Page 4 of Never Kiss a Highlander

Then as she’d had time to think it over, she realized what an indignity she’d been presented with. Although she had no desire to find love in a marriage, a bit of respect would have been nice.

She sighed and walked away from the window. If everyone was happy, why did she feel cheated?

Chapter Two

As arranged, Finn had met with the laird at first light in his solar. After sending a note off to Robin so he knew that Finn would be staying and to have his belongings sent, he joined the rest of the clan folks in the great hall to break his fast.

The laird sat at the dais with a bonny lass alongside him, speaking to a young man at her side. Based on her looks, she was no doubt the daughter they had discussed the night before. He remembered briefly meeting her when they’d visited a few weeks ago. She seemed either shy or proud when they spoke at the time.

Foster waved him over and he joined those at the head table. “Craig, I want ye to meet my daughter, Lady Alison, and my second wife’s nephew, Brennan.”

Lady Alison merely dipped her head and returned to her food. The lad was all smiles, food dripping from his mouth. He appeared to be about ten summers.

After taking the seat on the other side of the laird, Finn reached for sausages, eggs and cheese on the platter between him and the laird, placing the items on the trencher in front of him.

A young lass poured ale into the mug sitting in front of him. It was a different maid from the night before, but she smiled at him and asked if there was anything else he needed. It was obvious she didn’t mean food or drink.

“Sorcha, get back to work!” Lady Alison snapped.

Both the young lass and Finn looked over at her. The lass flushed and after dipping to Lady Alison hurried off.

The laird ignored the entire exchange, so it was obvious his daughter’s display was nothing unusual. A bit of a shrew, that one.

Once the meal had ended, Mackay leaned over to speak with Finn. “I want ye to go to the lists and make an assessment. We have two trainers right now, but, with neither of my sons there each day to make sure everything is as it should be, we must determine what needs to be done to make us strong again.”

Thinking of some of Robin’s troubles, he asked, “Are ye having problems at your border?”

The laird took a sip of his ale. “There are always problems at the borders, as ye well ken, but I believe there is a group inside our border who is causing problems with the smaller villages. We’ve had some reports of bothies burning and pillaging going on. The clan members who have family in the outlying area are concerned.

“As ye ken from the meeting of all the chieftains I had a few weeks ago, we need to be vigilant and make sure these small groups that we all seem to be experiencing are kept from banding together.”

Finn nodded and, once he finished his food, stood. “If ye will excuse me, laird, I am headed to the lists. Who are your two top trainers, so I can speak with them before I start?”

“Albert Mackay, and James, who ye met when ye arrived yesterday.”

Finn gave the laird a nod and left the great hall. The men were indeed training, but there was a good deal of sloppy swinging of swords and distractions. If these fools took the lack of skills he witnessed into a battle they would kill themselves or each other.

He was stunned that the Clan Chief had let his men become so lazy. This was another sign that The Mackay had almost lost interest in his clan. Finn would not be surprised, if, once Lady Alison was married, the Clan Chief would turn over all duties to his son by marriage.

He walked up to James. “I’m Finn Mackay from Dun Ugadale. I will be working with the laird.”

The man he assumed was Albert Mackay nodded and reached out his hand. “I am Albert Mackay.” Finn turned to James. “I remember ye from yesterday.”

He looked at the two men. “Yesterday I was told to find the laird’s solar, which I did.” He looked at James. “Ne’er allow a visitor to roam the keep by himself.” He held up his hand as the man began to protest. “I ken ye recognized me from our prior visit, but ‘tis still no’ something that should be done.”

James nodded and Finn continued. “The laird told me that ye two are the trainers. I’d like to take the time to assess each mon’s skills. Ye will watch me and then apply whate’er ye haven’t been doing with small groups of men.”

Both men seemed to take his instructions well, which eliminated any problems he might have with taking over as second-in-command and assuming the duty of overseeing the training.

“How many warriors do ye have?”

Before James was able to answer, a great deal of shouting erupted from the men on the lists as they stopped training and smiled at Lady Alison who was strolling by the lists, with abasket of flowers over her arm. She dipped her head and smiled at the men like it was an afternoon garden party.

Finn turned on his heel and marched over to the lass. She lost her smile and her hazel eyes bored into him. Everything about the stance of her curvy body made it obvious she was not happy to see him.

The lass was truly a distraction with her long blonde hair tickling her face from the slight wind. She raised her chin and stared at him.

Placing his hands on his hips, he glared back at her.