Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

battle?”
    “He left me to protect our land. You could easily have taken the rest of us had you attacked. Why did you not?”
    “The MacGreagors do not enjoy killing. Your lads were poorly trained and it was not a worthy fight.”

“That is true, we are not well trained. I have much to do now that I am the Ferguson laird. The people feared my brother and because he was so unworthy, they do not yet trust me. I am hoping an alliance with you will ease their fears. What must I do to convince you the Fergusons want peace?”
    Kevin looked down. The MacGreagors would like to see their Ferguson relatives again, that was true enough. It was also true the Fergusons lost their best men in the war and those who were left posed little danger to the MacGreagors. It would be beneficial to have a friend both to his west and to his east. Kevin stood up. “Tell your people they may meet with their MacGreagor relatives on your side of the loch tomorrow after the noon meal.”
    Shaw Ferguson got up too and walked back to stand in front of his guard. “That will greatly please them, thank you.” He turned to go and then turned back. “Is Kenna married?”
    Kevin smiled. “Nay, and unless I am mistaken, she has Ferguson relatives.”

    Charlet hadn’t thought about Kenna and Julie for hours and to her surprise, she missed them. She missed Kevin, although she was still mad at him. She missed her adopted brothers and sisters, Anna, Rachel, and even Connor. She used to think Connor was the most handsome man on earth, but just this morning she finally looked at Blair. He was smiling when she woke up and she didn’t remember seeing that before. He fed her, folded her plaid, lifted her onto her horse and smiled at her again. Her head didn’t hurt as much and for a moment, she wished she was back in his arms with her head on his chest but she dismissed that thought quickly.
    He hadn’t said much, which was good. Waking up with a sharp mind was not her best quality. He did insist she put the long scarf back on to cover her red hair and she didn’t argue. She had a lot to think about. If she really was the daughter of a king, then she was a princess. Oh why did he have to be the English King? Why couldn’t he be the Scottish King? Of Course, the King of Scotland wouldn’t need to hide a child in the Highlands. Would she ever meet the King of England? He must be a very old man if Kevin met him years ago. Maybe he wasn’t still alive. No, the Highlanders would have heard if the King of England died. She had a real family out there somewhere and she wanted to know who they were.
    “Bridget.”
    She hadn’t even noticed they stopped. “What?”
    “We are here.” She took a long look at her new home and it was stunning. There were trees, though not as lush as MacGreagor trees, but the loch was as smooth as glass, the rolling hills were green, and flowers were everywhere. Then she noticed the cottage. A man, a woman and a boy were looking at her so she nodded her greeting.
    “This is my brother and his wife. The Lad is Ross.” Blair got down, helped her down, and then went to hug his sister-in-law, slap his brother on the back and scoop the five-year-old up into his arms. He swung the boy around and then kissed him on the cheek. “You have grown.”
    The woman smiled at Bridget, but talked to Blair, “ Have you finally taken a wife?”
    “Nay, this one has refused me as well.”
    She hooked her arm through Bridget’s and walked her into the cottage. “Will you not reconsider? He will make a fine husband, I will see to it.”
    “Aye, but I will not make a fine wife.”

    As soon as word spread that Kevin would allow the MacGreagors to visit with their Ferguson relatives, Kenna’s mother grew almost too overcome with joy to make preparations. She had not seen he r brother in two years and didn’ t ev en know if he survived the war.
    Kenna was even happier than her mother. She hoped...even prayed Laird Ferguson would be there.
    It took more than an hour to walk through the forest to the meeting place and it occurred to Kenna that this could be a happy day, or if they learned her uncle had not survived, one of the worst days of her life. She loved her uncle and wasn’t sure how she would feel about the Fergusons if he died in a stupid war -- a war the Fergusons started.
    At last , they reached the clearing. Ferguson plaids were yellow, MacGreagors wore blue and it was easy to tell who belonged to which clan. Her mother