Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

Catherin’s secret to find out what the devil was going on.

    Rachel didn’t mean to sleep so late, but it was nearly noon before her eyes opened. Her mother and stepfather weren’t home, probably so they wouldn’t wake her and it was very thoughtful of them. She took her time dressing and made a noon meal of bread and honey.
    Then she opened the door and stepped out only to find Connor sitting on a log across the path from her cottage. “What could you possibly want?”
    “I am waiting for an apology.”
    She put her hands on her hips and glared. “Well, far be it for me to interrupt your waiting.” She turned and headed up the path.
    He was quick, but not quick enough to take her hand before she turned. Her back was to him now and he knew better than to grab her from behind. She could and would hurt hi m -- he had a scar to prove it.
    That occasion was the only time in his life Kevin gave him a stern talking to. Kevin was furious and roared that no man was ever to grab a MacGreagor woman from behind. He was to put his hands behind his back in a non-threatening manner and talk instead. It wasn’t Kevin’s fury that bothered Connor so much; a mere woman managed to damage him and that embarrassed him to the core.
    He wondered for a second, if putting his arm around Rachel from behind that day in the forest frightened her, but he dismissed the thought. Walking behind her now put him at a disadvantage. He couldn’t tell if she had a dagger in her right hand, her left hand, or both. “Rachel, I am missing a dagger.”
    She didn’t bother to turn around. “Perhaps you misplaced it.”
    “Perhaps you have it.”
    “Perhaps I do not . ”
    “It was my father’s dagger and I want it back.”
    She stopped and turned around. “Oh that’s right, your father died. How did he die again?”
    “You know very well what happened. A Cameron accidentally shot an arrow through his heart.”
    “I remember now.” She started up the path again. Some of the women planted flowers in front of the cottages and without Connor behind her; she might have taken the time to admire them. “We nearly went to war over that. Fortunately, Laird Cameron came to Kevin completely unarmed and offered his life for your father’s. Kevin was very impressed, but I might have killed the lad.”
    “I do not doubt that. Tell me, what other stolen property do you have?”
    For a second time, she stopped, turned around and faced him. “Why would I tell you?”
    “You were willing to brag about it last night.”
    Her ire was steadily rising and she clenched her fists. “I do not brag!”
    He smiled. At least she didn’ t have a dagger in either hand.
    His smile made her madder still, but she hid it and released her closed hands. She put them behind her back, smiled and looked up at him. “Did you like holding me yesterday?”
    “Nay.” He hoped to wipe the smirk right off her face. Instead, she had a twinkle in her eye.
    “In that case, I will take care it never happens again.”
    “Oh , it will happen again. You can hardly keep from doing it again now.” Just as it looked like she was about to wrap her arms around his neck, he stepped back.
    She laughed. “Why Connor, you are not as stupid as I thought.”
    “Nay, I am not.” This time he was the one to turn around and walk away. “Forget about the dagger. I took it this morning while you slept.” He didn’t look back to see her shock, but he was mindful to notice if she started to attack. She didn’t and he felt very smug indeed.

    Charlet found Rachel sitting on a log in the vegetable garden. Rachel was not overly friendly, Charlet knew, but neither was she rude to any of the younger girls, so Charlet felt comfortable enough to sit down and fold her hands in her lap.
    “Are you lost?”
    “Nay, I was looking for Connor.” She let out a very long sigh. “I love him so.”
    “Connor is in the high council with Kevin.”
    “Oh.” She smoothed the side of her hair, separated part and began nervously twisting it. “Do you love Connor?”
    “Are you daft? I would sooner love Angus.”
    Charlet looked immensely relieved. “Connor is a very handsome lad. I would not blame you for loving him, but I would rather you not.”
    Rachel put a sisterly arm around the young girl’s shoulders. A plan was just beginning to form in her mind. “If you want him, you will have to be very clever.”
    “How so? I thought if you wanted a lad, he would...well, he would see and want you