Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet

the men charging toward them were Camerons and she breathed a sigh of relief; anything was better than the English.
    Dugan, the Cameron leading the contingent of twenty guards was glad to see that Bridget was safe. As soon as he neared, he halted the men and spoke to Blair. “Laird MacGreagor wants her home. They believe they have found the Englishman.”
    Blair nodded and then waited. One man swung down, gathered their belongings and then got back on his horse. Blair was grateful, and after the guards surrounded them, he turned to Dugan, “How did you find us?”
    “Thomas said this is where he would take her. If you had not been here, we would have gone north until we found you. I am pleased Charlet is alive, Thomas wasn’t sure she would be.”
    Blair heard her softly say, “Bridget.” Together, the men began to walk their horses back across the meadow. “Why did Thomas send so many?”
    “You have not heard? The clans decided they would not let the English have her. Unmarried lairds from all over the Highlands have asked for her hand.”
    Bridget closed her eyes and let her head fall to her chest. When she finally looked up, Dugan was smiling at her.
    “You are as handsome as I have heard.”
    Bridget sat straight up and glared at him. “If you say that again, I will shove Blair’s sword right through your middle!”
    “She is fiery too, I like her, Blair.”
    Blair was not impressed and his glare made Dugan quickly move away. He wasted no time glaring at any of the other men who were gawking at her and the twenty-man guard soon spread out. He could see now what she meant; they all wanted her. When she finally r elaxed against him, he tried to relax as well. “Are you happy to be going home?” He noticed she didn’t nod as quickly or as enth usiastically as she could have.
    “How far?”
    He leaned close to her ear. “You will spend one more night with me and then you will be home.”
    Bridget closed her eyes. One more night, and then she would lose him -- maybe forever. She tried to think of a way to let him know she would miss him without his men seeing. But then she realized she had no idea how he felt about her. He did kiss her once, but she was burning up with fever and maybe he just felt sorry for her. Maybe that’s how some men expressed their sympathy. Duff kissed her once, but that just made her mad. Blair’s kiss was nothing like that. His kiss was soft and tender. He once put his arms around her too. But he could have done it just to comfort her. Besides, she was the one who didn’t want to let go.
    He was thinking about her too. He did love her, but how could he tell her? She knew all men wanted her and words of love came easy. Why would she believe him? Besides, what did he have to offer a woman who could become mistress of any clan she chose? Nothing. He might become laird over the Camerons someday, but Thomas was a healthy man and that was a long ways off. He wondered if a woman like Charlet would settle for a small cottage and a husband who could offer her nothing more. Probably not. She would have to love him as much as he loved her to settle for so much less. He realized he was stroking the side of her waist with his thumb and stopped.
    Bridget liked his small caress, felt him stop and wondered what it meant. Was he telling her how he felt or was he just comforting her again ? She sighed. Then she began to get riled, sat up, turned to look at him and whispered, “You confuse me.”
    “What did I do?”
    “You just do.” She settled back against him and began to strum her fingers on his arm. If she could figure out what was wrong, and if they were alone, she would give him a piece of her mind. Why should she have to guess how he felt? It was maddening. “You are the most stubborn, feather-flapping, arrogant...”
    Blair smiled. He would miss that about her the most. He made her sit up, undid the flask of wine and helped her drink. “You have been very ill. Sleep, Bridget.”
    He was right; she did not yet feel her best. The wine warmed her inside, his body warmed her outside, and it wasn’t long before her eyes closed , and she slumped against him.

    Two days earlier, they received word the Englishman was dead. Laird Forbes killed him and was now at the MacGreagor Keep with the proof, waiting for his reward -- he will have Charlet!
    Kevin took the papers Laird Forges found on the Englishman up to his wife. He did not know how to read, but Anna did. He patiently waited