Armored Hearts Read Online Free Page A

Another reason to swear off the idea of matrimony.
    But Tabitha would need to marry well. Grandfather discouraged her in flaunting her intelligence. Gareth had to agree. Most gentlemen were stupid and only interested in cards and all things trivial. No mindless gentleman would want a wife who was so obviously his intellectual superior. Her origins and sharp mind were two strikes against her. But she was pretty and sweet natured. Some man would be able to see pass the other issues.
    Gareth flew down from where he’d perched and picked up the sword that went with the suit. The tarnished blade felt heavy and awkward. Mr. Strong had been teaching him fencing as best he could with Gareth in a chair. He’d said it was part of a proper and well rounded education. Gareth hadn’t paid much attention, thinking swordplay a foolish endeavor for a cripple. Perhaps just holding the sword would be enough to frighten criminals away. He surveyed the suit again and turned to Tabitha.
    “Help me put it on over my clothes.”
    ***
    Gareth made his way to the east side of the village, slower than usual due to the extra weight. The armor’s visor kept falling over his eyes, making visibility difficult. Sweat beaded on his forehead in the stifling lack of airflow.
    At his rate of flight, it still didn’t take long to reach the other side of town. He flew over one farm and saw nothing out of order. He did the same over at the Miller place. He’d been there with Sarah to get apples as a child. Nothing.
    Just as he was about to give up, three young men came out of a shed, carrying tools. Gareth had never confronted anyone before, not really. He’d been surly to the help and to his grandfather all his life, but that was different.
    He landed in the midst of them. They were around his age but he didn’t recognize any of them from church or the dinner parties he attended at Greenview.
    “Put them back.” Gareth deepened his voice to sound older and pointed with the sword.
    The boys froze; their jaws dropped and eyes widened.
    “I said, Put. Them. Back.” His tone was controlled but with true power.
    The tallest, a thin boy, backed away, tripping over a red-haired boy who had frozen in place. The tall one’s tweed cap flew from his head, and he let out a sharp cry as he fell on his backside. He scrambled to his feet, snatched his cap, and sprinted down the lane.
    “I said, PUT. THEM. BACK.” Gareth’s voice echoed through the suit, and he wondered if it boomed as loud outside of it.
    The stocky boy holding the tools shook his head vigorously and whimpered. His wide eyes shone in the moonlight, and he suddenly looked younger than Gareth had thought at first. In desperation, the boy tried handing the bundle to the frozen boy, but they fell at his feet. With a cry of frustration, he picked the tools back up and tried to give them to the boy again, but they fell once more. He shrugged and bolted after the first boy.
    Blinking hard, the frozen one seemed to realize he stood alone. His nose crinkled, joining the freckles, and his eyes looked black. He backed away, picking up speed with each step. He stepped into an irrigation ditch on the side of the road and fell into the mud. His dark eyes never left Gareth as he fumbled to his feet and started running backwards again. He fell twice more.
    Gareth rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Oh, at least turn around and watch where you’re going.”
    The boy nodded in agreement, eyes still wide. “Yes, right.” And then took the advice by turning and tearing after his friends. The boy’s backside was covered in brown mud, and Gareth chuckled.
    He glanced at the scattered tools at his feet and considered picking them up. The armor would rattle and bump into something and probably get him caught. He shook his head. That would never do. At least the owner would find them in his yard and not gone.
    ***
    When Gareth got home, he flew to Tabitha’s balcony instead of his own. The orange cat sat on the