Page 51 of The Highland Heir

“Very well, papa. We’ll not speak of itagain.”

He rolled his eyes and, grabbing up the pail,left to get them water for the next morning.

Her father had gone easy on her. She guessedit wouldn’t be as well for Kieran.

Chapter Eighteen

After a night of tossing and turning, andwishing Ella was in his arms, Kieran gave up and went to the hallto break his fast. He hoped to see Ella and maybe share a moment ofprivacy with her.

He wished to kiss her again, though he knewhe couldn’t. It was too great a risk. Someone could see them, andshe would be ruined.

But he wanted to talk with her.

They said things would go back to normal, andthey had spent time together alone nearly every day, either huntingor tossing rocks into the sea.

Ella wasn’t in the hall with the men. But herfather was.

Kieran had not expected to have so muchtrouble facing the man after what had happened between Kieran andthe man’s daughter, but it was nearly impossible to have the warchief speak to him when Kieran held so much guilt.

He still didn’t regret what he’d done withElla, but talking with Teague as if he hadn’t defiled his littlegirl had proved impossible.

“I’ll take Kieran with me to check thesouthern borders, my laird,” Teague said as everyone broke to goabout their duties after the morning meal.

“Very well.” His father waved his hand at thesame time Kieran murmured a curse under his breath. A ride to checkthe southern border would take all day. He didn’t know how he’dmanage so much time alone with the man in Kieran’s currentstate.

It was worse than the time they’d set thestable ablaze and had been forced to tell him what they’d done.Only much, much worse.

For once in his life, Kieran wished hisfather wanted to keep him at the castle rather than allow him toride out with Teague. But, of course, his father wouldn’t do asKieran wanted.

In the bailey, they gathered their things fortheir ride. Kieran cringed as he watched the war chief strap hislarge sword across his back and check the six daggers across hisbelt.

Kieran strapped his own sword and realized heonly had two daggers with him. Should he get more? Would he needthem if Teague attacked?

He didn’t think himself capable of hurtingthe man he’d thought of as a real father. And maybe Kieran wasnervous for no reason.

Ella wouldn’t have told her father whatthey’d done. Teague might suspect something, but he didn’tknow. Kieran had never lied to the man, but in this instanceat least, Kieran thought it might be warranted.

They rode out in silence, and that silencefollowed them on their journey. It wasn’t until they stopped towater the horses and take a bit of food that Kieran gathered hiscourage to speak.

“You’re angry at me,” he said more thanasked, for it was quite obvious.

The man looked out over the vast land beforethem for a few minutes longer before turning and squaring his gazeon Kieran’s.

“I’m disappointed in you.”

Kieran felt the words like a blow to hisgut.

“Christ. That is even worse.” Surely, the manknew Kieran’s weakness and used it against him now.

“When the two of you got back, I sensedsomething. The way you haven’t been able to look me in the eye, theway she sent sultry looks at you last night during the meal. Itdidn’t take much to figure it out; you’re both shite at hidingit.”

“It’s not what you might think.” Kieranraised his hand.

“I swear if you start spouting words likemost wonderful moment, I will drop you where ye stand.”

“Ella said that? That it was the mostwonderful—”

At Teague’s growl, Kieran cleared his throatand changed course.