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A sudden pounding at the door startled thenored it Instead, Ewen leaned down and kissed her deeply Rocking his hips into hers, he began to tease his thu slowly froency of Donald ’s shout was finally enough to tear Eay frorowled

"What’s "-- "Ewen, it’s Hamish … the redcoats,off the floor and wrapped hile th frouish on her face, was probably one of the only people ould kno deep this loss would cut him

"Ewen, I’ht you can do, Lil’, but just stay by lances when they joined Ewen’sin the common room

Donald cocked an eyebrow, and Ewen shot, "The lass stays with me, aye?" His words may have been posed as a question, but Ewen ’s tone brooked no response from his uncle

"Aye, Lochiel " Had Ewen not already been so preoccupied, hein his uncle ’s eye Rallying the clan together in time of battle was a private matter reserved for Cameron family members only And, with the possible exception of the laird ’s wife herself, enerally the only ones in atte ndance Ewen stood at the head of the long oak table, and his presence alone was enough to silence the rooive , man " "Lochiel" --Donald recited the events in an uncharacteristically dispirited voice "General Middleton -- and about three score of ihlanders were slain, sohed "We don’t yet know the full count fro Haorously and added with a griave those redcoat bastards a fight His was a braord arather hier that as well, uncle " He cleared his throat and addressed the rooht, the Cae We ride on the morrow "

The roo of clansry warriors

"Silence" Ewen’s voice was dangerously quiet As ht with the British, he never took bloodshed lightly

"We ride for Achdalieu at first light and have much to prepare before then We ’ve but few ready clansie, aye?" Ewen quieted a new round of enthusiastic shouts "If Monk was last at Loch Garry, Achdalieu gives us the best possible position We’ll need provisions for a sht Donald will see to supplies, but you ’ll need to ready your own iance and found that Clan Ca " Another round of cheers exploded aathered men, silenced just as quickly by a steely look from their laird

"Laird, ht the news spied Cro fro a horse’s arse"

"Well,to flick these bloody flies back to where they came from " While his men shouted and clapped their approval, Ealked to a side table and poured hi there When they finally quieted, the laird continued, "That confirathered on the matter" Ewen didn’t share that Gorence

"Monk’s coh supplies and men to build himself a wee fort where he can rest his red tails awhile "

A chorus of voices erupted once again and a redheaded clanshland welcome! "

"Aye, that ill, Malcolruous freckles for his weathered, ood family man, and the laird was proud to have roused one such as he to battle

"It seems," Ewen pronounced, "that our enemy has offered us their throats to be cut "

"Aye, " Donald shouted, "the redcoats won’t be able to step fro a bite! "

"We ride for Achdalieu on the lanced at Lily as he continued, "And ait for the bastards on the north side of Loch Eli "

He could see the anxiety etched plainly on her face, but there was nothing to do for it He couldn ’t merely sit by while Monk erected a fort on his property, felling Cameron men and Cameron timber in order to do so