Maggie Mine Read Online Free

clenched her hands into fists at the sides of her skirt. “But another group of English soldiers attacked us recently. In fact, we only r a n them off two days ago.”
    H is brow furrowed, a crease deepening between his thick eyebrows . “I thought I noted more damage to your curtain wall than nature should have done.”
    She straightened her shoulders, felt fury firing through her. “Aye, there is a fair amount of damage, but we’ll fix it soon enough. The lives taken, though, canna be replaced.”
    Bitterness seared through her and tears misted in her eyes. Annoyed at that, she blinked them away. “So ye understand why we werna gracious hosts upon yer arrival.”
    He nodded and shifted again, wincing. The linen slid lower and tempted her with more than she was interested in seeing at the moment.
    Maggie strode closer, jerked the fur shoved down to the foot of the bed, and tugged it up to toss it over his chest. Then she stepped quickly back once more.
    Amusement flashed in his eyes for just a second and then he turned grim again. “We need to talk, Lady Durward. Perhaps you should sit down.”
    She thrust her chin out . “I will stand. Now, what ‘tis the news ye have brung me.”
    “I won’t tell you until you sit down.”
    They had a visual sparring match, but she finally blew out a breath of irritation and flounced back to the trunk and plopped on top of it . “Happy now?”
    A muscle twitched in his unshaven jaw. “We’re going to have trouble getting along, I see. It won’t bode well for you.”
    “I have nay need to get along with ye. Now, stop yer stalling and tell me the news.” Her stomach clench ed with unease. Whatever it was he needed to tell her wasn’t good. She knew it in her heart.
    He was quiet a minute and then looked steadily at her. “I’m sorry, My Lady, but your father and Fergus were killed in battle.” He hesitated and appeared even more distressed. “I fear Brodie is dead as well by now.”
    She couldn’t breathe, could only stare at him in horror. “Nay, it canna be. No’ da. No’ Fergus.” She trembled, still couldn’t breathe.
    “Take a breath, Maggie,” he ordered. He had somehow managed to get out of bed, hold the fur in front of him, and walk over to her. He held her gaze. “Breathe. Now.”
    She gasped for air, coming out of the trance. “Brodie? Ye arena sure about his death?” She latched onto the faint hope that her beloved brother could still be alive. She needed him to be alive.
    He reached for her face and used a calloused thumb to smooth away tears streaming down her cheeks. She wanted to pull away from his touch. At the same time, she didn’t want to.
    “No. I’m not certain. Brodie was badly hurt in the last battle.” He swallowed hard and glanced away. “I tried to save him. He was in my arms while I tried to drag him away. He made me remember a promise I had made to him only a day before. A vow to him and your father, as well as to Kin g Edward.”
    Maggie found the strength to shove his hand away. “I care no’ about yer promises or yer vows.” She sucked in a shuddery breath . “Why isna Brodie with ye?”
    He moved gingerly back, pain from his leg making him wince. G uilt sounded heavy in his tone as he said, “Someone hit me from behind . I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke much later, tied down over my horse, Gerald and my men were riding us away from the battlefield. No one knew what had happened to Brodie. He was gone by the time they found me.”
    “He could be alive then,” she whispered the words, caught them to her heart. She couldn’t lose everyone she loved.
    “It’s doubtful.” He shook his head, sadness in his eyes.
    “I’ll no’ believe otherwise.” As awful as this news had been, instinct warned her there was more to hear. But what else could there be? This was enough to destroy her. “There’s more, isna there?”
    For several seconds he just looked at her, seeming to weigh his thoughts, how would say