Across a Dark Highland Shore (Hot Highlands Romance Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

amusement of Ranulph, who sat easy on the beast’s back. Like many males, he’d probably learned to ride a horse and use a bow and arrow shortly after he’d learned to walk, to prepare him for a lifetime of hunting and warfare.
    “Witch, can ye use yer powers to halt this raging snowstorm? It sours my already soured mood. ‘Tis so cold I canna feel my big, dumb feet.”
    “My name is Isobel and I am no’ a witch. I did no’ cause the storm and I canna stop it from raging.”
    “Glad that’s settled, then.” He grunted. “’Tis a shame, though. I’ve heard ye witches can whip up the winds with a spell, or change yerselves into snarling black cats as tall as Highland warriors. I’ve heard it said ye can cross the sea in nothing more than an eggshell. But I’ve also heard it told that a witch canna cross Mull water and so can ne’er leave this island.”
    “’Tis no wonder then that Mull is called the island of gloom,” Isobel said. “An eggshell, Ranulph? Anyone who would sail the sea on an eggshell is daft indeed. An eggshell doesna seem vera seaworthy to me. An eggshell, in fact, is quite silly. If I were to cross the sea, I wouldna use an eggshell but a seaworthy galley, a proud one like yer laird owns. I’ve heard he owns many.” She paused. “Do ye ken what children say about the snowflakes, Ranulph?”
    “Nay.”
    “Ye truly dunna ken?”
    “What do they say?”
    “That snowflakes are the witches of Mull on their journey through the air. So ye best hope they can find a way to leave the island.”
    Ranulph grew quiet, no doubt contemplating the vast array of snowflakes that could be witches in disguise, witches that would never be allowed to leave the island. “That’s a lot of witches,” he said quietly.
    Isobel smiled but knew he could not see it. Then she frowned. “Why would a Maclean save a MacKinnon healer?” she asked.
    The horse’s footing faltered and Isobel gripped the beast’s mane even tighter, sure she would hurtle off and hit her head on a snow-covered rock. But Ranulph’s arms were around her waist, strong and steady, and the horse found its footing easily. “Dunna worry child, I’ve been tasked with keeping ye safe, and keeping ye safe is what I will do.”
    He also thought her a child?
    She did not have the strength to correct him. “Why has the Maclean brought me here? How did he know to appear at the vera moment he did? If he hadna, I’d be dead now. As dead and charred as that stringy rabbit ye cooked for dinner.”
    “Ye dunna like my cooking?” He sounded truly offended and Isobel wanted to laugh.
    Ranulph sighed. “To tell ye the truth, I dunna know his plans for ye. All I know is that he dreamed of a great witch who belonged to the MacKinnon clan, a witch he must rescue from fire on Hogmanay. He believes ye will bring him and the clan good fortune with yer visions and ye’ll help him win the hand of the lady he loves.” Ranulph shifted uncomfortably behind her.
    “Ye dunna believe in visions or dreams, Ranulph?”
    “I’ve ne’er met a Seer before. Och, besides, the Maclean doesna ha’e to see the future. He doesna ha’e to conjure it. He makes it.”
    The wind gusted and Isobel caught her breath. She pushed a tendril of sodden hair that was nearly frozen from her eyes.
    “Does the Maclean have the Sight? Does he often have dreams or visions?” Despite herself, she was now intrigued by the scarred, handsome face with the intense eyes, by the man who had had the bravery to act on a dream despite a blinding snowstorm and possible ridicule from his own clan members.
    Ranulph laughed. “Nay. Leith Maclean is a hard man, a practical man. He’s no’ usually prone to fancies or one to act on dreams. He is a fair and just leader and I would gladly lay down my life for him, as would all his clansmen. He has suffered a great tragedy recently and it may have affected his….” Ranulph stopped talking, as if he realized he was imparting too much