Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

grinned and curtseyed. “I will do my best, my lady.” She giggled when Anna rolled her eyes. She was happy to spend time with her sister and glad to walk with her. Anna knew all sorts of things she didn’t know and they never seemed to be alone together for long. “Have you slain my nephews yet?”
    Anna laughed. “Not yet. Sween has gone fishing with Donny. At the age of ten, he thinks he is already a man and displays far too much pride. Perhaps you might throw him sometime where his father can see.”
    “He is nearly as big as I am, it would be a fair fight.”
    “Fair? My dear little sister, you are a girl. He will be shamed and he deserves it.”
    Rachel pushed a tree limb out of their way. “And Neil? Do you think to kill him too?”
    “He is a loving child. Sometimes I think he is too loving.”
    “He is only six; won’t he grow out of that?”
    “I worry he is too timid. Perhaps you could teach him a few skills.”
    Rachel stopped to glare at her sister. “Kevin wants me to stay inside the wall.”
    Anna winked. “I told him you would not be so easily tricked.”
    “Perhaps I should throw Kevin instead.”
    “That, I would like to see. Try not to hurt him too badly.” She smiled and sat down on a log.
    Rachel meant to join her sister on the log, but a beam of sunlight through the trees illuminated Anna’s long, dark hair and she was suddenly mesmerized. It was as though she was seeing her hair for the first time and she had a strange urge to touch it.
    “What is it, Rachel? Does my hair displease you?”
    “Nay, I just never noticed how pleasing it is before.” She sat down on the log and started to smile, but wrinkled her brow instead. “Why do you have a lump on your nose?”
    In thirteen years, it was the first time Rachel ever asked about any of her old injuries and a shiver ran down Anna ’ s spine. She wanted her sister’s heart to be at peace for as long as possible. The day might come when she would have to tell Rachel what happened all those years ago, but the memories were painful and she didn’t intend to tell her unless Rachel demanded to know. Anna held her breath when she answered, “I broke it many years ago.” She was relieved when Rachel changed the subject.
    “Is Kevin a normal lad? I mean, he gets upset when you are hurt. I thought he might pass out when Neil was born.”
    “He loves me and he was afraid I would die. Sometimes women have difficulty when a child is born.”
    “Yes, but is that normal when a lad loves a woman?”
    “I believe it is. Kevin says he does not want to live without me and I feel the same.”
    “But were you unhappy before you married him?”
    Anna lovingly brushed a stand of hair away from Rachel ’ s face. “Why all these questions, Smudges? Are you thinking of a marriage for yourself?”
    “I do not need a husband and I doubt I ever will.”
    “I felt the same way once.” She wondered if she should tell her sister how glorious the love of a good man was for a woman, but decided it was not the best time. “We should go back, Emily is teaching me how to sew and I should not keep her waiting.” She stood and gave her little sister a hand up. “Poor Emily has been trying to teach me for years, but I do not learn on purpose.”
    “Why?”
    “When I first came here, it annoyed me when the lasses would not let me learn. But then I noticed the joy in their eyes when they were allowed to do things for me.”
    “Is that why you teach them English instead? ”
    “I must have something to do or I will go daft.” Anna hugged Rachel and walked away. “Try to stay inside the wall.”
    Rachel watched until her sister was out of sight and then went back to her favorite tree to watch the men.

    CHAPTER II

    Suddenly, Connor was flat on his back on the ground. His shoulder length hair was spilled across the grass and his eyes were wide. His sword was out of his hand; Kevin had both of Connor’s arms pinned under his knees and was ready to slice his throat with a dagger. Connor was almost as big as Kevin, but a good fifteen years younger and it shouldn ’ t have been that easy.
    “Know where she is, but do not ever look at her in battle.” Kevin had fury in his eyes. “It will cost you your life.” They were both sweating profusely, but he had no intention of letting the younger man up. He needed men as skilled as Connor. “And know this as well, if you die , she will become another lad’s bride.”
    Connor blinked twice. He