Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

normally kept in stables, inside the wall. The women and children walked across the bridge to the loch each morning to bathe and the men, after a hard days work, bathed in the same loch in the afternoon.
    Maree’s special talent was telling stories and on this day, she sat on a log in front of her cottage surrounded by no fewer than ten children, ranging in ages from four to nine. Her stories always had a happy ending and taught a good lesson.
    “There once was a lassie named Leah,” she began, “who was very lonely. She had eight brothers, all older and no sisters at all. There were lots of other lassies in the village, but they already had friends. So one day she decided to...” Maree stopped. On the path behind the children stood a man wearing a Cameron plaid and when she looked up, she noticed how handsome he was.
    His name was Yule Cameron and he had never been to the MacGreagor hold before. It was very different from his home, especially the structure of it, and he wanted to learn what the people were like. If they were anything like the pretty one telling a story to the children, he would be very envious of Kevin’s oldest son, Sween; very envious indeed.
    “Please continue,” Yule said. “I too want to know what the lonely lassie did.”
    Maree was embarrassed by his attention and thought to rid herself of the uncomfortable audience. “I would, but I make all the children sit down when I tell stories.” She expected him to go away. Instead, he sat down. Now what was she to do?
    At nineteen, Kevin’s oldest son, Sween MacGreagor, had no time for such nonsense and rarely, if ever, noticed Maree. Still, his father wanted him to be hospitable to Yule, and he really had no choice but t o reluctantly sit down as well.
    Maree smiled at him, but Sween dismissed her with a half-hearted nod. She was not impressed and neither was Yule, she noticed, but she quickly turned her attention to the children waiting breathlessly for the rest of her story. “So the lassie thought of a way to get all the other lassies to notice her. She put a spot of ash right on the tip of her nose.” The children laughed and Yule smiled. For some odd reason, he was making Maree nervous and she wasn’t sure she could finish the rest of the story. His eyes were a wonderful shade of brown and his dark hair was thick and wavy. She decided not to look at him ever again.
    Most women loved children, Yule knew, but this one seemed to worship them. In the short time he had been there, two more little ones came and before they sat down, they both gave Maree a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Each caress made her close her eyes and drink in the love the children had for her. He almost wished he were a child again, so he too could get that close.
    Yule and Sween were the same age and his laird, Blair Cameron, wanted to someday make Yule his third in command. It was an important position full of responsibilities as well as honor. Should something happen to his laird and the second in command, he would hold the lives of the Cameron Clan in his hands. For that reason, Laird Cameron sent Yule to learn from the MacGreagors.
    Before he came, Yule thought he might find a wife among the MacGreagor women. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was Bridget and she was married to his friend, Blair. Some time ago, Yule decided beauty might not be such a good thing; Blair always had to glare at men who paid his wife too much attention. Instead of beautiful, pretty would be far more welcome to Yule and Maree was all that and more. She had golden hair and blue eyes, much to his liking. He smiled twice more at her story and when she was finished; he got up and reached out his hand to help her stand.
    Maree stared at his hand. She would have to take it soon; it was unthinkable to refuse, but for some reason she hesitated. She looked into his eyes finally, took his hand and stood up. His touch was even more exciting than his eyes. The children scattered and she didn’t even notice.
    “You tell a fine story. I am Yule Cameron.” He expected Sween to introduce her, but Sween walked away. Perhaps that was a good thing.
    “I am Maree.”
    Her hand was still in his and he marveled at how different if felt than when he gave a hand up to other women. He finally let go and clasped his hands behind his back. “I will be here for seven days at least. Perhaps we will meet again. Do you tell stories every day?”
    “Most days, but I fear if you come to hear them