Highland Jewel (Highland Brides) Read Online Free Page B

MacAulays. She was enchanting, just as the Lady Elizabeth had been. And with the amethyst-jeweled brooch and wee plaid the abbess had given him, there would be no way for the old laird to be sure she was not his daughter. Aye, Ian MacAulay would accept her as kin, for he would want to believe it was true, and sick as he was, this would be his last chance to find her.
    "She's a fine, bonny mare, brother," said Colin, leaning casually back against a post near a small herd of horses as he interrupted Leith's thoughts.
    Leith issued an irritable grunt, wanting to lose himself in his musings again, but Colin was not to be ignored.
    Shifting the weed between his teeth, and glancing toward the nearby barn, Colin raised one fair brow and added, "She is indeed the best of the lot."
    Another grunt.
    "She'll bear the long journey home well."
    Silence.
    Colin narrowed his eyes. "But why, I'm asking meself—why the best of auld Harold's mares when the others are worthy-enough steeds?"
    Leith straightened, paced to the mare's left hind, and bent again, running one hand along the trim cannon bone. "She'll cross well with Beinn Fionn."
    "Aye. That she will." Colin nibbled for a moment, watching the other's careful examination before breaking the silence again. "But yer stallion has a full score of bonny lasses awaiting his return. While ye..." He stopped on a thoughtful note, grinning crookedly while his brother could not see. “Tell me of this wee nun that's to travel with us."
    "Ye will meet her soon enough," responded Leith evenly.
    "Is she young?"
    "Na so young as ye," said Leith, straightening to caress the mare's glossy hindquarter.
    "Bonny?"
    No answer came as Leith moved forward again to examine the mare's teeth.
    "Is she na bonny?" repeated Colin, deliberately keeping a straight face now as his brother scowled.
    "She is na likely to blister yer delicate hide should ye glance her way, if that be yer concern, lad," growled Leith.
    "Ah." Colin nodded sagely, causing the ragged weed in his teeth to bobble with the motion. "A hedged answer from my liege is like the highest words of praise from another. So she's a bonny lass." He strode quickly forward. "Dark hair? Fair? What of her eyes?"
    "Canna ye find sommat to do?" snapped Leith."Is there na a thing to occupy yer time?"
    "Na, brother," said Colin with a shrug. "Na a thing. The quest is at its finish. Failed—the child long gone from this world."
    Leith turned away, ducking under the mare's delicate jaw to her far side.
    "And yet ye seem na unduly troubled," continued Colin thoughtfully. "And after all the struggle to arrive here. If I were na such a trusting man and did na ken ye so well, I would think ye were keeping sommat from me. Why, I ask meself, would we take this wee nun to our homeland? To heal the MacAulay?" He snorted loudly. "Methinks na. Better to run a dirk through his black heart and be done with it. So why—"
    "Go fetch a companion for the lass," ordered Leith suddenly, straightening abruptly on the far side of the black to glower over her glossy back.
    "A companion?" asked Colin dubiously. "Mayhap I could find her a feather mattress too. We could tote it along in a fine carriage so that she will na bruise her backside on the hard ground at night."
    "I promised the auld abbess she would have a companion," said Leith. "Ye will find a suitable female."
    "Suitable?" Colin questioned glibly. "Suitable for what?"
    "Suitable for acting as chaperone!" Leith exploded suddenly, his patience at an end. "With legs strong enough to keep her astride a mount for the long journey home. I am certain ye can judge the strength of woman's legs by now, brother."
    "Aye." Colin laughed readily. "That I can, me liege. But it’s the wee nun ye've chosen that interests me most."
    "Sweet Jesu!" swore Leith angrily. "She is a woman of God. And best ye na forget it."
    "Me?" Colin lifted a quick hand to his chest, his expression registering shock. "I will na forget, brother. I can have me