Page 4 of Highlander’s Dangerous Love

“I trust her judgement. An’ look how respectful he’s bein’. Appropriate distance from her, but he’s still clearly interested,” Gemma offered.

“Aye, but after these men get some ale in them, they might not be so respectful,” Muriel warned.

Gemma shuddered to consider her friend’s implications. Assaulting the virtue of a lady was frowned upon at the castle, and Master Frazier, Colin’s father and captain of the guard, had always punished those that did so accordingly. Still, it was a dangerous world in which they lived. As women, they had to tread carefully. Speaking of men, many nodded and smiled at Gemma as she passed, and some made comments to their friends about how bonny she looked. Yes, it was a man’s world indeed, and she had to be careful.

But that carefulness was soon forgotten as she locked eyes with Colin Frazier. She felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of him, so tall and broad in his kilt, his red hair gleaming in the sunlight. He was another one of the lucky few she counted as a close friend, but lately she found herself wishing they could be more than that. Their friendship had only grown stronger over the years, and Gemma even found herself a little jealous when he smiled at or flirted with other women. He did not do that often, and she wondered if it was even purposeful. He was such a kind soul; it was likely he was just being nice and others saw it as flirtation.

Upon seeing her, he grinned and strode over.

“Aye, Gemma! ‘Tis good tae see ye here.”

She smiled and stopped short of hugging him; that would be too inappropriate. It was already outside of the boundaries of propriety to call him by his Christian name. They were not siblings, and an embrace would be seen by others as quite peculiar.

“Aye, it is. Will ye be competing taeday?”

She already knew the answer to that question, but truthfully, she was desperate for any conversation with him. Anything that would keep him away from the other women.

“Indeed. I’m slated for stone throwin’, I think. And a bit o’ wrestlin’.”

“I’m sure ye’ll win both,” Gemma said with a gracious smile.

Colin shrugged. “A win would be nice, but I’d like tae earn it. ‘Tis no fun when it’s too easy.”

“Ye like a good challenge. Ye always have.”

He regarded her curiously, as if there was more than one meaning behind her words. She hadn’t meant it, and she never wanted to be a challenge for Colin. It was just that, here in the sunlight, with his red hair glowing in the sun, she wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Aye,” he said softly. It looked like he might say something else, but some of the other young men called for him at that moment. Apparently, they were lining up for another game.

Gemma watched his hulking form retreat. He stood out against the rest of the men. Although they were also tall and broad Scots, he was taller and broader. Bryce clapped him on the back and welcomed him into the fold.

“Now there’s a lad ye should set yer cap at,” Muriel said, bumping her hip against Gemma’s.

Gemma felt her face grow warm with a blush.

“Och, no. We’re friends. Childhood friends is all,” she said.

“That may be so, but friendship is the best basis for a marriage,” Muriel countered.

“Again, ye ken a lot about marriage for an unmarried lass.”

Muriel shrugged. “I’m a lady’s maid. I have watchful eyes an’ ears.”

“Then I shall be sure not tae tell ye anymore secrets,” Gemma teased.

Douglas Frazier, captain of the guard and Colin’s father, then announced that it was time for the stone throwing contest. The field was cleared, and all the bairns were instructed to stay back lest they be hit with a stray rock. A couple of young boys stood by the line at the ready, eager to run down and mark where the stone landed. Bryce, Colin, and some other young men Gemma recognized were all competing. Each of them threw their stones one by one, taking steps back, winding up their arms and spinning until they had enough force to throw the stone. There were some throws that were quite impressive; others fell a little short. Bryce’s and Colin’s were so close, but ultimately…Bryce won the challenge. The laird, his father, held up his hand in victory as everyone cheered. Colin smiled good-naturedly, seemingly unaffected by his defeat.

“Masters Frazier and MacNeill look remarkably similar, don’t they?” Muriel whispered to Gemma as the two of them watched from the sidelines.

“Och Muriel, what d’ye mean tae imply?” Gemma asked, a little offended that her maid would speak so out of turn. It was one thing to be a talkative lass, but it was another thing entirely to say something so brazen.

“I said nothin’. I am simply stating a fact. I’m sure others would agree.”

Gemma looked at the both of them as they stood side by side. Colin was taller, and his red hair was longer, almost to his shoulders, but the shapes of their faces were definitely similar. They both had the same sharp jawline and green eyes. Bryce kept his hair cropped, though. He’d never liked having it on his face or neck.

“Maybe so, but ye better not let anyone — ‘specially the laird — hear ye,” Gemma warned.

Muriel might have said something in response, but Bryce approached at that moment, smiling in that dashing way he always did.