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"No, it isn't true"

"And you have said you didn't force her"

"No, I didn't force her"

"You left out sonificant details when you explained you married her"

"Such as?" Connor asked

Alec didn't immediately answer his question "Two of MacNare's lish soldiers They're headed for Baron Haynesworth's holding"

"Who is Baron Haynesworth, Laird Kincaid?" Crispin asked

"Brenna's father," he answered

"There were twelve soldiers escorting mi'lady," Quinlan said

"There are three left MacNare doesn't like hearing bad news He holds Brenna's father responsible for raising an independent daughter and is going to demand immediate compensation I don't know the baron, and therefore cannot predict hoill react to hearing his alliance has been broken, but I knohat I would do if I had expected hter to o after hter and hear the truth froht lead his troops here"

"It's possible"

Connor shrugged "If it happens, it happens"

"What will you do if her father challenges you?"

"No one's taking her away from me No one" He hadn't raised his voice, but the force behind each as just as riveting

"Would you kill him?" Crispin asked in a voice that sounded only mildly curious

"It would probably upset my wife if I did," Connor said

"Probably?" Alec asked "Of course it would upset her"

"I wouldn't let the retaliation go that far I'll wait to see what her father does"

Alec nodded, satisfied for therash

"I wouldn't ive her such a worry Though I find it so my wife that wo Jamie was very upset to hear what MacNare had done to Brenna's horse 'Tis the truth, I was sickened by the vile act as well Unfortunately, Jah cah the night," Crispin co One of h was in quite a state, but once he'd had enough ale to cal news As you know, he has always been against joining MacNare or you A long tio, he came to me with his request for protection in the event one of you tried to change his mind for him by force I assured hi, of course, and I'ive hih wants to live in peace His grandfather and his father before him both ruled that worthless little stretch of land between you and your enemy, which puts him in an untenable position, because he doesn't have nearly the nuh has never raised his hand against any ive him my assistance He's an old man who means no harm, Connor, and I won't have him preyed upon"

"I offered him my protection, Alec"

"I know you did, but if he had accepted, his folloould have been slaughtered by MacNare the second you turned your back The king has a special fondness for the oldunfortunate happened to him I explained all of this to MacNare and told hih remains autono hi because he'd been invited to attend the celebration after the wedding, but the old h and therefore was forced to witness MacNare's unsavory lish soldiers" It was Crispin who stated the obvious "Were the nine men killed in the same way mi'lady's horse was killed?"

Alec held Connor's stare as he slowly nodded "Needless to say, Hugh was shaken by what he saw I hope Brenna never hears about the soldiers God willing, she'll never find out"

His hope proved false, for Brenna had already heard every word they'd said She had coh the back door, heard Alec's voice, and ihten her appearance before she went forward to greet him She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, until she heard her name spoken

She deliberately stayed where she was then because she wanted to find out why she was being discussed, and she knew that the minute she joined them, the conversation would stop Neither Alec nor Connor hispering, yet their low voices indicated the seriousness of their topic She knehat she was doing rong, but at theherself ahen Alec explained what had happened to nine of her father's soldiers She was so sickened by the horror she pictured, she doubled over fro for the souls of the ain a little control, and she vowed that later, when she was alone in her bedrooet down on her knees and ask God to welcome them As soon as she was finished, she would thank Hi Connor to her If he hadn't arrived when he had, she would be ht so chilled her, her sto on the conversation in the great hall stopped her fro herself she could weep for as long as she wanted as soon as she was alone

"Despite having survived so h's still hopelessly naive," Alec said "He was in quite a state by the ti, one of his men came to him to tell hie froh felt certain you would wish to see it Did you know MacNare called it a gift?"

"Yes," Connor answered

"And then Hugh rode directly to you," Quinlan said with a nod

"I would like to bring up another matter with you, Connor It certainly isn't as important as e've just discussed, yet I find I've been thinking about a coh heard frolish soldiers that Brenna was a child when she asked you to marry her

You left that out, didn't you? Noant you to tell ain you didn't defy my command to leave MacNare alone"

Alec had just slammed his fist down on the tabletop when Brenna called out to him "Good day, Laird Kincaid What a pleasure it is to see you again"

As quick as a blink, Alec's expression changed from an intense frown to what she believed was a sincere smile Quinlan and Crispin looked relieved to see her She went directly over to Alec, gave Connor a quick glance and saw the speculative look in his eyes, and then turned back to their guest In her enthusiasrabbed hold of his hand to let him kno happy she was to see hio Alec was surprised by the gesture of affection, yet pleased all the sas toat the stitches on her forehead

"I' very well, thank you How could I not? It's such a fine day today"

"It's raining," Crispin reminded her

"The rain has stopped," she answered "Please sit down again Have I interrupted an iize if I have Is Jao of her hand before answering "She's ho her next time you come to see Connor"

After a second request that they take their seats, the men conceded She went to Connor, waited until he was settled, and put her hand on his shoulder The action wasn't meant to show affection, but to show Alec her loyalty to her husband

"Is your ell?" she asked

"I will have to assume she is," Alec answered, his eyes war to me at the moment"

"Oh, dear," Brenna whispered

"Jamie can be as stubborn as her husband," Connor rerin "She's upset because I won't let her go attend Mary Kathleen My daughter's time draws near," he explained for Brenna's benefit "And because this bairn will be her first, my wife thinks her presence will make the ordeal easier for her"

"Lady Kincaid is known as a healer here," Quinlan told her

"Laird, I cannot help but wonder why you won't let Jao to Mary Kathleen," Brenna said

Connor was surprised his wife had just asked for an explanation He knew Brenna wasn't being bold; she was simply curious, that was all Later he would explain to his brother that she couldn't help being impetuous and certainly hadn't meant to question his decision