Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

hair?”
    “He thought of that. He sent Blair to wait in the forest for you to bring her to him. If anyone can hide her, Blair can. She will be safe with him.” Connor took just a sip of wine. He didn’t really want it, but he knew Kevin was usually in pain and the wine dulled his aching bones. Drink ing with him put Kevin at ease.
    “Blair is a good lad, but I hate to send her away. Charlet will be miserable and she will feel punished for something she has not done.”
    “Perhaps, but at least she will be alive. It is only until we know what is happening,” said Connor.
    “Were you able to learn anything about the Englishman?”
    “The Camerons have heard nothing, but they will try to find out. Kevin, I am worried. There are rumblings the MacDonald laird wants her.”
    “He has not seen her either. He only wants to keep her out of the hands of the English. Besides, he is older than I am.”
    “Aye, but if the other unmarried lairds think MacDonald will have her, they will want her too. We could well have a Highlander war right on our own land.”
    Kevin took a long breath and let it out. “I will take her to Blair.”

    Kenna didn’t trust Charlet to keep her promise. In her mind, she had only one choice; if the MacGreagor men preferred red hair, she would find a way to please them. She was on a mission now and knew what she was looking for. She walked across the drawbridge, glanced at the top of the trees and then walked into the forest toward the loch.

    His name was Blair Cameron, he was Laird Thomas Cameron’s second in command and he had it in him to be the kindest or the meanest man on earth. All of the Cameron women were afraid of him and most of the men feared him as well. He didn’t feel himself to be that fearsome, but it served a purpose so he didn’t try to change anyone’s opinion. He was honored to help the MacGreagor laird. He hoped someday to find a wife among the MacGreagor beauties and he thought a friendship with Kevin MacGreagor would further that goal. But when Kevin brought the woman to him, she was not on her horse. Instead , she was slumped in Kevin’s arms. Blair walked his horse closer and looked at her. “Does she sleep?”
    Kevin was distraught. “A red fox spooked her horse and he threw her. She is injured.”
    “Where? Does she hurt inside?”
    “I do not know, she is knocked completely out. Her arms and legs do not appear to be broken.”
    Blair examined her with his eyes. A bruise on her cheekbone had already begun to darken her eye. Her hair was covered by a scarf, but he saw no blood, nor did he see any on her clothing. He did, however notice how beautiful she was and he had to make himself concentrate on more important things. “I will not let her die.”
    “Good.”
    “How do we change her plaid?”
    “I will do it; Charlet is like a daughter to me. I will need you to hold her up, however.”
    Blair got off his horse and untied a bundle. He pulled out a Cameron plaid, laid it on his horse and tied the bundle back up. Then he took the woman out of Kevin’ s arms. As tenderly as he could, he lowered her feet to the ground, turned her, put his big hands on her waist from behind and held her up. Charlet’s body was limp and her chin rested on her chest, but there was little he could do about that. Her clothes were wet and he noticed Kevin’s were too. They swam the moat, he guessed. “You know how to pleat a lass’ plaid?”
    Kevin smiled and dismounted. “You will learn it as well when you take a wife. They are sometimes too...irritated to do it themselves. A wise man waits until she is less irritated, takes her in his arms, holds her, kisses her lips, and then helps her with the plaid.”
    “I see.” He didn’t really see and realized he had a lot to learn. He should have had sisters , but it was a little late for that now.
    Kevin encouraged Blair to move his hands higher, then untied her leather belt and let the MacGreagor plaid slip to the ground. He noticed the young man divert his eyes and wondered if that was for his benefit or if Blair was somehow embarrassed. “She has agreed to use the name, Bridget.”
    “Bridget,” Blair repeated. “‘Tis a good name.”
    Kevin worked quickly and soon had Charlet’s plaid changed and noticed relief in Blair’s eyes when he finally finished. Kevin scooped Charlet up into his arms and waited for the younger man to mount his horse. Just as he had the first time he held her, he kissed her cheek. “We