Highland Flame (Highland Brides) Read Online Free Page B

turn.
    There were nods of concurrence and a few mumbled words.
    "Good. Then we have no more time to waste. Bullock ..." She handed back his sword, tip first. "I trust ye to guard the prisoner. William, ye will see to Shaw's arm. Nevin and Gilbert, ye will keep lookout." For the first time, she let her gaze slip weakly to the huge warrior who stood behind Roderic. "Troy, I will see you outside," she commanded, then turned rapidly away.
    "Ye dunna mind if I sit down, do ye?" asked Forbes from behind her.
    Flame turned back, barely able to make that simple effort for the fatigue that threatened to overcome her. "Be ye so weak ye canna even stay on yer feet, Forbes?"
    He slowly canted his head at her. "Mayhap yer beauty makes me feeble," he suggested quietly, his eyes deadly cold. "Or could it be yer senseless prattle?"
    She wanted nothing more than to give in to her anger. Instead, she ordered, "Let him sit. And keep him quiet."
    Turning stiffly, she hurried through the door. Outside, the air was still and heavy. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply to steady her nerves.
    "Lass?" Troy's voice was little more than an earthy rumble in the darkness as he exited the ceilingless walls of the broken stable.
    "Here," Flame answered. In a moment she could see the shadow of the old warrior's towering form.
    "So..." He stopped before her, gargantuan arms akimbo. "Ye have taken a Forbes."
    Her uncertainty and worry had turned to bone-numbing weariness. “I do not wish to discuss that now."
    "Lass—"
    "Nay!" Her tone was sharper than she had meant to make it. "How long do ye think the MacGowans will accept a leader who does not seek revenge? We have stood the losses for as long as I will allow. I said I would take a Forbes, and take one I have."
    Troy shook his head. " 'Tis na just any Forbes ye have taken, lass, 'tis Roderic the Rogue."
    "I do not care if he be a rogue or a lap pet or the devil himself!" she spat.
    The old warrior was silent for a moment, then, "Ye will care, lass, for he is na only Leith's brother, he is one of the fighting trio. 'Tis said none can best him in a scrap."
    Flame drew herself up. "I did not think ye scared so easy," she said, but Troy only snorted.
    "Save yer clever words for the lads, Flanna MacGowan, and remember this, 'twas I who knew ye when ye were still in swaddling and na bigger than me arm. 'Twas I who saw yer tears in the French convent and brought Lochan to ease yer loneliness."
    The air left Flame's lungs, and she dropped her gaze. "What have I done?" she whispered.
    " 'Tis a fine time ta ask that now, lass," rumbled Troy, but his anger was already dissipating.
    "Lady Fiona had a wee babe," she murmured, finally raising her gaze to Troy's stoic face. "I could not take her from him."
    He shook his head. "I shouldna forget that ye be a woman first," he murmured.
    "What?"
    " Tis nothing, lass."
    "What shall I do now?" Flame whispered, feeling herself shake again. "I did not plan to take him."
    "But ye felt a need to prove yerself the better man?"
    "Kindness has gained me little," she said softly. "Boldness serves me better."
    Troy removed his bonnet and ran splayed fingers through thick, gray hair. " 'Tis true that a Highlander has little respect for weakness, lass."
    "Or kindness." She turned her face away.
    Troy shrugged, still watching her. "Some think weakness and kindness be the same thing."
    Flame tightened her jaw and shifted her gaze back to meet his. "As do I," she said.
    Troy's expression was inscrutable, though he watched her for a long while. "Then why did ye na let them kill the Forbes?"
    "It would have gained us nothing but a dead body."
    "Then mayhap there is some purpose for kindness after all."
    Flame tried to think of some rebuttal, but she had found long ago that parrying words with Troy Hamilton was a fool's endeavor. She exhaled softly. "What shall I do, now?"
    "The tide has gone out and taken us with it. There is little we can do but hold on to the flotsam and try to keep