Page 7 of Never Kiss a Highlander

“Then I suggest ye get yer men to a point where they are no’ distracted by someone passing by.”

He hadn’t intended to, but nevertheless his voice rose. “Ye are no’ just a distraction, lass. Ye just have to walk by and any mon with red blood would be pulled from his duty.”

She sat silent, her mouth in a very small ‘O’ shape. After a moment, she cleared her throat and rose. “If that is all ye need from me, Mr. Mackay, then I will be retiring. I have a great deal to do to prepare for my wedding.”

He grinned. “Aye, yer wedding.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “What does that mean?”

“No’hing.” He stood, preparing to leave, feeling as though he’d been able to impress upon the lass that she was not to go near the lists when the men were practicing. At least he thought that was what had been decided. He found her distracting himself.

Lady Alison studied him for a moment, then shrugged. “A pleasant evening to ye, Mr. Mackay.”

Chapter Three

It had been a hard and stressful day getting the men to accept him, and then assessing the warriors and correcting their problems.

Luckily Finn had the support of James and Albert which made it easier to handle his assignment as second-in-command. He’d sensed some resistance to him. Finn got the impression that the laird had let the training go, much as he had everything else once he’d lost his second son.

He couldn’t help but wonder if that was why the laird had agreed to the outrageous betrothal agreement for his daughter. ‘Twas difficult when a man lost the desire to live.

It had taken Finn a long while to come to grips with the tragedy he’d caused when he’d lost control. He’d passed through a time when he’d lived in a very dark place. He’d never forgiven himself, and vowed to never lose control again.

What he needed before the evening meal was a long hard ride to clear his head. He walked to the stable and had the stable lad prepare his horse, Morag. The animal needed a workout since he’d been lazing in the stable since his arrival at the castle.

It felt good to race from the stable to the wide-open fields, the wind blowing in his face. As much as he loved Dun Ugadale,he always enjoyed the wide open spaces surrounding Castle Varrich, the up and down hills making a ride exciting.

A rider was just coming toward him as he crested a hill. A small rider, and all alone. As their horses drew closer, he realized the rider was a woman.

Lady Alison Mackay.

Out alone, no escort, racing over the hills behind her.

They reached each other and she pulled up alongside him. “What the devil is wrong with ye, lass?”

Her smile dimmed. “What did I do now, Mr. Mackay? Am I riding too far east? Has my dress blown up and showed my legs? Did I no’ finish the evening meal to yer satisfaction?” She was panting, her breasts moving up and down, in a delightful way, Finn noticed.

He pulled his eyes from there and rested on her face. Her scowling face. “Where is yer escort?”

“Do ye ne’er have anything to say to me except complaints?”

“‘Tis no’ safe for a woman to be riding all around without a guard.”

Just thinking about what could happen to her if she was set upon by brigands was enough to have him breaking out in a sweat. “Does yer da ken ye are wandering around by yerself?”

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her cute, little chin. “My da doesn’t tell me what to do.”

“So ye’ve always taken chances like this?”

“It matters no’ to ye, Mr. Mackay. Ye are no’ my da or my husband.”

“Aye, yer husband. ‘Tis what, two or so weeks until ye have him telling ye what to do? Protecting ye from yerself?”

A strange look came over her face. “I am certain the mon will no’ be too interested in what I do or doona do.” With those words she turned her horse and headed back to the stable.

Finn shook his head and, not wanting the lass to travel back to the castle by herself, he turned and followed her. She stopped and swiveled in her saddle. “Doona follow me. I am no’ a bairn.”

He huffed. With those curves there was no’ a chance that he would think her a bairn. Neither would any other man who might decide to pull her from her horse and have his way with her.