Caelen's Wife: Book One - A Murmur of Providence (Clan McDunnah Series 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

had no good answer, at least none that he thought she would believe. His mind began to wander, something else that rarely ever happened when he was in a confrontation with someone. Were the bonny lass before him a man, he’d have knocked her on her arse by now. Instead, his mind was conjuring up images of removing her leather armor and mail. Slowly.
    “I thought as much, McDunnah,” Fiona said, not backing down one singular inch. “I will tell ye what I told the others. I’ll no’ marry ye or anyone else fer that matter. Clan McPherson will not be bullied. We may no’ be as big as yer clan, or the McKenzies, Farquars, or the McGregors. But we are just as fierce as all of ye. And ’twill be over me dead body that I yield to any of ye.”
    There was that word again. It hadn’t had the same affect as it had moments ago, though his maleness did shrink just a bit.
    Marriage? What the bloody hell is this woman talkin’ about?
    “Again, I’ve no’ asked fer yer hand, me lady.”
    The same expression of disbelief stared back at him. “Ye may no’ have asked yet, but I’m certain ye plan to. Stealin’ me sheep was just yer way of warnin’ me of such.” And with that, she turned on her heels and began to walk away. “I’ll be takin’ me sheep with me, McDunnah,” she said over her shoulder. “And I warn ye to stay off McPherson lands.”
    Kenneth stepped forward to stop her but Caelen held him back. “Let her go.”
    Kenneth looked at him as though he’d lost his mind, but remained quiet.
    Brodie looked at Caelen. “I be so sorry, Caelen,” he said quietly. “She’s as stubborn as they come.”
    Caelen smiled at Brodie. “Do no’ worry it, Brodie. But on me honor, I had nothin’ to do with the reivin’ of yer sheep.”
    “I did no’ believe ye did,” Brodie said. “I’m certain we can figure this out.”
    “Hopefully before yer sister runs me through with her sword.” Caelen said with a slight chuckle.
    “I will no’ let her kill ye, Caelen. But I canna guarantee she’ll no’ make an attempt.”
    Something in Brodie’s tone of voice warned he was not speaking in jest.
    Kenneth waited until Brodie and the rest of the McPhersons quit the hall before speaking. “Are ye truly goin’ to let the lass take seventeen of our sheep? We did no’ steal any from her.”
    Caelen stared at the people leaving his gathering room. “Aye,” he answered. “I am.”
    Kenneth shook his head in dismay. “But why? ”
    Caelen smiled. “Because it will temporarily keep Fiona McPherson from wanting me head mounted on a pike.”
    Kenneth sensed there was more Caelen wasn’t saying. “And?”
    “It will amuse me.”

Chapter 5
    “ W hy ?”
    Fiona thought it a reasonable enough question. From the puzzled look on Edgar MacKinnon’s face, he either didn’t understand it or wanted to avoid answering it.
    “Why, what?” the small man with thinning blonde hair asked.
    Fiona resisted the desire to call into question the MacKinnon’s level of intelligence. He sat in the same spot the MacElroy had sat some two weeks before and had just asked the same question that, to date, four other chiefs had asked over the past year.
    Fiona sat at the opposite end of the table, with Collin to her right, and Bridgett to her left. Bridgett, as always, looked quite beautiful this day. Hair as black as pitch fell in a long braid across her bosom. In the candlelight and against the dark green dress she wore, her hair nearly shimmered. Silently, Fiona wished she was as beautiful as her friend, with her deep blue eyes and perfectly proportioned face.
    Fiona said nothing as Edgar MacKinnon had repeatedly cast glances toward Bridgett. Resembling a hungry man looking at a roast boar, Bridgett, much to her credit, ignored the stares and compliments. One would think that a man who had just proposed would be more interested in the woman whose hand he had offered for and not her elegant and beautiful best friend. Of course, Fiona would