Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

many people know about the hidden doors in the wall. A determined man could get in and harm you. Kevin could guard the doors, guard your cottage, guard every step you took, but if no one knows where you are, you do not need to be so closely guarded.”
    The sun was starting to warm her and she turned her face upward to soak it in. “I am to be a prisoner no matter where I go.”
    “Kevin said you are a gift from the King of England.”
    “What else did he tell you?”
    “He said you would hate me.”
    “I hate all lads. They gawk at me, they follow me and they are const antly asking me to marry them.”
    “There, you see, that is one plague you do not have here.”
    Her mouth started to curl into a smile. “And I do not have Kenna and Julie pestering me.”
    “Who are they?”
    “When we get back, I will introduce you to them. They want a husband desperately and they do not care who. You would do nicely.”
    “And you think I will choose just any lass? You are wrong; I wait for a very pleasing lass.”
    “Do you? Will she be simple minded?”
    He ignored her sarcasm and pulled off his other shoe. “She will be very wise. She will smile often, gladly let me hold her and she will have a laugh that warms my heart.”
    “Then you will adore either Kenna or Julie. They smile often, they long to be in the arms of a man and they giggle constantly.”
    “Do they have red hair?”
    “Nay, their hair is yellow.”
    “Good, maybe I will like them after all.” Blair got up, grabbed his shoes and headed into the cottage.
    Bridget felt a little wounded for some odd reason.

    A third laird came; Kenna rejected him and rushed off to spend the day with Julie, who now also had red hair.
    Julie moaned, “You can tell m e why you constantly go to the K eep. I will not tell, I promise.”
    “Aye, but I promised not to tell you. Would you have me break my promise?”
    “Nay, I guess not.”
    “I wish he would come back.” Kenna began to stroll down the northern most path for the fifth time that day.
    “Laird Ferguson?”
    “Aye. I saw him only briefly at the gathering and we did not speak at all. Now my mother does not intend to visit with her brother again for a month. I am certain I will die if I have to wait that long.”
    Julie wrinkled her brow, “You love this lad?”
    “He makes my heart flutter when I see him. I do not know if that is love or not? Do you know?”
    Kenna rarely asked he r anything and sadly Julie didn’ t have the answer. “Nay, my heart has never fluttered.”
    “I once thought I preferred Duff, but now...” She heard the long, slow whistle signaling a new arrival and held her breath. Then she let it out. It was probably another too thin, too old, or too ugly laird wanting to marry Charlet. She was getting tired of the whole mess.

    Charlet was still sitting on the rock, her shoes were only a couple of feet away and Blair was out of sight. Her chance had finally arrived. Casual, that’s how she would act. She got up, picked up her shoes and began to wander along the rocky bank of the loch. She stopped, put her shoes on, enjoyed the view and wandered a little farther. Then she skipped a small stone across the water and paused to wat ch a bird soar through the air.
    She was so busy ignoring where Blair might be, she wasn’t aware of the eyes that watched her from behind a large rock. Closer and closer she walked, climbing up on rocks and then jumping down, all the time wondering where Blair put her horse. She glanced toward the trees, but looked away before she realized Blair was there motioning for her to come to him. She glanced again and this time his bow was loaded and he wasn’t looking at her. Instead, he was watching something not far from her.
    Charlet was terrified. A wild boar could tear her to shreds, a highlander might want her or it could be, God forbid, the English. Her heart raced but she remained outwardly calm. There was no point in trying to run on the rocks, but she could jump from rock to rock a s though she suspected nothing.
    An arrow suddenly pierced the side of her upper arm. Bridget cried out, grabbed her arm, stepped between the rocks and crouched down as low as she could.
    Just as the Englishman let loose his arrow, Blair shot him through the neck. Another man rose up, saw the Highlander and started to run. But Blair reloaded and shot his arrow through the man’s back into his heart. A third man also ran, but he was too far away and chasing him meant not