Page 11 of Highlander’s Lesser Evil

“A soldier!” he shouted with enthusiasm. There was some chuckling among his men.

“Whose soldier?”

“A MacSea...” He stopped suddenly and frowned. Peering down the line, he glanced at an older man. Theo turned his head in time to see one of the older lads mouth something to him. “A MacDougal soldier!”

“What is yer name, lad?”

“Cameron.”

“Cameron. That’s a strong name. And who is the lad talking to ye?”

“Me brother. His name is David.”

David was barely the age that Theo accepted. Maybe twelve or thirteen. They’d serve the soldiers for a few more years, watching and learning before he’d ever put a weapon in their hands.

Cameron was the youngest and far too young to be any use. “I think ye may need to grow a little more before ye can help us. Go home and come see me in a few years.”

Tears filled his eyes. “But if David is here, who will feed me?”

Bloody hell.

“Where is yer mum?”

“Dead, sir. Me father, too. The last invaders kilt them almost a year ago, but I amnae supposed to tell ye that. Ye wilnae tell on me, will ye? David will be unhappy.”

And just why would that need to be a secret? “David has been taking care of ye,” he mused. David was here because he needed a job. It would be easy for him to send them both home, but David’s need to lie piqued his curiosity. “Get back in line, lad.”

Standing, Theo walked down and pulled David from the line. “Ye have been taking care of yer little brother all by yerself.”

David’s eyes widened, and Theo could see that little mind working. Rather than lying, the boy chose to stay quiet and stare ahead.

Theo crossed his arms. “I have seen the people here. They come together as a community. Who has been helping ye?”

At first, David didn’t say a word.

“I am yer laird, lad. And if ye want to serve as my soldier, then ye wilnae lie to me.”

“Gemma helps me,” David whispered. “I have an uncle on MacSeaver land. He isnae a kind man. If he discovers that me mum and pop are gone, he will return and take us, so I havenae told too many people that they are gone. Unfortunately, my brother cannae keep a secret.”

Theo know better than anyone what it was like to grow up with a man who wasn’t very nice. Gritting his teeth, he reached up and squeezed the lad’s hand. The boy didn’t cry, but Theo could see the desperation in his eyes. “To get to ye, David, yer uncle would have to travel to MacDougal clans and take ye. I assure ye that I wilnae let that happen.”

The boy’s lips trembled. “Thank ye, Laird.”

Theo straightened. “Thomas, see that Cameron makes his way safely to Lady Gemma and ask that she look after him while his brother is on the training field.”

“No need,” a voice said tartly. Theo looked up in time to see Gemma marching across the field with an annoyed look on her face. “When Cameron didn’t come to me on time, I went looking for him. David, you are far too young to be training as a soldier. You will come with me now, as well.”

“No, Miss Gemma,” David said bravely. “I need to look after Cameron now, and I will do that as a solider.”

Gemma narrowed her eyes. “David, we have talked about this. I will look after the two of you until you are old enough. If you wish to work, there is plenty to do around my cottage; plenty for a strapping boy like yourself.”

“As it so happens, ye arenae David’s laird,” Theo said easily before the lad gave in to his tears. “I am, and I have need for him. As ye say, he isnae old enough to train as a soldier, but he is old enough to still be put to work.”

Gemma’s eyes widened just a little, and Theo had to grit his teeth. Did she really believe that he would put a sword in the hands of a young lad?

“This land is always under attack,” she said fiercely. “Even if you tell him not to, if he is around you, he will take up arms and fight.”

“I am here to protect this land, not just when ‘tis under siege but even before the threat reaches the shores. Ye have my promise, Lady Gemma, that David will be under my personal protection, as is every lad here.”