Marti Talbott's Highlander Series, Book 1

When she turned her back and Harold saw the rope burns, he had to bite his knuckle and turn away until she was out of hearing. Then he lost all control. "That scunner!"

Kevin and his warriors moved closer. "Who? Tell me his name?"

"I cannot and neither can she."

"Why?"

"There are lives at risk."

Out of the corner of his eye, Kevin watched his wife disappear into her bedchamber and then studied the sincerity on the man's face. "Is Rachel one of them?" Harold looked distressed and could not even begin to speak so Kevin decided to explain. "Anna talked in her sleep."

"Oh." Harold slumped. "That is what I came to tell her. They moved Rachel and we do not know where she is."

"Who moved her?"

"Laird MacGreagor, please do not ask me that question. Rachel is very young and she could be anywhere by now. I cannot say for sure, but I would be willing to wager Anna took that beating to save her sister's life."

Thomas asked, "How did you get all this way on our land without anyone spotting you?"

"Oh, they spotted me; they just did not know it. And if I tell you how, I will not be able to come back."

Thomas rolled his eyes, "Kevin, what should we do with him."

"See him safely home. Anna wants his help and so do I." With that, he turned and headed up the stairs. He knew whomever Thomas assigned to see Harold home would grill the man all the way back to England if he had to. Kevin was determined to find out what the hell was going on.

*

When he entered the bedchamber, Anna was staring out the window. "Are you all right?" He asked it so softly he wasn't sure she heard.

"'Tis a beautiful land." The window looked out over the colorful glen at the edge of the forest and she was right, it was beautiful. "I suspect I could see it better without all these tears in my eyes."

He picked a cloth up off the table and handed it to her. "Would you like to go for a walk?"

"I cannot. I mean, I would not want your people to see me like this."

"They are your people now too, and they have already seen you."

"Yes, but not for long. Katie will not let me look, but I see it in her eyes and Harold was revolted. I know it must be dreadful."

"Would you like a mirror?"

She turned to him and nodded. She carefully dabbed at her tears, heard him open the door to the next bedchamber, and then watched him come back in.