Sound of the Heart Read Online Free PDF

would probably be tossed over the side soon enough.
    Dougal knew what they were thinking. In fact, he knew what most men were thinking, whether he wanted to or not. Throughout his life Dougal had been able to hear the thoughts of some men, though he couldn’t hear those of women, no matter how he tried. It was different from how he and Andrew always communicated, which was mutual. Listening in wasn’t something he enjoyed doing. He usually tried to shut out what they were thinking, except when the thoughts might be of interest to him. For example, his odd talent was useful during card games, which was why he never played with Andrew. If he read the other players’ thoughts, Andrew would read his, and that took away Dougal’s edge.
    Dougal had always been a defender of the underdog. He and Andrew both. Ciaran had often required their assistance, though he’d never asked for it. Their younger brother was smart, but not quite strong enough. So Dougal had always shared his own strength, stepped in when he was needed. These two boys were even slighter than Ciaran had been. Especially in their state of near starvation.
    He heard the thoughts of Grant and Keith, though their voices were too low. The men were hungry and they saw an easy source with the boys. The young drummers were oblivious to the men’s attention, distracted as they were by their own private conversation. The two customarily sat off to the edge, away from the rest of the prisoners, relatively close to where Dougal and John stayed. They kept to themselves, bothering no one. Dougal leaned forward, watching as the men approached the boys.
    “What’s amiss?” John asked, following Dougal’s gaze.
    Dougal jerked his chin toward the men. “Up to no good, them,” he said.
    John watched quietly from beside him. The boys had just noticed Grant and Keith and had risen to their feet. They stood with their bony fists on their hips, glaring up at the men with feigned bravery. The lads’ eyes were huge, but their backs were straight. They wouldn’t show their fear to anyone, and Dougal had never been able to read it in their thoughts. In fact, he couldn’t read the boys at all.
    Dougal stood and crossed his arms, still watching, standing just behind Grant and Keith.
    “I’ll have that bit o’ bread an’ thank ye for it,” Grant was saying, holding out his hand for the dark-haired boy’s portion.
    “No ye’ll no’,” came the brave response.
    Grant rolled his shoulders back. His voice dropped so it was less conciliatory. “I’ll have that bit o’ bread or ye’ll no’ have need of it.”
    The boys, standing side by side, pressed against each other for support. “Ye have yer own,” said the light-haired lad, and took a cautious bite of his bread, eyes always on the man. Grant suddenly struck out and cuffed the boy’s head, sending him sprawling. But the biscuit remained clutched in the small hand.
    “Give it here,” Keith demanded in his scratchy voice.
    The blond lad shook his head, then bit into the biscuit again. Dougal wasn’t sure if he’d done it belligerently or simply to ensure he at least had something to eat before Grant took it away, but it was poorly timed. Everything happened at once. The men moved toward the boys more quickly than Dougal had imagined they could, until the lads were backed against the ship’s walls. Dougal stepped in between and eyed the men with a mixed expression of challenge and appeasement. And a hint of disappointment.
    “Ye’d steal from children, would ye, Grant?” he asked.
    “We’re no’ children,” he heard from behind him.
    He scowled over his shoulder at the boys. “Shut up, the both of ye.”
    “Step aside, MacDonnell,” said Grant. “This doesna involve you. These lads have somethin’ that belongs to us.”
    “Oh, aye?”
    Grant stepped up to Dougal until they stood chest to chest. They were about the same size, so Dougal looked directly into the other man’s narrowed eyes.
    “Aye,”