My Daring Highlander Read Free Page A

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lifted it, and kissed the back. “You are very heroic, Lady Seona. I
thank you for your good deed.”
    A thrilling heat suffused
her and she dropped her gaze. Heavens! He’d never kissed her hand
before, nor should he whilst her aunt was present. She would
disapprove. ’Twas not her aunt she feared, but what her aunt might
tell her father.
    Still, Seona savored the warmth of
Keegan’s skin against her own and the tingles showering her
body.
    “No thanks necessary,” Seona mumbled,
refusing to look at Keegan or her aunt. They could be glaring
daggers at each other for all she knew. But at least Patience was
silent this time.
    After a long moment, Keegan released
her hand, but her skin still burned where his firm warm lips and
the scratchy stubble on his chin and upper lip had brushed over it.
Seona realized Dirk was talking and forced herself to focus on his
words.
    “When we went that way…” Dirk nodded
to the right. “We saw neither hide nor hair of them. They were
decoys to lure us away so that Haldane and the others could attack
from this side. We couldn’t find them when we went that way either
and didn’t want to risk pursuing them up the mountain in the thick
mist.”
    “There must not be very many of them.”
Keegan turned aside and crossed his arms over his chest. “Else
Haldane would’ve had more men with him on this side.”
    “Aye,” Dirk said. “Last winter he had
around a dozen. No way of knowing whether he’s added to his band of
outlaws or whether some have died or found more profitable thieving
grounds.”
    “I’m thinking McMurdo has trained them
to be as elusive as he’s always been,” Keegan said.
    “Just what we need. A dozen more
McMurdos.” Dirk shook his head, then glanced at the sky. “After the
mist lifts, we’ll travel south until we reach a village or until
dark, whichever comes first. ’Tis unfortunate there are no castles
between here and Ullapool.”
    They waited for over an hour and,
finally, the mist rose further up the mountains.
    As they rode south, Seona and the
ladies were heavily protected, with a guard on either side, when
the trail was wide enough. She wished Keegan would guard her
personally, but she knew that wasn’t possible. He rode further
forward, his head turning right and then left as he scanned the
hills and mountains for an impending attack.
    ***
    Although summer days were long, their
party was still several miles away from the nearest village when
gloaming descended over the Highlands. Seona glanced west. The sun
was but a glowing smudge of pink and violet when they stopped
beside a stream in a wee glen. ’Twas a beautiful spot with bare
mountains all around, some green and some gray granite.
    A few of the clansmen built a fire
while several others guarded on the outskirts. Soon the scents of
roasted rabbit and quail teased her nose and made her stomach
growl. Despite her hunger, her full attention had been captured by
Keegan on the opposite side of camp where he removed the saddle
from his horse.
    When Seona noticed Isobel and Dirk
approaching her, she curtsied.
    “I cannot thank you enough, Lady
Seona, for saving the life of my dear wife. Is there anything I can
offer you in repayment?” Dirk asked.
    Seona swallowed hard for she was
momentarily speechless. “’Tis not necessary. Isobel is like a
sister to me. I value our friendship greatly.”
    “Och. Well, I can understand
friendship, for I highly prize my own friends,” Dirk said. “Still,
if there is ever anything you need, and if ’tis within my power to
grant it, I will do so. Just let me know.”
    Seona nodded. “I thank you, my
laird.”
    Dirk bowed, kissed Isobel’s hand and
moved away from them to talk to the guards.
    “You are like the sister I never had.”
Isobel drew Seona into a tight embrace.
    Seona hugged her, then stepped back.
“I feel the same. One can never have too many sisters.” She
grinned, wishing she and Isobel could live near each other,