Ian Read Free

different kind of attention.
    “Come on, Kyla, let’s go see who wins the apple bobbin’,” said Coira, coming to her side with her hand s full of coins from all the people placing bets. Coira was a shy girl and usually not in the best of health. She’d almost died when she was first rescued from being held prisoner in a cage, and brought to the MacKeefes to live along with her sister, Effie.
    But since she’d been friends with Kyla , she had changed a lot. Kyla knew Coira and Effie had been raised as gypsies. This was exciting to her, and for the past few months she’d been learning everything she could about using herbs and making healing potions. She’d already learned much from the old gypsy, Zara, who lived with the MacKeefes and was once the handmaiden of Wren - Storm MacKeefe’s wife.
    And though Effie didn’t like her sister talking about it, Kyla had even heard from Coira the stories of gypsy magic.
    “I dinna ken if I want te go o’er there after all.” Kyla noticed the way Ian smiled at the lusty girl who was now whispering into his ear and pressing her body up against his. Ian’s smile could light up a room, and also any woman’s heart. It had lit up her heart more than once, and he’d never even known it.
    He’d always been like a big brother to her, a s she’d gone almost everywhere with the three madmen through the years. Her parents had both died when she was very young, and her brother Aidan had taken her under his wing so to speak, and let her tag along as he watched after her. Aidan was her only sibling, so they were very close. She grew up hunting and fishing and even practicing with weapons with them. And she’d never been afraid to try some of their crazier antics like diving from the top of cliffs into the water at night, or even walking barefoot in the snow just to see whose feet were the toughest. Yes, she was sure that Ian saw her as naught but one of the boys, but lately she’d been wanting something more.
    She wanted to be married and have children like most women her age. She felt an emptiness in her life, and a calling to womanhood as well. She knew it was time to take matters into her own hands, and do something about it.
    “Come on, Kyla,” said Effie, joining them and taking her by the elbow and pulling her across the room. “Ian is ne’er goin’ te notice ye if ye are hidden away in the shadows.”
    Kyla was happy that she’d bee n able to share her secret feelings for Ian with Effie and Coira. She’d never been close to any of the women of the clan before they’d arrived, and it felt good to have someone to confide in. She allowed Effie to drag her along, yet kept her head down and her eyes focused on the floor. She knew Ian was turning on his charms to any woman who looked his way, and she really didn’t want to see it.
    “All right, e’eryone, pay attention.” Onyx raised his han d in the air. “First we have Aidan, the man with a mouth as big as his muscles, bobbin’ fer an apple. Aidan, if ye’d please.” He stepped aside and motioned with his hand for Aidan to take a turn at the game. “And I’ll be keepin’ count at how long it takes ye.”
    “Outta me way,” said Aidan, pushing Onyx, obviously no t liking how he’d been introduced.
    “I feel a fight in the air,” said Effie, shaking her head as she watched her husband position himself in front of the apple barrel.
    “They always talk like thet te each other, dinna worry,” Kyla assured her.
    Aidan held back his long hair, and as he tried to secure an apple, Onyx counted aloud. It got away from him twice, but then his squirrel reached out from his shoulder and snagged the apple with its teeth, keeping it from moving. Quickly, Aidan turned his head and bit the apple, ripping it away from the squirrel, and standing upright with the apple in his mouth and his hands in the air. A shout of triumph mixed with disappointment echoed through the room.
    The crowd talked noisily amongst themselves, and