Claiming the Highlander Read Online Free PDF Page B

indecision in his eyes until Bridget looked up at him, her pale face marred by an ugly red handprint.
    The anger fled Fergus’s face as he knelt by Bridget’s side. “I am sorry, bride. I dinna mean to harm you. But you shouldn’t have pressed me so.”
    Braden bellowed in rage. “Leave her, Fergus. Now!”
    Maggie swallowed in fear of the tone. She sensed Braden was only one finger away from seriously hurting Fergus. Not that she would haveminded if he had. Men like Fergus deserved to be beaten. She had always hated such bullies.
    In fact, all four of Braden’s group looked as if they were an inch away from harming him. But it was Ewan who stepped forward and quickly removed Fergus from the yard.
    Maggie waited until the gate was firmly shut behind Fergus and Ewan was headed back toward them before she turned to face Braden.
    “Thank you,” she said, her voice carrying the full depth of her gratitude.
    Braden nodded, then went with Lochlan to check on Bridget. Braden knelt by Bridget’s side and gently touched her swollen red cheek. His eyes hardening, he looked up at Maggie. “How many such attacks have there been since you started this?”
    “Five,” Lochlan answered for her.
    Maggie’s throat tightened at the memory of how many women had been hurt. “Aye. The beatings are what prompted us to seek shelter with Father Bede. We had hoped by being on holy ground that the men would think twice before assaulting any of us again.”
    The Englishman scoffed at her words. “As if that ever stood in the way of animals.”
    Braden ignored the Englishman’s words as he raked a cold glare over Maggie. “Did you ever stop to consider the foolishness of your actions?” Braden asked, his voice filled with rage. “Howmany more women are going to suffer because of your stubbornness?”
    Maggie’s own anger ignited at his accusatory words. She wasn’t some child in need of a reprimand. She knew the consequences of her actions. They all did.
    Every single woman who was now gathered around them understood.
    They were mere women, subject to the whims of men, but even so they had all agreed that this was a necessary measure to ensure the well-being of all.
    Maggie stiffened her spine as she confronted the four men. “Not nearly as many as the men who will die if the feud continues. Better we be beaten than our sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers
die.”
    “Aye,” the women around her concurred.
    Agnes stepped forward from the crowd to confront Braden and Lochlan. “My bruises healed in only four days,” she said, brushing her hand down her smooth cheek. “But my heart still aches for my youngest boy who died three years back under a MacDouglas sword. There will always be a hole there, aching for him.”
    Lochlan eyed them all. “You’re not changing anything,” he said firmly.
    “Aren’t we?” Maggie asked. “You men can’t be killing and raiding the MacDouglas while you’re coming here to negotiate with us. Nor can you wage war on empty stomachs.”
    Again the women agreed with her.
    Braden opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Maggie heard another loud shout, only this one was a cry of joy.
    “Braden, my wee bairn! You’re home.”
    The group parted as Braden’s mother, Aisleen, rushed toward them.
    Maggie noticed the look of hatred on the Englishman’s face as he saw the tiny brunette for the first time.
    Never in her life had she seen so much malice directed at a single person. Frowning, she watched as the Englishman drifted back into the crowd to where Aisleen couldn’t see him.
    Braden drew his mother into a tight hug. “Ah, Mother, but it’s good to see you.”
    “And you,” she breathed, cupping his face in her hands and squeezing it tight an instant before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve worried over you. I was just this minute in the chapel saying prayers for your well-being.”
    “I’m sure he needs all the prayers