Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

wasn’t long until Connor rounded the corner and headed up the path. When he passed her cottage, he didn’t even look her direction. He seemed deeply troubled and she’d never seen that look before.
    Rachel had nothing better to do, so she decided to follow him. He didn’t go to his cottage as she thought he would and instead kept right on walking. He turned up one path and then chose another until he reached a large garden area where the clan grew vegetables and herbs. Because he didn’t sit down on a log, Rachel expected him to turn around and come back, so she slipped behind a bush. H e didn’t turn around. He walked behind a tree trunk and didn’t come out the other side. She waited for several minutes , but he still didn’t come out.
    What in the world was he doing? She could try to get closer, but on the other side of the tree was the wall and there was no way to see him unless she approached from either side. If she tried that, he was sure to spot her. There was only one thing left to do. She boldly walked through the garden and was only a couple of feet away when she heard his voice.
    “So, you have finally found my hiding place.”
    She cautiously moved around the tree and found him sitting with his back against the trunk examining his dagger. “I was not awar e you had a need to hide.”
    “All people need a quiet place to think from time to time. You prefer that rock by the loch.”
    She folded her arms. “You have a cottage all to yourself, why not do your thinking there?”
    “Sometimes I do , b ut ‘tis not the same as being outside in the good air.”
    “What could you possibly have to think about anyway?”
    “Sit down, Smudges, and I will tell you.”
    She was reluctant, but finally chose a place where she could lean against the wall opposite him. Then she sat down and judged the distance. She was just far enough away to keep him from grabbing her hand. “I am too old to be called Smudges.”
    “I will try to remember that.”
    He agreed a little too easily, but she dismissed it. “So, what do you think about?”
    “Many things. I think about a war with the Fergusons, for one.”
    “We could not possibly lose, could we?”
    “I think not. The MacGreagors are better trained than most of the other clans. Still…”
    “What?”
    He put his dagger away and folded his arms. “Some will die.”
    “But not MacGreagors.”
    “Aye, even MacGreagors. If we think the Fergusons are weak, which we do, some of us will make mistakes.”
    It was not something Rachel spent much time considering and she didn’t want to consider it now. “What else do you have to think about?”
    “Well, I think about having a wife someday ; a loving wife who will smile when I come back from the hunt and she sees I am safe.”
    He wasn’t grinning when he said it as though he meant to taunt her. He wasn’t even smiling, but it was not her favorite subject so Rachel looked away.
    Connor couldn ’ t believe they were actually having a normal conversation. First , she let him get closer to her and now she was talking to him instead of glaring. “What do you think about?”
    “If you must know, I have a thousand questions. I think about my questions.”
    “What sort of questions?”
    “You would not understand.”
    “Oh, they are those questions.”
    “Nay, they are not those questions. I wonder about...I sometimes think about a dark place, but I do not know where it is. It is far away from here, of that I am certain.” She wasn’t sure she should mention it, but one particular question had plagued her for weeks. “If I ask you something, do you promise to be honest?”
    “I give you my word; I will never lie to you.”
    “Do you remember when I first came here?”
    Connor smiled. “I was young, but I remember my father being very happy. I believe we waited a long time for a mistress and everyone loved your sister.”
    “Oh.” Rachel still looked greatly disturbed.
    “What is it?”
    “I thought perhaps I was the baby they found outside the wall.”
    “Nay, Rachel, you came to us later. I was the one who found the baby. Kevin sent inquiries to all the nearest clans, but none came to claim her. Emily and Dan took her in and named her Charlet.”
    Rachel looked stunned. “Charlet? I never knew that. Does she know?”
    “Aye, she says she is happy here and loves Emily and Dan. Have you more questions or should I tell you what else I think about?”
    She picked up a small stone and tossed it