Armored Hearts Read Online Free Page B

balcony, looking out as if waiting for him. It followed him into Tabitha’s room where his aunt lay on her bed with a book. The mutt was tucked into her side. She glanced up when he pushed open her doors.
    “Did you find anything?” She jumped up and ran to him.
    “Yes. I stopped some boys from taking tools at the Martin place.”
    “Did they see you? Did you have to fight them?”
    Gareth placed the helmet on a table in the corner and began removing the rest. The cool air licked the sweat away and made him feel instant relief. “Yes, they saw me, but I didn’t have to fight them.”
    Tabitha helped him out of the armor. “I bet they were scared to death when they saw you.”
    Gareth laughed. “They were. All three of them ran.”
    “Still, be careful. At some point, someone’s going to challenge you with either a fist or a gun. Not everyone will run from a flying knight.”
    “I have my sword. Now that I have a reason to learn fencing, I’ll take my practice with Mr. Strong seriously.”
    He caught the blue stone as it fell from his waistcoat when he bent to pull off a metal legging. His eyes darted to Tabitha who didn’t seem to notice his secret treasure. The blue stone had lost the smell of flowers long ago, but it had become his good luck charm whenever he flew out. Now he needed that sort of thing more than ever before.
    ***
    Gareth wheeled himself to Mr. Strong’s a half hour earlier than usual. He wanted to work more with the sword. He had pushed his way up the ramp to the door of Strong’s cottage when Sarah came out, tugging her cardigan over her arms.
    “Oh, Lord Smyth!” Sarah’s worried green eyes were huge before she dropped her gaze to her rumpled skirt and began smoothing out the wrinkles. Her hands fluttered to her long red hair. It hung loose about her shoulders which was uncommon. She pulled pins from it and stuck them in her teeth before scooping her hair up with both hands, twisting it into a hasty bun and fastening it with the pins from her mouth. “Yer early.”
    Gareth narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
    Sarah blinked several times as she bit her lip. “I came to deliver some laundry to Mr. Strong and tidy up a bit.”
    Gareth narrowed his eyes. “You’re working for Mr. Strong, too?”
    “Well, after yer grandfather had to cut me pay…”
    Heat rose to Gareth’s cheeks. Talking about the family’s financial problems wasn’t polite. “Yes, well, I came early to work on some numbers a little more.”
    “Numbers? Yes. Well. Have at it. I’ll see ye later at yer grandfather’s. Best knock before entering, since yer early.” Sarah turned on her heel and left in haste.
    Gareth knocked on the door three times as was his habit.
    “Enter,” a shaking voice called through the door.
    Gareth turned the knob and pushed the door open before wheeling himself in. He liked how Mr. Strong didn’t rush to assist him but left it to him to do things on his own.
    “Lord Smyth, you’re early.”
    Gareth wheeled himself behind the door so he could push it shut. “Yes, I wanted some extra time to work on our fencing.”
    The old man nodded. “I see. Why the sudden interest? I’ve been trying to teach you fencing for months but you’ve shown no interest before.”
    Gareth composed himself and drew upon his typical expression of boredom. “I just feel that it’s about time I learned every aspect of becoming a lord.”
    Mr. Strong made his way to a bureau and pulled out a long, slender sword by the hilt. “Let’s start with a rapier.” He tossed it toward Gareth.
    Gareth instinctively reached out and grabbed it by the handle without a thought.
    Mr. Strong let out a whistle. “Fine work, Lord Gareth. Ye might na be able to learn the footwork, but yer hands certainly be na crippled.”
    Gareth tilted his head to the side trying to figure out the change in his tutor’s accent.
    Mr. Strong must have noticed his strange expression. “Oh, I studied fencing in Scotland.