Jake (The Highland Clan Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

still spoke about Alex’s rescue of Maddie. And one of the stories they oft repeated was about the twins’ daft uncle, who had taken their mother prisoner and held a dagger to her neck while she was giving birth to them. By all accounts, including Maddie’s, it had been the most difficult day of Alex’s life. He’d thrown the fool clear across the chamber with one hand, and the hard contact with the stone wall had made him crumple to the floor.
    Jake pushed open the heavy door at the top, breathing in the scent of the breeze blowing by him and down the staircase. His father was in his usual place, leaning over the parapets and gazing down at his land. He’d brought him and Jamie up here often when they were bairns, though Maddie had always begged Alex to never set either of them on the stone edge.
    “Papa,” he greeted his father, who’d turned around as soon as the door opened.
    “Jake, how is she? Does Aunt Caralyn think she’ll survive?”
    His father was a man of few words, direct and to the point. “She hasn’t said yet. We just got Aline settled.”
    “Do you wish to update me with what you know?”
    “In a bit.”
    His sire nodded, then returned his gaze to the Grant land spread out beneath them. Not the most fertile because it was Highland land, but they’d made enough areas fertile to support their people. The rest—the mountains, the serene lochs, the glens—was sheer beauty. Jake understood why his father loved it up here. Winter was headed their way, and snow already dusted the top of the mountains.
    Silence settled between them for a few moments while Jake thought about what he needed to say to his father. There were times when he didn’t agree with his father’s decisions, times when he mouthed off or acted out of anger, much to the frustration of his mother. Alex had always been quick to put him in his place on such occasions, but one thing Jake had never doubted was his sire’s love for his family and his clan. The love had always been there.
    He scowled, but he suddenly knew what he needed to say. “Papa, I just wanted to say I understand now.”
    His father glanced at him, his eyebrow raised in question.
    “A few summers ago, Jamie and me and the rocks. I understand why you did what you did. My apologies for being so foolish.”
    Jake caught the slight quirk in the corner of Alex’s mouth. “You were a lad and too young. ‘Tis part of youth, being too foolish to know better.”
    “Aye, ‘tis true, but the look in Mama’s eyes just now…”
    “Aye, ‘tis a look I do not care to see verra often.”
    Jake stared at his sire. Those were the exact words he’d used with Jake and Jamie after they’d done something foolish, truly foolish. Something he’d never really comprehended the meaning of until this day.
    Now, he understood.
     

 
    Chapter Four
     
     
    It had happened over six summers ago, back when Jake and Jamie were five and ten summers. Their uncle, Robbie, had warned them to make careful decisions, but they were young and giddy and three other lads had found some of the best liquid the Scots could make and hidden it for a special occasion. The “breath of life” that the Scots brewed and aged had a reputation like no other. They’d each had their times with too much ale, but this was different.
    They’d decided to hide the bottle of whisky and celebrate with it on a special occasion. Ewan, Roy, and Douglas had told him they’d talked two lassies into baring their breasts for the lads. Like most lads that age, the twins had developed a keen interest in lassies and their bodies. Though it shamed him to think back on it, Jake had been stirred by the mere thought of such a show.
    Jamie had tried to talk him out of going, but Jake had insisted, knowing that his brother would follow him anyway. So they’d planned the occasion carefully, choosing an isolated place in the stables, setting sentries outside to watch for them, and bringing food and drink for all. Jake had