Page 18 of His Secret Highland Bride

Shane didn’t mean to take advantage of the man’s loneliness, but these boys needed someone to help mold them into good men. And only a good man could do that.

“It’s nice to see you whole and hearty. It looks as if you brought everything back with ye from France.” The man patted his arms.

“Aye. I did.” Except for his heart, which was buried in Spain with his wife.

“What can I do for ye?”

“Two things. If we may speak in private.” Shane nodded toward the door to one of the bigger houses in the village.

Munro waved for him to come into his home as Shane turned to the boys.

“Stay right here. I’ll be back shortly.”

Inside, Munro offered him some ale, which Shane took as he sat at the scarred wooden table. Shane spared a look around the clean cottage. The loft above the bed would be large enough for the boys.

“What’s on your mind?”

“The lads out there need a home. Their mother passed a month or so ago, and their father left this morning.” Shane hesitated to mention the reason he’d left but thought it might help Munro in dealing with the skittish children.

“I told him to go. He had taken his fists to them and spends his money on whisky instead of seeing them fed properly.”

Munro’s bushy eyebrows pulled together. He wasn’t one who would stand by while a child was mistreated.

“They are strong from working in the peat fields, but we both know that work does not bring much challenge of mind. Doran, the older boy, will be training with me to become a warrior, but when he’s not with me, I’d like the boys to stay with you. To learn your trade and, more importantly, learn to be honorable men.”

Munro snorted and looked away.

“If it’s the expense, I can assist—”

“It isn’t the expense. I can feed three scrawny lads on my own,” the man snapped.

“If you don’t want to do it, say so. I just thought they would have a better chance with you. The path they’re on now, they will see nothing but the end of a rope or drowning in drink like their da.”

Munro ran a palm over his beard. He was considering it. Shane felt the need to disclose all the information he knew. “They aren’t afraid of work, but they have a strong mouth on them for not being taught differently. They’ve been wronged by nearly everyone who’s cared for them, so it might take some time to earn their trust.”

“I’ve never shied away from a tough job, and you know it.”

“You’ll do it?”

“Aye, I’ll take them in. What is your second request?”

Shane leaned closer to look him in the eye. “I’ve not told anyone at the castle I’ve returned. I’d like you to keep it to yourself that you’ve seen me.”

Munro chuckled at that. “You’re still hiding in the village from your duties in the castle as you did when you were a lad.”

Shane laughed. It seemed that was indeed true. “Perhaps. It won’t be for long. I do know I need to take on the title of laird eventually.” With his father gone, he guessed Alec was seeing to the running of things in the castle. It was good for him to see how it was done. If anything ever happened to Shane, it would fall to Alec as Shane’s heir. This would be good practice.

“As with anything, it’s always better to make a choice to do something rather than it being forced upon ye.”

Shane nodded, for this man understood many things. Shane’s brows pulled together as he considered the man’s words. “You do not feel I have forced the boys upon you, do you?”

“Nay. Ye gave me a choice. And I’ll allow you to make the choice as to when you claim your birthright. I’ll not tell anyone I’ve seen the new MacPherson laird in my shop. And not just because they wouldn’t believe it.”

They shared a laugh and rose to go back to the boys. Shane turned to them, thinking about what Munro had said about making a choice to do something rather than it being forced upon you.

“I have arranged for the three of you to stay here with Munro. He can teach you his trade in the forge. You won’t have to work in the peat fields anymore. But you would need to mind what he says. He’ll see your bellies don’t go hungry. Is that agreeable to you?”

They shared a silent conversation between glances, and finally Doran answered for the lot with a nod and an “Aye.”