Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

her in the forest one day?”
    “I will consider that. Perhaps I will consider that with vigor. Did you come just to tell me about her, or is there trouble I should know about?”
    “Kevin has hidden her.”
    “What? W hy?”
    “An Englishman has asked for her hand in marriage.”
    The king reeled back. “Who? I will kill him.”
    “Then you did not arrange a marriage?”
    “Is that what the man told you?”
    “Nay, we have not yet seen him. He sent word of his proposal through the clans, but he knew her name and where she was.”

    CHAPTER IV

    The king gritted his teeth and wanted to loudly vent his rage, but he calmed himself and then whispered, “You will not see him, he is a coward or he would have contacted Kevin directly. Can Kevin protect her?”
    “We love her and we will all protect her with our lives.”
    “Does she know English?”
    “Aye, we teach all the children at least enough to…”
    “Go on.”
    “...to understand , should the English ever think to attack us.”
    That made him smile again. “It will not happen in my lifetime, you know. I was once in love with Kevin’s mother.”
    “Were you?”
    “We sometimes met in this very clearing. I would have stolen her from the Highlander had I not feared a war with them.” The king got a whimsical look in his eye. “I have not loved a woman that much since. I think she loved me too, but she always went back to Kevin’s father. I think she was happy there and I know she loved her children.”
    “And that is how you knew you could trust Kevin with your gift?”
    “Aye, your husband has her blood.” He stood up and helped Anna rise. “I will send word if I find the man and you do the same.”
    “We will.” Anna started to curtsey, but the king took hold of her hand. “I would not allow your mother to curtsey to me nor will I allow you to. ‘ Tis I who owes you the honor. Tell me one last thing. What is her name?”
    Anna leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Charlet.”
    “‘ Tis a good name. Tell your husband he has done well.”
    “I will. By the way, Athe na taught me how to break a man’ s arm.”
    The king caught the gleam in her eye, watched her join her guard and then disappear into the forest. He grinned, “Athena. Now there was a woman I would have liked in my bed.”

    Charlet was so bored she thought she would die. Her face was healing nicely and the black and blue around her eye was fading. She had been inside the cottage most of the time for days, helped with the meals, played with the child and strummed her fingers on the table. Blair went outside often and she wanted to go with him, but he always said no. He was a stubborn, mule-headed…
    Blair stuck his head in the door and smiled. “Would you like to go for a swim?”
    “Do not taunt me.”
    “As you wish.” He closed the door in her face.
    That made her mad. She charged out, ran down the hill, kicked off her shoes and hurried into the loch with all her clothes on. A little happiness at last. It was a lot colder than it looked. She swam anyway, hoping to get used to the water and when she turned, he was swimming right beside her. She began to tread water. “Have you nothing else to do?”
    “Nay.”
    She rolled her eyes and swam off.
    He easily kept up with her. He had missed her foul mood and was happy to see it back. The outdoors seemed to do that for her and maybe he should let her out more. Besides, she was driving his sister-in-law daft.
    She treaded water again. “You need not protect me in the loch, I swim quite well.”
    “I can see that, but ‘t is cold and you may soon be in pain.”
    “Are you in pain?”
    “Not yet, however I suggest we get out soon. You might try to drown me when I rescue you.”
    “That is a tempting thought.”
    “Bridget, go back now!”
    She didn’t want to, but he was right; she would be cramping soon. She did as he said and at length, she walked out of the water. Fully feeling the weight of the wet wool, she sat down on a rock and started to wring the water out of her skirt. “I am unhappy here.”
    Blair sat down beside her. “I know.”
    She tried not to notice when he peeled off his shirt and exposed his bare chest. “I would be safe at home. Kevin could protect me.”
    “How long would you have been happy if Kevin kept you inside the wall?”
    “I would have been happier than I am here.”
    He unlaced the straps and pulled off one of his wet leather shoes. “Since the war with the Fergusons,