Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

Bridget Cameron and she was going home. If you hurry, you might be able to catch up with her.”
    He didn’t even bother to run down the steps. Instead, he jumped down and raced to his horse. He was mounted, across the courtyard and over the bridge in seconds.
    Kevin opened his arms to his wife. “I will never let you go away again.”
    Anna grinned and kissed his lips, “I believe that is what you said the last time.”
    “Sometimes wife, you are completely unmanageable.”
    “Aye, but you love me anyway.”
    “That I do.” He kissed her passionately and then they both turned to watch Blair ride swiftly across the meadow. “Was the king unwell when you got there?” he asked.
    “He did not seem to be. I think once he saw Charlet and knew she would be safe, he found himself able to let go. His life was not as pleasant as some might imagine.”
    “I know, my mother loved him very much.”
    Anna was surprised. “You knew?”
    “Aye, she told me. She loved my father too, but in a different way I suppose. It was she who gave me the word.”
    “Hollow?”
    Kevin nodded. “I suspect my brother was the king’s son. Jacob died not long after my mother in the plague.”
    “Perhaps that is why the king never married. He could not bear losing everyone he loved again.”
    “I wonder if the new king will have the word. Who is the new king?” he asked.
    “He is Sween’s same age and will no doubt be put upon by unsavory men before he is old enough to understand. I do not envy him.”
    “Shall we give our son the word or should we let it die with the king?”
    Anna wrapped her arms around Kevin and laid her head on his chest. “The word has saved a life. Perhaps Sween will be wise enough to use it only when necessary. Of course, it will not mean the same to him as it does to us.”
    “Not the same at all, our world is changing. We will miss our Charlet.”
    “You mean Bridget. She believes her life will be less complicated if we do not call her Charlet and she is right.” Anna lightly kissed him again. “Come inside, husband. I brought a new liniment from England to ease the pain in your knees.”

    She was the most enchanting sight he had ever seen, and just before he reached the edge of the forest, Blair stopped to look at her. Bridget’s long red hair was no longer covered with a scarf, hung freely around her face and the wind softly lifted the edges of it. She sat tall on her horse with her two-man guard behind her and he had no doubt she would have made an eloquent queen. She had chosen him instead and he would never let her regret that decision.
    Blair slowly walked his horse out of the trees and when she saw him, her smile was bright. She couldn’t take her eyes off of his as he drew his horse up next to hers, leaned over and opened his arm. A split second later, she was in his arms, hugging his neck tight and telling him how much she loved and missed him. He finally made her stop and kiss him on the lips.
    She was so happy to be in his arms again, she didn’t notice when her guard left with her horse or when Blair turned his horse to ward the Cameron hold. “Blair.” What.”
    “I want to be married in the MacGreagor hold.”
    “I want to be married in the Cameron hold. They are my family and you will become one of them. ‘Tis right that we marry there.”
    “‘Tis not right. The MacGreagors are my family and they will want to see me married.”
    “Then invite them to our wedding at the Cameron hold.”
    “You are going to win this one, aren’t you?”
    “Aye.”
    She folded her arms in a huff. “You are the most stubborn, mule-headed, horse’s…”

    ~ end ~

    Sneak Peek

    MAREE

    CHAPTER I

    Maree loved children. She was always the first to visit when a new little one was born, and the first to offer to care for the child of a nervous mother, or one who just needed time alone. Everyone loved Maree. She was a pretty girl at fifteen, saw herself as a wife and mother someday and almost always had a smile on her face.
    She lived inside the wall of the MacGreagor village, where several paths began at the courtyard, led to old and new cottages, and connected at a vegetable and herb garden in the back. The Keep, where her laird and mistress lived, was a two-story structure, and a moat outside the wall provided fresh water and protection from enemies. A squeaky draw bridge across the moat was lowered each morning and the first to use it were the hunters, mounted on the horses that were