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“Isn’t it?” she asked “What other reason could there be?”
Lust and jealousy, Raht, but he wasn’t about to tell her the shameful truth, that her stepfather lusted after her and her own hter’s beauty
“I’ve explained my reason You will help with Michael, and that’s all there is to it”
“You’re a kind man, Laird,” she said “But”
“But what?”
Her s “You really don’t lie all that well”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Nothing was ever easy After a long and tedious conversation with Brisbane and Otis, Gillian’s head was pounding froentle h neither one of them would admit it to her, it soon became apparent that, while they knehere Christen was, they weren’t going to tell until they had spoken to her and gained her permission Gillian tried to be patient and was finally rewarded when Otis accidentally let it slip that Christen did live on MacPherson land Gillian’s heart leapt with joy, and she began to prod them relentlessly, but to no avail
So certain was Gillian that Christen would coreed to wait until the ed the that tiland soon She didn’t tell them why
Feeling edgy and frustrated after the elders took their leave, Gillian wanted to be alone for a fewthe stone path thatthe top of a hill, she found a shady spot under a tree and sat down She spread her skirts over the soft tufts of grass and then closed her eyes and cleared her ainst her face When she opened her eyes again, she took a long look around her Ramsey’s estate was beautifuland peaceful Beneath her, the people of his clan carried on the daily routine of their lives Soldiers sharpened their weapons, while otherthe land for their next crop Worain for their next loaves of bread, and their children skipped nearby, playing a rae smooth stone and a stick
For a briefin the tranquillity of the scene But then her mind wouldn’t let her rest It raced with all the questions she wanted to ask Christen when she saw her again She prayed that her sister would remember her, and that her memories would be fond ones Liese had kept Christen’sstories about the two of theain so that Gillian wouldn’t forget her sister Christen didn’t have anyone to help her remember, but Gillian hoped that, because she was older, she wouldn’t have forgotten
A wohts, and Gillian turned around just as a young, fair-haired lady ca up the path Her brorinkled by distress, and Gillian soon understood the reason why, for hot on her trail was a big brute of ain his eyes On closer inspection, she realized the brute was more boy than man
“I’ve told you to leave me alone, Stewart, and Ime, I’ll”
She stopped suddenly when she spotted Gillian Almost immediately, she smiled and hurried forward, oblivious now to her unwanted suitor Stewart stopped and backed away to listen
“Good day, milady”
“Good day to you,” Gillian replied
“My naet up,” she added “You’re the lady froland, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” she answered “My name’s Gillian”
“I’ve been searching everywhere for you,” she said “I was hoping that if you weren’t too busy, you would take a few land I’m very curious about the people who live there”
Gillian was surprised and pleased “I’d be happy to answer your questions, though I must confess you are the very first person I’ve met who has shown any interest at all in land then?”
“I don’t know if I do or not,” she answered with a laugh “I’ve heard terrible stories about the English, but I’m determined to find out if they’re true or not The erate”
“I can assure you without even hearing those stories that they are false The people of England are good men and women, and I’m proud to be one of them”
“It’s noble of you to defend your countrymen”
“I’ honest, not noble Tell me some of these stories and I will convince you they’re false”
“If the stories are exaggerations, then I’ll probably change ine my laird would allow it Is your country as beautiful as mine?”
“Oh, yes,” Gillian replied “It’sdifferent, but just as beautiful”
Another soldier had joined Stewart and stood beside hiid and Gillian He, too, was little ly with splotches on his face She thought they were being terribly rude to listen in on their conversation, and she would have shooed the them, and so she decided to do the same
“My land ht so that their woid said
The lie so ahter “That isn’t true Husbands in England are kind and thoughtful and wouldn’t ever harm their wives At least most wouldn’t,” she qualified “They’re no different than the men who live here They hold the sas for their families”
“I suspected that story was er the story I was told about the pope was also false”
“What were you told?”
“That our holy father placed an interdict on England”
Gillian’s shoulders sluree John It will be resolved soon”
“That’s not what I heard,” Bridgid replied
“What have you heard?”
“That John will be excommunicated first”
Gillian id’s prediction “I sincerely hope not,” she whispered “My king has enough troubles on his hands noith the barons rebelling”
“Your king makes his own troubles”
“But he is id “And it’s my duty to be loyal to him”
Bridgid thought about that for a moment and then nodded “Yes, I, too, would be loyal toto betray that loyalty May I sit with you? I’ve just finished dragging s to the castle, and I’m exhausted Besides, I have a hundred more questions to ask you, and I pro, for I can see that topic makes you uncomfortable”
“Yes, please do sit withtoward Bridgid The other young ”
As Gillian stood up, Stewart lunged and grabbed Bridgid around her waist She let out a yelp and tried to pry his aro of me, Stewart”
“You heard her,” Gillian ordered, determined to help “Get away from her”
Stewart grinned at Gillian “This here is between Bridgid and o Maybe I’ll steal a kiss froid is”
“Will you get away froid muttered
The young man who had joined Stewart now raced forward “You already caught a woman I’ll catch the other,” he boasted “And
I’ll steal a kiss from her”
Stewart howled in pain as he let go of Bridgid and ju down at his arm, he shouted, “You bit me You little”
Her hands on her hips, Bridgid whirled around to confront her offender “You little what?”
“Bitch,” he mumbled
Shocked by the insult, Gillian’s hand flew to her throat and she gasped, but Bridgid didn’t see her head, she said, “If you were not such a stupid little boy, I would io away and leave me alone You’re a nuisance”
“You’re fair game,” he told her
“I’,” she scoffed
“Yes, you are I saw you carrying your clothes up the hill Your mother tossed you out on your ear, didn’t she? And you ain’t a now “And Imy kiss, with or without your permission”
“Then I’h Gillian noticed he kept sing loudly and glancing over his shoulder, obviously tooverheard
“That boy’s nanorant as Stewart” She leaned into Gillian’s side and whispered, “Are you afraid? If you are, I’ll call for help”
“I’h These boys need to learn some manners”
Bridgid grinned “What say you we toss them down the hill?”
The plan sounded outrageous and fun, and Gillian was sport enough to give it a try She followed Bridgid’s lead and slowly backed up until the two of them were close to the slope
Donal and Stewart, grinning like lunatics, id bid the
“Do what I do,” she whispered to Gillian, and then she ordered Stewart to turn around and close his eyes, proive him a reward
As eager as puppies waiting for a meaty bone, the two boys turned
“Quit peeking,” she ordered “Close your eyes tight”
“Are you ready?” Gillian asked Donal
He was vigorously nodding when she gave hiid pushed Stewart at the sa, but Stewart proved to be far ile With a shout of victory, he put his foot back to keep fro down the hill Bridgid and Gillian seized on his inattention Lifting their skirts, they kicked him soundly in his backside and sent him on his way
Unfortunately, Bridgid lost her balance in the process She’d rolled halfway down the hill before she could stop Her shrieks of laughter echoed through the treetops Gillian, thinking to help, chased her, tripped on her own skirt, and ended up crashing into Bridgid