Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

condition. They were his friends and Lairds in their own right, having control over thousands. One held the land closest to Kevin’s to the north and the other to the west. If there was to be a war, he needed them to know first hand the reason.
    Neither stranger betrayed his shock and tried to comfort her with his smile as she walked to them. She wanted to curtsey to show her respect, but when she stopped and tried, her knee wouldn’t bend well enough and she almost fell. Both men quickly reached out their hands to catch her, but it was Kevin she grabbed hold of, and a second later , she regained her balance.
    Kevin was impressed with her attempt and smiled. She was going to be a respectful mistress and a wife he could be proud of in front of his friends. “Will you wait for me over there by Clymer?” She nodded and when she turned her back, Kevin saw the distress in the eyes of his friends. “I must know who did this,” he said in Gaelic.
    Both men nodded, mounted their horses, and then led their guards out of the courtyard and across the bridge. Once the lairds were gone, Kevin realized there wasn’t much of interest for Anna to see in the courtyard, so they started up the path to the cottages. She was stiff, but the more she walked, the easier she moved. Most of the women planted flowers near their cottages and he’d never actually noticed before, but she did. Again , he didn’t touch her, but before she leaned down to examine a flower, she reached for his hand. That too pleased him. The sooner she got ov er her fear of him, the better.
    Being able to touch him took her breath away , but she hid it well. His hand was so strong and big, it nearly swallowed hers up. She spent more time examining that flower than she had at any other time in her life. Then she finally stood back up and let go.
    He watched her, held her hand each time she leaned down , and also watched his followers. If they stared at her too long, he frowned until they turned away. He also checked to be sure the sun wasn’t burning her back and she was sufficiently covered in the front. In a few days , her back would be healed enough to wear better clothing and he would be glad.
    She seemed to be enjoying the walk. She also seemed to be getting tired , and didn’t want to let go of his hand, even after she stood back up. So he turned her around and headed back to the Keep . “Would you like me to carry you?” The swelling had gone down around her bad eye and when she looked up, the sunlight brought out the brilliant blue of her eyes . He was amazed .
    “I would not hear of it. I will never get my strength back if I cower now.”
    “And you need your strength to help Rachel?”
    She gave him a suspicious look and turned away.
    “Harold told me they moved her.” He noticed her surprise and quickly continued, “Do not blame him. Anna, I cannot help if you do not tell me.”
    She stopped and looked into his eyes again. “If I could give you this burden, I would. ‘Tis complicated and I must have time to remember and sort it all out.”
    “Let us help you save Rachel. My lads have slipped in and out of places undetected for years. Once we know where she is …”
    “But then my mother would die.”
    He didn’t mean to, but he reeled back. “Your…”
    “I am certain that is why they have been separated. I cannot choose between my mother and my sister…though my mother would insist I choose my sister.”
    “And your father?” Anna continued walking and didn’t answer. She was right, he realized, it was complicated. Yet , why refuse to discuss her father? Wasn’t he in danger too? If not, he must have something to do with it. He might even have beaten her himself , and Kevin found the thought disgusting.
    What could possibly mak e a man harm his own daughter… unless he had to beat her to make her agree to marry him? No, that wasn’t it, the beating was far too extreme. However, the man wanted something and Kevin was suddenly furious with himself. He should have been more suspicious when Baron Stoneham offered his daughter. Now he knew his first assessment was right: he thought only of having sons and selfishly neglected to ask exactly what the man wanted in return.
    Then again, he could be wrong. He had to know for sure , so he pretended not to understand. “Who will kill your mother?” Again, she didn’t answer and he hadn’t expected her to. What was Anna supposed to do to save the lives of her mother and sister? If