Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

Ferguson and it surprised her. She walked toward him, stopped and curtsied. “Have you killed my laird?”
    He smiled. “Kevin remembered something he meant to ask his wife. He is upstairs and will be back in a moment. Are you afraid to be alone with me? I do not mean to frighten you.”
    “I would not wish to be in the shoes of a lad who harmed me, Kevin would kill him and not think twice about it. So would Connor.” She was uncomfortable and didn’t know if she should stand there or sit down. She looked up and his eyes were glorious, so she quickly looked away.
    “Is Connor the one who came to get you at the gathering?”
    “Aye, he is Kevin’s second in command. I was needed here.”
    “Kenna, I have come to ask you to marry me. I know you hardly know me and I am willing to wait for your answer. But I want you to know my intentions. Your uncle speaks highly of you.”
    She laughed a nervous little laugh. “My uncle knows me only as a little gir l he has seen but a few times.”
    “Perhaps you would like to ask him about me. I will send him if it will please you.”
    “I want to see him very much. We had no time to talk at the gathering.” She walked to the table and sat down. “What should I ask him about you?”
    He followed and took a seat across the table from her. “Whatever you like. Be sure to inquire as to all my faults. I would not have you marry me unaware.”
    Kenna wrinkled her brow. “Would you...”
    “Go on, you may ask anything you like of me.”
    She had to avoid the man’s eyes at all costs. They were driving her daft and this was important. Still, she couldn’t think of a way to ask without offend ing him , so she thought of something else to say. “Lately, I have begun to realize that a lad who admires my beauty does not...what I mean is...do you think you love me?”
    “I find you very pleasing, but I confess, I do not yet love you.”
    She considered his answer. “Thank you for being honest. I find you pleasing as well, but I do not love you either. The truth be told, I am not sure what love feels like exactly.”
    “Nor am I. Perhaps we will learn together. If you are willing, I will come back in two days and ask permission to take a walk with you. Tomorrow I will send your Uncle. Do you agree?”
    Kenna nodded. “Thank you.”
    “For what?”
    “For being so easy to talk to.”

    CHAPTER V

    It was getting dark and both Blair and Bridget were exhausted. They were back in the thicker forest and the only place to protect them from the approaching rain was under a tree. So Blair stopped, tied his horse and spread the plaid out for her to wrap up in. Then he pulled the flask from his belt and let her drink. The last thing he did was sit down beside her with his back against the tree.
    “Is this our new home?”
    “Go to sleep, Charlet.”
    “Bridget.”
    “Go to sleep, Bridget.”
    She sighed. “‘Tis not easy having three names.”
    “Three?”
    “Aye. My real father must have given me one when I was born, but who knows what that is. I do not know his name either, or my real mother’s name. All I know is that the king gave me to Kevin when I was a baby. He said my mother was dead, but he did not mention my father. I wonder what she was like, my real mother, I mean. What color was her hair, was she tall like me or...”
    He smiled when she finally yawned and drifted off to sleep. With no sleep for most of two days, he was tired enough to drop in his tracks, but he couldn’t seem to relax and close his eyes. His question was the same one Kevin and Thomas were sure to ask -- who told the English where to find them? He wanted to break every bone in the man’s body. A traitor always wants something in return, but what? Land, jewels, gold and power were the only things he could think of.
    “Blair?”
    “What?”
    “I should not have done that and I am sorry. I did not believe I was in danger and I meant to run away from you.”
    “I know. That makes you the most stubborn, mule-headed, horse’s rear end I have ever met.”
    She grinned and went to sleep.

    The next day, Laird Thomas Cameron and his two man guard quickly rode down the hillside, through the trees, across the meadow, and then over the drawbridge. Thomas jumped down a nd hurried up the steps of the K eep. When he yanked open the door, Kevin was surrounded by women with red hair.
    Kevin smiled. “Welcome...” As soon as he noticed the look on his old friend’s face, he knew something was wrong.