Highlander's Rebellious Love Read Free

land.”
    McFarden’s smile disappeared. “I mean no disrespect, Lady Patience—”
    “Patience, call me Patience,” she said, cringing at being called Lady Patience. She was far from what was expected of the title Lady and had no want to be addressed as such.
    McFarden bobbed his head. “As you wish, Patience. The McLauds are going to laugh at you.”
    “Like you did?”
    McFarden’s face burned red with embarrassment.
    “My father would never have sent me if he did not think me capable of seeing this matter settled. I will have it done soon enough and you will have nothing to fear from the McLauds. Now tell me why your village is in such disrepair?” She banged a hard chunk of bread on the table. “And your food stale.”
    “This is harsh and unforgiven land and what little we can grow has not done well. And this situation has not helped, since the people fear hunting and fishing the stream with the McLaud warriors lurking about.”
    “Have they harmed any of you?” Patience was quick to ask.
    “One lad took a beating from a couple of them for protecting one of our lassies, and I complained bitterly about it to Greer. He assured me he would see the warriors punished, but he never had any intentions of doing anything. He knows his warriors outnumber ours and it would take weeks for the Macinnes warriors to reach us, and by then,” —he shrugged— “most, if not all, of us would be dead.”
    Patience’s anger grew and though she was tired from her long journey, it was still early in the day, enough time for things to be seen to. And since she was not one to wait, she said, “Take me to these McLaud warriors who encroach on our land.”
    ~~~
    “How much farther?” Patience asked McFarden after they had traveled about an hour.
    “Not long now, just over that rise,” he said, pointing not far in the distance. “We will stop at Lyall’s croft to rest the horses a bit and quench our thirsts. She is a bit of an odd one, though harmless. Many believe her a witch, but she is just a bit different and a good soul.”
    Patience nodded, glad they would be stopping briefly before she dealt with the McLaud warriors. She had already instructed her warriors at what might need to be done, but it was always good to go over the plans again.
    It was not long before they came upon the small croft. To Patience’s surprise it was better maintained than the places in the McFarden village. She did wonder how the woman could live here alone in such barren surroundings, empty land stretching as far as the eye could see. But then McFarden had remarked about her being a bit odd.
    McFarden rode ahead and had already dismounted when Patience and her warriors reached him. He was not far from the cottage door when a woman and a man, both half-dressed, stumbled laughing out of the cottage in each other’s arms.
    The woman was attractive and had a robust figure. Her flaming red hair was a mass of curls that looked as if they refused to be tamed, and she was quick to pull up her blouse to cover her plump breasts when she caught sight of her visitors.
    The man on the other hand made no move to hide the fact that he was aroused beneath his plaid or cover his naked chest with the shirt he held in his hand. His strong features caught the eye. He was a good-looking man, but there was something more about him that appealed than just his attractive features. Maybe it was his muscles that rippled over his lean frame or his dark hair that just about touched his shoulders or the brash look from his alluring blue eyes. Whatever it was, it was obvious that he was a man confident with himself... and women.
    Patience noticed that McFarden was hesitant to speak and when he did, she understood why. “Hunter,” McFarden said, acknowledging the youngest of the McLauds with a nod. “Have we interrupted you?”
    “Yes, you have,” he said, turning to give Lyall a hungry kiss while squeezing her backside. “I promised to take this beautiful woman