A Highland Folly Read Online Free PDF Page A

to skulk back into Ardkinloch without anyone seeing her sorry state.
    There would be questions. Endless questions. The very thought of all the questions made her head ache even more.
    A shout came from beyond the cottage. That was Lucais! What was wrong now?
    Anice jumped to her feet, then wished she had not. She was glad her gun was leaning against the wall, because she doubted if she could have bent over to pick it up and stand again without falling to her knees. It was not loaded, but if the shooter had returned, he—or she—would not know that. Lurching to the door, she pushed through the briars. She came around the side of the cottage.
    She ignored her aching head as she began to laugh. She knew she should not, but the sight of a strong man like Lucais MacFarlane backed up against the cottage and staring at Bonito as if the gentle-hearted llama were a beast from the gates of hell was just too funny. The slight motion of her laughter dropped her to sit on the ground, the gun resting across her knees.
    Lucais glanced swiftly over his shoulder. “Stay away, my lady. Although it has a bizarre mien, this creature appears to be at home on this hillside.”
    â€œIt rather appears, sir, that you could use some help.”
    â€œThe creature may charge at any moment.”
    â€œTrue.”
    â€œYou should stay away, my lady.” He stretched out his hand. “Give me my gun, which I left over there by the corner of the cottage. I shall deal with this.”
    â€œI think not.” The bright sunshine was piercing her eyes, adding to the throbbing in her head. Every muscle recalled the hard ground as she had ducked the shots fired at her. Across her palm, the cut pulsated with fire. It was time to put an end to this amusement. She winced as she raised her voice and called, “Bonito, come here.” When the llama did not move, she repeated the words in Spanish.
    Like a well-trained pup, the llama obeyed, nuzzling her where she was sitting.
    â€œMy lady!” shouted Lucais. “Be wary. If—”
    â€œIf you don’t lower your voice, I fear my head will explode.” She set her gun on the ground next to where he must have left his when he started to fill the bucket. Putting her arm around Bonito’s leg and then over his back, she hauled herself to her feet. “Sir, you are mistaking the curiosity of my pet for aggression.”
    â€œYour pet? That is a pet?”
    â€œ That is Bonito, my llama. He hails from South America.” She was not about to give him a full explanation of the oddities of Patagonian fauna. Keeping her arm balanced around Bonito’s neck, she added, “I believe it is now quite safe for me to return to Ardkinloch. Other than your shout, which was sure to raise the very dead from the kirkyard, I have not heard anything amiss.”
    â€œLet me retrieve my coat and gun, and we shall be on our way.”
    â€œI can manage to get home from here, sir. This is not London, where a woman must fear that her purse might be stolen.”
    â€œYour purse?” He took a step toward her, hesitated as he glanced at Bonito, who regarded him calmly beneath his long lashes, then stepped around the llama to stand beside her. “My lady, your purloined purse would be of little consequence to you if you were slain on this hill.”
    â€œThe gunman is gone.”
    â€œI would like to be as certain of that as you are.”
    Lucais resisted the yearning to smile when Lady Kinloch glanced about in sudden dismay. That urge to grin vanished when her knees nearly folded beneath her. If she had not been clutching that beast, she would have fallen.
    Before she could protest, he gathered her in his arms. He expected some sharp comment, but she again leaned her head against his chest, as trusting as a child. Or as hurt, he amended to himself.
    That luscious fragrance drifted over him once more. It eased the pain along his skull and pushed aside his