, to her surprise, the sound of her name was replaced by the patter of footsteps on the stone.

A hand reached out to hold her back.