Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

watched as the two women came down, and then hurried off to tell the rest of the clan every detail of her condition. He waited until they closed the large front door behind them and then turned to Clymer. “Send riders to the nearest clans to tell them what has happened.” He watched Clymer leave and turned to walk up the stairs. Kevin knew once the first few were told, word would spread all across the Highlands and the message would be clear -- someone tried to kill Kevin MacGreagor’s bride and he wanted to know who.
    Katie pulled a chair up next to Anna’s bed and sat down. “It is all right to cry, you know. We are family now and I will not blame you.”
    When the door opened, Katie slipped out of the chair, and just before she left her brother alone with his wife, she touched his arm and whispered, “The bleeding has stopped; she will live.”
    He hardly knew what to say , so he just watched her for a moment. Parts of her hair had been clipped so near her scalp, it was a wonder she wasn’t cut. Her eyes were closed and he thought she was asleep, so he quietly sat down in the chair and covered her hand with his. Her skin was much warmer now, but when she pulled away, he knew she was awake. “I am sorry we were not there in time to protect you.”
    She lifted her head a little. “You could not protect me.”
    “Who did this to you?”
    She didn’t answer.
    “Did you see their faces?”
    Again, she didn’t answer.
    “Tell me!” He hadn’t meant to raise his voice and when he saw her tense, he instantly regretted it. In a much softer tone, he said, “Anna, you are surrounded by lads who will give their lives to protect you. You are safe now and you need not fret.”
    “They cannot protect me.”
    “Aye, but they can. You are new to the Highlands and you do not yet understand our strength. You will see; we can protect you.” He walked to the door and when he looked back, her eyes were closed.

    CHAPTER III

    All through the night, women took turns sitting by her side. Anna threw up once more, but there was no blood -- a good sign she had no internal injuries. Her mouth began to bleed again, but not badly and it soon stopped. She woke every time she tried to move and remembered to thank the women for helping her. Finally, she decided the pain was not so severe when she turned on her right side. After tha t, she slept a full five hours.
    When she awoke, she couldn’t figure out where she was. A man, no a god, sat in the chair beside her and she had trouble focusing on his face. The sun shone through the window behind him . H is hair was golden and he was far too big to be a mortal man.
    “Did I die?” she whispered.
    Kevin smiled. “Nay.”
    “Who are you?”
    “I am your husband, do you not remember?”
    “Oh.” It seemed easier and a lot less painful to speak than it had the day before , and he spoke English as well as his sister.
    Anna slowly moved her legs over the side of the bed and started to sit up before she realized she had nothing on. She quickly covered herself, but not before he noticed the dark bruise on the side of her left knee, lighter ones on her legs and a large bruise on her shoulder. “Perhaps you should stay in bed.”
    “No, I need to walk the stiffness out.” She bowed her head then , and closed her eyes. “I am ashamed of my appearance and I would not blame you for refusing me.” She hoped he would.
    He changed the subject. “Who is Rachel?”
    Her head shot up. “How do you know …? ”
    “You talked in your sleep.”
    “What else did I say?”
    “Answer my question first.”
    She hesitated but saw no harm in telling him. “Rachel is my little sister.”
    “I see. To answer your question, nay, you said nothing else.” He lied. In fact, he thought he knew a great deal. Some of her muttering was impossible to understand, but Rachel was in danger and Anna had to help her. Danger from whom, he did not know, nor was he certain what Anna could do about it. He was sure of one thing; he doubted Anna would tell him who hurt her until Rachel was safe. Did one of the clans have her? The thought made his rage begin to build again. “Is Rachel in danger?”
    She didn’t answer.
    “Should I notify your father?”
    Anna shook her head.
    Her father must be dead, he thought. Her attackers killed her father and her guard, then beat her and took her little sister, threatening to kill Rachel if Anna told. Was that what happened? His mind was racing. If that was it, his