Highlander's Rebellious Love Read Free Page B

did not wait. She lowered her head and rammed it with such force in the man’s stomach that he went flying back off his feet, landing on his back with a heavy thud, grasping for breath. She then let loose with a battle cry and her warriors descended on the unprepared group and had them rounded up with hardly a weapon being drawn.
    “Your name,” Patience demanded of the barrel-chested man, so red in the face with anger that she thought he would explode.
    “Dunn,” he spit out as he got to his feet. “And you are going to pay for this.”
    She took a quick step at him and he stumbled away from her almost falling to his knees. “You dare threaten me?” She turned to McFarden who had not moved off his horse, so stunned was he by what had happened. “How far to their home by horse?”
    “And hour or more.”
    Patience turned back to Dunn. “You will be walking home.”
    “You cannot steal our horses?” Dunn said and his men began to grumble.
    “I will return them when I come to speak to Greer McLaud tomorrow. And let him know that I expect a warm welcome, for if any harm befalls me or my warriors, the Macinnes and MacClennan wrath will fall upon the McLauds.”
    Brows furrowed and eyes turned wide at the mention of the two strong clans being united.
    “Now douse the fires and clean your mess before you take your leave,” Patience ordered.
    “Do it yourself,” Dunn snapped.
    Patience was on him in an instant, her dagger drawn and at his throat. Color drained from the man’s face and sweat sprang from his brow.
    “You learn much too slowly, Dunn. Shall I leave you with a small reminder of what happens when you disobey my command and treat me rudely?”
    “You would not be so brave if your men were not here to protect you,” Dunn challenged in an attempt to save face in front of his men.
    “And did her men help her get that dagger to your throat?”
    Patience did not turn to see who had spoken, she recognized that mocking voice.
    “Her troop surprised us,” Dunn said.
    “A liar as well as a slow learner,” Patience said and went to prick his skin with the tip of her dagger. Her wrist was grabbed quick, a band of steel feeling as if it coiled around it.
    “I cannot let you harm one of my clansmen, though useless as they may be,” Hunter said and yanked her hand away from Dunn’s neck.
    Patience glared at him. “Let go of me.”
    “You promise to be nice?” Hunter said with a grin that warned and titillated at the same time.
    “I promise that if you do not release me, you will be sorry,” Patience threatened.
    Hunter lowered his head so that his nose almost touched hers. “And I promise you that when I have hold of a beautiful woman, I am never sorry... and either is she.”
    He released her so quickly that she stumbled.
    Hunter turned to Dunn. “Do as she told you. Douse the fires and clean your mess, then start walking. Let Greer know to prepare for an important guest tomorrow.”
    Hunter turned back to Patience after Dunn angrily nodded and walked off grumbling. His blue eyes seemed to capture her in a soft caress and for a mere moment she felt a flutter in her stomach.
    Annoyed at herself for letting a rogue like him affect her, she said, “This is Macinnes land and you McLauds will do well to remember it.”
    “My brother seems to think differently, though I daresay there is an easy solution to the problem.”
    “And what might that be?”
    “Marry me and unite the clans.”

Chapter Three
    Patience stared at Hunter in disbelief. He was insane. He had to be to suggest that she wed him. “I would keep better control of that tongue of yours and stop speaking nonsense.”
    His eyes heated to a fiery blue. “Trust me, Patience, I have absolute control over my tongue and there are many who would attest to that.”
    “Women no doubt.”
    “Jealous?” Hunter whispered.
    Patience took a step back, her imagination suddenly wondering exactly what his wicked tongue could do. “You are