Page 29 of Never Kiss a Highlander

Finn immediately calmed down. It didn’t stop him from pulling Alison against him and wrapping his arm around her in a very possessive way. He glanced at his wife, and she gave him a look that he knew meant trouble for him later. But it didn’t matter. He was no’ going to stand there and watch another man place his hands on his wife.

Alison took a deep breath, and it was obvious she was trying to keep from knocking one of his teeth out. “Finn, this is Brendan Mackay, who has been my friend all my life.” She turned to the man. “This is Finn Mackay, my husband.”

They barely nodded in each other’s direction, but Finn kept his arm around his wife.

“I doona ken why ye are not married to Archie Sinclair, but ‘tis happy I am that ye are not. Best of luck with yer marriage to … Finn Mackay.” With those nebulous words, Brendan nodded in Finn’s direction, and turned away, heading toward the baker’s store.

Chapter Twelve

Brendan Mackay had walked barely three or four steps before Alison rounded on Finn. “How dare ye threaten my friends.”

“I dinna threaten yer friend. Tis no’ happy I am that he had his arms around ye. Ye are a married lass, and I will no’ permit another mon to handle ye.”

“Handle me? I doona believe I am hearing this.” She poked the arrogant oaf in his strong chest. “The mon has been my friend since we were bairns; I hadn’t seen him in a while.”

She studied him for a minute. “Ye were jealous.”

He flushed and sucked in a deep breath. “I am no’ jealous. I’m just protecting what is mine.”

“Protecting what is yers? Am I merely a possession to ye, then? Like yer horse?”

By this time, Alison’s “friend” had disappeared into the baker’s store. Finn took her elbow and marched her forward. “I could use an ale.”

Just to show her independence, she would love to deny him, but she was thirsty herself. “Verra well. But I’m no’ going for an ale because ye ordered it.”

The man had the nerve to smirk.

They settled at a table near the back of the room. Alison traced a small circle on the table while they waited for their drinks. “Ye seemed to look around the room and then took this table all the way in the back. Why is that?” she asked.

Finn leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “‘Tis safer at the back of the room. I prefer to watch what’s going on and who is coming and going. Now lass, I’m giving ye a suggestion, no’ an order. Ne’er turn yer back on the door.

“Also check where back doors and windows are so ye can escape quickly if ye need to.”

She decided if they were to have a peaceful marriage, she would have to make some concessions and so would he.

She took a sip of her ale and studied him. “‘Tis a good idea. I can see the wisdom in it.” After a moment, she asked, “Why are ye so determined to control everyone?”

His eyes narrowed. “Are ye referring to yer ‘friend?’” He shook his head. “I’m no’ wanting to control everyone. I just doona want another mon holding ye in his arms.”

She laughed, then sighed. “He wasna holding me in his arms, we were hugging each other, which is what old friends do. But with ye arrogant ways, ye probably doona have friends to ken this.”

He grinned. “I have plenty of friends, but we doona go around hugging each other like a bunch of lasses.”

Finn took a sip of his ale. “Why are ye so determined to put yerself in danger?”

Apparently it was now Finn’s turn to ask questions. Of course he’d never answered hers, though.

“I am no’ putting myself in danger?—”

“Doona start off yer answer that way.” He paused for a moment. “Let me change my question. Why are ye careless about yer safety? Riding outside the castle walls alone isdangerous for a woman—even a mon—when it would take verra little effort to ask for someone to ride with ye.”

She looked to the other side of the ale house and gave his question some thought. “Why do I do things on my own? When William died of an infection from his wound right after Bryan was killed on the battlefield, the entire castle went into mourning.” She shook her head. “Losing his sons changed my da,” she said, looking down to her lap.

“He dinna care about anything. He spent a great deal of time in his solar drinking. Then things began to fall apart in the keep. Tenants were having problems that needed their laird to straighten out. Da stopped holding court so fighting erupted between those who had issues.”

“Had yer brothers been his second-in-command?”

“Aye.” She took the last sip of her ale and placed the mug on the table. “However, to get back to your question, no one was what you would say ‘in charge.’ Albert and James kept the warriors in line, but they dinna have time or the authority to take over the laird’s jobs.”