Debra Kay Leland Read Online Free PDF

fair lass; and I would be pleased for yur c ompany.”
    She looked down and stepped back again.  “I—I thank thee, but I—‘tis not proper for ye and I to even walk together, nor—nor, have I any wish to talk to thee of marriage.”
    He lifted a dark brow and crossed his long arms over his broad chest, purposefully ignoring her words.  “ Nay?   Surely ye want children, lass?”
    She blushed and clutched the bucket in front of her self.  “S—someday, I suppose…”
    He shifted again, looking around at those in the village who were now watching them.  “I would wait for ye, lass; till ye were ready for a husb and if ye chose it to be so.”
    She didn’t want to talk to him and especially not about something like this!  She hesitated, then looked up at him and took another step back before she turned and ran past him heading towards their small farm that was just a s tone’s throw from the village.
    He watched her go, as did everyone else in the village.  Well, good, let them watch; he had placed a claim on her today, and one day the lass would be his regardless of what any of them thought!
     
    Alden watched as his daughter ran the short distance from the village to their farm; it was hard not to notice her hasty steps or the tears that now ran down her lovely face, nor the way she glanced over her shoulder towards the village.  He set down his tools and dusted off his hands as he walked towards her, knowing full well that Egan had talked to the lass, and he h oped that talk was all he did!
    She glanced up and saw her father walking towards her and wiped her eyes with her sleeve, trying to avoid his concerned eyes.  “Nay, Miranda, stop, lass; I wish to s peak to thee.  Come here now.”
    She hesitated a moment then turned towards him; the half empty bucket still in her hand.  “I—I spilled most of the cream, da.  But I—I didn’t mean to.”
    He took the bucket from her and touched her flushed cheek with his thumb tenderly.  “Well now, how can I be upset when yur tears te ll me ‘twas but an accident.”
    She looked down and worried her bottom lip with her teeth.
    “Miranda, did Egan speak with ye this day?”
    Her blue eyes grew w ide and she nodded wordlessly.
    “He wants ye as his bride, lass.  Do ye have feelings for the man?”
    She shook her head quickly.  “Nay, da, how could I ever love a man like that…!”
    He put his arm around her thin shoulders and drew her along with him as he walked towards the roughened log hut more than glad for the words she’d just spoken.  And yet, he didn’t know what to say, for in his heart he feared that Egan was determined to have her as his wife; though for now he had only managed to deter the man he was sure.
    “Ye are young, lass, there shall be time a plenty to speak of such things another day.”  His easy words made her feel secure; although in his heart he wasn’t at all sure if Egan Wallace would wait for the girl to agree before he pressed his suit again.  He was merely biding his time; and both he and Egan knew it.  It was not the way he had pictured things happening in his mind, for the happy thoughts of a young man seeking her hand one day had been replaced with hard thoughts of Egan Wallace and he knew that his daughter deserved better than that!
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    H is men had already set themselves to tending the gardens that had remained unkept for nigh four months now; salvaging what they could and discarding the rest.  But sadly, the bad outnumbered the good.  The work was hard, but it kept his mind from wandering to his home and his father… and to the thought that someone had tried to kill him…  All were wary here, but yet William was determined not to let his fears hinder his efforts.  Being here gave him a purpose when everything else had been taken away from him, and he needed that more than