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Cassy, a few sheets beyond tipsy, did her best to be the life of the party She went fro er to please When a few of theed them off to find solitude away fro the ine helped dull some of the strain as Tara wandered around and studied the people She avoided conversations The mix of accentsAdd to that the alcohol factor and the burrs became thicker and more butchered

She attracted a fair amount of attention, even without Cassy at her side So down at the dress toor toIt wasn’t until the fifth man approached her Tara realized why

“What do we have here?” He slurred then reached out to touch her hair “Sothe Gypsy let your hair loose”

Drunken eyes took in the length of her body and rested on her chest It was then it dawned on Tara, she in, cousted, she storotten pencil, and quickly put the telling trusses in a knot on top of her head

A quiet corner called out her naht, the hour she told Cassy she’d turn in With only a little longer to wait, the night would soon be over One down, threethe ater, Tara sat, closed her eyes, and counted down the minutes until she could leave

Fin approached his brother with a s “Found one did ye?”

“Aye and she is a beauty, too” Fin finished his ale “Don’t wait up for e, Fin We don’t want trouble while we’re here”

“Ah You worry too much Best of luck to you, brother It looks like there aren’t many this time around Maybe tomorroill prove more fruitful”

Duncan watched his brother retreat outside the festival with a giggling lass on his ar soht observe the people without the assault of another’s voice for a short ti

Fabric draped bales of strawkept hi his back to the crowd He backed into the seat, co his cloak aside, Duncan dropped his weight onto the bale Expecting the feel of course straw and wool, he was shocked when the bale moved from under him

Then the straw spoke

“Son of a bitch”

Duncan ju the seat possessed He swirled toward the offending chair and reached for his sword

Heaving a sigh at the sight of a wohed at his reaction She, on the other hand, was not quite as aed colors in a split second He realized his aze went to his hand on his weapon

“Haven’t you done enough dae?” She htened up to his full height, and let his sword arht Fiery red hair and a temper to match Too bad she isn’t a maiden I would have enjoyed her for a tiht her hand up It was covered with blood

“Ouch!”

“You’re harood look at as bleeding, so he tugged her toward the light of a torch

The lass li a streak all the way to the fire Once there she raised her skirt well above her knee

Duncan wasn’t sure why she was lifting her skirts in a room full of people, until he realized it wasn’t her hand that was cut, but her thigh