Free Highland Angel by Hannah Howell

and argue. ’Tis a muddle.”
    It was hard to maintain her calm. Kirstie was filled with horror over the life he briefly referred to and laughter over the way he described the strange courtship she and Payton indulged in. She was knotted up inside with the desire Payton so easily stirred in her and her head often ached from the numerous arguments she had with herself over right and wrong. If Payton’s growing ill temper was any indication, he was also suffering, which pleased her. Such upheaval had to be confusing, however, even to a boy like Callum.
    “There are rules, Callum. Rules that say a married woman should be faithful to her husband. Rules that say a maid should give her innocence only to her lawfully wedded husband. I will confess that Sir Payton makes me want to turn my back on all those rules, but then I would be nay better than all the adulteresses, courtesans, and licentious widows he has taken to his bed in the past.”
    “Ah.” Callum nodded. “Pride.”
    Kirstie shrugged. “I suppose.”
    “Which do ye think will win? Pride or the lusting?”
    “I have no idea,” she admitted softly.
    “Would being with him make ye happy?”
    She hesitated, then sighed. “Aye, I think it would.”
    “Then ye should do as ye wish. Ye deserve to be happy.”
    “Mayhaps. Yet, with a mon like Payton, that happiness could be verra fleeting, followed by a heart’s pain.” She slipped into the shadows of the wall surrounding the foundling home, Callum swiftly joining her.
    “Weel, I will say one last thing on the matter,” Callum said in a near whisper. “If ye decide ye want to reach for a wee bit of joy and pleasure, I will nay mind. S’truth, I will kill any fool who dares to cry ye wrong or shameful.”
    “Thank ye, Callum.” Ignoring the way he hunched his thin shoulders, she kissed his cheek. “That will weigh most heavily in whate’er decision I make.” She studied the large, thatch-roofed home that Roderick so often used to feed his dark hungers. “’Tis verra quiet. I wonder if the bastard will come here today. Payton says more and more people are quietly keeping their lads from his reach. Roderick will be hunting new victims soon and this has always proven to be fertile ground.”
    Callum watched as a too-thin, ragged boy stumbled toward the well with two heavy buckets. “I think I ken who that lad is.”
    She quickly grasped his shoulder when he made to move toward the boy. “I think your disguise is good, but I daren’t risk ye being seen by these people. They are Roderick’s lackeys.”
    “They willnae see, Kirstie. Trust me.”
    He gave her no chance to reply, slipping free of her grasp and moving toward the well where the boy struggled to fill the buckets. Kirstie began to relax when she realized even she was having a difficult time keeping him in sight. Then he was gone, but the way the lad at the well suddenly tensed and chanced a peek around, told her Callum was there. She tried not to get her hopes up as she waited; yet, if Callum could gain them an ally within the foundling home, they could more easily help the children there. They might even be able to end Roderick’s ability to help himself to the boys housed there.
    It seemed like hours before Callum rejoined her, tense hours filled with the fear that he would be caught. Kirstie was compelled to grasp his hand when he reached herside and hold it tightly for a moment to reassure herself that he was safe. It pleased her when Callum made no attempt to free himself of her touch.
    “That lad is Simon, a weaver’s son,” Callum told her. “He only just arrived here. His father died and there was no one else to care for him.” Callum frowned. “I think he will be safe from that bastard, for he isnae a pretty lad. He has a big nose and his skin is spotty.”
    “Ah, so he is a wee bit older than ye, is he?”
    “Aye, twelve. He told me Sir Roderick hasnae been round for weeks. Said the mon what deals with Roderick has been acting