Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

sons?”
    “Sween practices in the meadow and Neil has gone fishing.”
    “Good. Put Kenna in Neil’s bedchamber for now. Kenna, I will tell you what I want after I see my wife.” He waited for her nod and then headed up the stairs.

    Blair would do anything Thomas Cameron asked him to. Thomas was his laird and wise beyond his years. He learned a lot from him and respected the man, but with an unconscious woman in his arms, he wondered just what he’d gotten himself into. He remembered little of his mother, was raised with four older brothers by a strict father and his only reference to being around women was those he ignored in his clan or an occasional visit with his sister-in-laws. He should have paid more attention.
    He held in his arms a gift from the King of England? How was that possible? Highlanders don’t make the acquaintance of the king; they would rather kill the man. He glanced down and noticed Charlet didn’t look very comfortable, so he halted his horse , and tried to figure out how to move her. Her legs were over one of his and her head rested on his opposite arm. Her face was indeed beautiful, even with her increasingly swollen cheek and black eye. He cupped his hand around the back of her head, sat her up straight, tucked her arm behind him and laid her head against his chest. She suddenly moaned and arched her back. It was a good thing he still had a firm hold on her or she might have hurled herself off the horse.
    He leaned down and whispered, “You are safe.” He felt her relax, sat her back up, and wrapped an arm around her waist. She was still strong and would not die, he decided.

    Anna was indeed unhappy. When Kevin entered the bedchamber, she was standing by the hearth with her arms tightly folded. Her pregnant sister sat on the bed.
    Kevin smiled, but his wife did not return his smile and when Rachel started to get up, he motioned for her to stay.
    Anna glared at him. “What do you do in my mother’s cottage that cannot be disturbed?”
    “‘Tis worse than that, I told Connor to lie to you.”
    Anna’s anger suddenly turned to concern. “Has someone died?”
    “Not yet.” He pulled a chair away from the table, waited for her to sit and then made himself comfortable. “I took Charlet out through the hidden door and gave her to a man who will protect her. She will be safe now.” He leaned forward and kissed his wife on the lips. “It seems you are not the only one in this family with secrets.”
    He talked quickly trying to give the wives as much information as he could in the time he thought he had left. “ And, Laird MacDonald will be here soon.”
    “What do you intend to do?” asked Rachel.
    “I intend to let him think Kenna is Charlet, but I need your help. I need you to make her as becoming as possible. Can you do it?”
    Rachel’s eyes sparkled. “She is already handsome; she just does not know how to show it. We will help her.”
    Kevin was relieved. He took hold of his wife’s hands, pulled her up, then into his arms and kissed her passionately. “We will continue this later.” He released her and went to the bedchamber where Kenna waited. Kevin glanced into the great hall below to make sure no one but Connor was there, and then ushered Kenna into the room where the wives waited. Then he closed the door behind him and began to explain what he wanted Kenna to do.

    “Bridget?”
    She opened one eye, looked up at him and groaned, “Oh...no.”
    “Are you awake?”
    “Nay.”
    Blair smiled. He had already taken her beyond the MacGreagor border and turned south toward the less populated lands of the Cameron clan. By nightfall, they would reach a loch where they could eat and rest.
    Charlet sat up, but her head hurt and she soon began to hold it in her hands.
    “Your horse threw you. Do you hurt inside?”
    “If I say yes, will you let go of me?”
    “Nay.” He tightened his arm around her waist.
    “I thought not.” She lightly touched her bruised cheek. Then she looked at the palms of her hands. Both had scratches but they were not deep. “Look away,” she demanded. She glared at him until he did and then raised her skirt to look at her knee. It was red but not badly hurt. She quickly lowered her skirt and looked to see if he was watching. He wasn’t and she relaxed a little. Then she noticed her plai d was the wrong color. “Did you …?”
    “Nay, Kevin changed you.”
    “But you looked.”
    “I did not look.”
    “Kevin could have waited.