Highland Sons: The Mackay Saga Read Online Free

whispered in his head.
    Witch .
    He’d been afraid McGowan would find his mother’s stories an invitation to cause trouble. But if the witch pricker had witnessed Kenize’s exchange with the wolf, he’d be burning the lass at the stake before the next sunrise.
    -He might at least pretend an interest. Kenzie clasped her hands in her lap, then inclined her head toward Bane and repeated the question. “I asked if you’d been with the Earl of Caithness at the last battle with the Sutherlands.”
    “What? Oh, aye.” Bane stopped contemplating the ring on his finger, but he barely glanced at her. Instead, he stretched his muscular legs, crossed his ankles, and stared at the solar’s hearth. She would have understood his fascination if there’d been a fire, but it was late summer.
    “Well?” She raised her eyebrows. His men watched her every movement, fawning over her smallest request, but their laird acted as if he’d like to forget she existed.
    He’d been this way since they’d returned from freeing the wolf. She shouldn’t have interfered, but she couldn’t let Bane kill the animal. At least he was the only one to witness her indiscretion.
    “You’ll have to forgive my son. The presence of a comely lass seems to have stolen his tongue.” She gave Bane a reproving glance, then turned back to Kenzie’s mother. “So you’re of clan McLeod?”
    Her mother’s face drew inward, the lines in her flesh deepening. “Aye, I was handfasted to Laird McLeod, but that was long ago. The laird had wanted sons—not a daughter.”
    It almost sounded as if her mother believed the lie. After so many years of the telling, perhaps she did. But it wasn’t the lack of a son that had set them adrift. Kenzie shivered, drawing her plaid closer.
    Lady Mackay gave a strained laugh. “I’ve but one son, and he reminds me oft enough that I should have borne more bairns, but we must be content with the good Lord’s wisdom. Why did you not return to your people?”
    “My father thought my union with the McCleod would heal an old wound between the clans.” Her gnarled fingers stretched and tightened against her gown, as if energy poured from her fingertips. “But my family blamed me for being cast out. ‘Tis no matter, Kenzie and I do well enough.”
    Her mother’s stalwart expression never wavered in the face of Lady Mackay’s sympathetic frown. Pride was one of the few things that hadn’t deserted her mother. Kenzie hoped she would show half as much fortitude under the same circumstances.
    “My son said you have created an admirable garden at the cottage. Perhaps during your stay at the castle, you might instruct me? I’m afraid our plantings have been woefully neglected this year.”
    Her mother’s face brightened, becoming softer. “Aye, I’d be pleased to help. I’d noted the variety of plants as we rode into the courtyard.”
    “We can discuss what’s to be done. Bane, why don’t you and Kenzie take stock of the gardens?”
    Her mother gave Lady Mackay a sharp look. “‘Tis not something that needs be done right now.”
    Kenzie turned her gaze to Bane. His broad shoulders exceeded the width of the delicate chair back. He couldn’t be comfortable. She wanted to cross the space between them and smooth the lines of worry from between his eyes. This perplexing laird made her feel too at ease—too safe. But she’d do well not to forget that there was no place safe for her, or her mother.
    He glanced up from his ring and caught her staring at him. She saw questions in his eyes. Questions she wasn’t sure she could answer. Her throat went dry. “Mayhap the laird has other duties?”
    “Not at all.” He watched her like one of her cats, just before they pounced. “I believe we have much to discuss.”
    Kenzie swallowed. His grey-green eyes assessed her, not in the lust-filled way men normally did, but as if he were trying to discover her secrets. Had she really desired his attention just moment ago?
    His eyes