Maggie Mine Read Online Free Page A

them.
    “Tell me,” she demanded.
    “Your betrothed, Rob MacKenzie, ” he hesitated, “ went down as well in the battles. An earlier battle, though.”
    She saw him watching her, clearly waiting for her to fall apart. She was silently crying, yes, but he wouldn’t be a witness to her collapse. She would do so in private. Later.
    Drawing upon what little emotional strength she had left, s he got to her feet, felt shaky . Ye canna break down in front of him , she vowed. Somehow she r egained her shattered composure. “I thank ye fer coming out of yer way to tell me. I ken ye dinna have to.”
    Again he was silent for a few awkward seconds. He met her gaze and held it, determined. “Brodie had become a friend, Fergus as well. And I respected your father. He was a good warrior.”
    Her lower lip trembled. Her heart hurt so badly. She had to leave, had to find someplace to cry away her pain. She attempted to move by him.
    He stepped in front of her. “I’m not finished, Maggie.”
    She blinked at him. What more could there possibly be? He’d destroyed her world with the news of her father’s and Fergus’ deaths. After the two-week long attack to her ho m e and this devastating news, how much more could she take? Still, she raised her chin and nodded. “Then finish it.”
    At first he looked reluctant, and then determination fill ed every inch of his large body. “You are coming with me to Middleham. Your father and brothers made me vow to come get you and take you to my new castle i f something happened to them. I’m to find you a new betrothed.” He must have noted her defiant look. “King Edward approved making you temporar il y my ward.”
    She sucked in a horrified breath and then spat at his feet. “That is how I feel about yer English king.”
    His nostrils flared in anger. “I obey my king. Your father and brothers chose to obey him.”
    She stiffened her shoulders and clamped a hand over her knotting stomach. “He ordered my father and brothers to fight in a battle all knew they couldna win. He cost the lives of my father and Fergus…and Rob, too. I dunna care fer his wishes, his orders . I willna go with ye !”
    “Brodie’s dying words were to remind me of my promise to him and your father. I won’t go against it. ” He stretched to his full intimidating height, his chest expanding in his irritation. “ You will come with me, even if I have to take you away from here tied to your horse.”
    She shoved at him , tears streaming down her face, her body quivering in pain from all that she’d heard . It was too much to bear. “Brodie isna dead! And I willna go with ye!” With that she ran from the room.
     
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    Nicholas carefully made his way down the circular stairs of the corner tower. He’d spent the rest of the day before stewing over the problem of Maggie Durward, his reluctant and unwanted new ward. Still too weak to withstand the long trek across half of Scotland and part of England to Middleham, he’d decided to stay here another few days, possibly a bit longer. He wante d to see the recent damages to the castle’s defenses for himself. Douglas had been hesitant at first to show him, but finally agreed.
    “’Tisna all that bad. We can fix the outer part of this wall without too much trouble.” Douglas waited for him at the foot of the stairs.
    “I agree.” He took a slight misstep, caught himself, and grimaced at the pain in his thigh.
    “The lass has always been a bit headstrong.”
    Nicholas tried not to show the relief he felt when he finally stepped off the stairway. The proud Scot was studying him again, just as he’d done when they’d talked in Nicholas’ room yesterday. Douglas had taken the news of his Laird’s and Fergus’ deaths hard but, as the man now in charge of Urquhart, he vowed to keep it safe until Brodie returned. Like Maggie, he refused to believe otherwise. But Nicholas assessed him as a good and loyal man. He liked and approved of