Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years) Read Online Free PDF

overthought, Iosbail felt more relaxed than ever. She must've dozed off because the next thing she knew a happy household was bustling around her and bright sunlight poured through the windows. Surprised, she sat up.
    “Here,” Jezebel said softly. “’Tis a spot o’ tea.”
    For a split second she thought herself back in Ireland. Iosbail soon realized that she was in a small cottage in Scotland and her years weren’t short but far too long. Still, she smiled and took the cup. “Thank you.”
    The little girl smiled, nodded and wandered off.
    Suddenly caught in an unfamiliar situation, Iosbail took a small sip. The liquid was warm and soothing, the environment, equally so. When a light tap came at the door, the husband opened it and bowed. Far too tall for the small abode, Alexander ducked in. With a fur cloak wrapped over his broad shoulders, the Sinclair laird seemed a mighty presence. His molten eyes cut her way, “Good morn to you all.”
    Alexander dropped some coin in the father’s hand. “’Twas a fine thing that you and your kin made us welcome but our journey must continue.”
    “Aye, my laird.”
    The mother bustled over and curtsied. “We’ve little to offer but please take a few loaves of bread." She glanced at Iosbail. “For yer lady and yerself. May yers be a fine married life.”
    “You’ve a kind heart. Much thanks,” Iosbail said and wrapped her plaid over her shoulders. ‘Twill be a short marriage, she vowed inwardly.
    Alexander tucked the bread into a satchel and they went outside. Men were already on horseback waiting. Shamus brought forward horses for her and her ladies. Before Iosbail had a chance to admire hers, Alexander dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek, wrapped a fur cloak over her shoulders and hoisted her up. Startled by the endearment, she pulled back sharply. No man helped her onto a horse! She’d been an excellent horsewoman long before Alexander had even been born.
    Amusement flickered in his eyes and he said to Shamus. “It appears the lass prefers no help from a lad.”
    “Aye.” Shamus grinned and mounted a black horse beside hers.
    Iosbail made a show of turning her horse in such a way that Alexander was forced to step back. She eyed the sword at his side. “I’d like a weapon of my own.”
    Alexander ran his hand down her horse’s mane in soft reassurance and came alongside her. His hand fell on her thigh, far too high up to be proper. “’Twould do me no good to put a blade in your hand.”
    Iosbail ignored the thrill his touch brought and batted away his hand. “Perhaps you’re right. Had I had one just now, you’d be down a limb.”
    Shamus chuckled. Alexander grinned. “So she’s as good with a blade as she is with a horse.”
    “So it seems,” Shamus concurred.
    Alexander swung onto a dappled gray mount and nodded south. “’Twill be a hard ride for you and your lowland lassies. Single file most of it. You will remain between Shamus and I.”
    Iosbail shook her head and clucked her tongue, urging the horse forward. She needed no man’s protection. A few minutes later—having cut through the woods unseen—Alexander fell in ahead of her. He’d planned it so that she was unable to sidle around him. When he winked over his shoulder she scowled.
    Though she was fairly certain he aimed to woo her, he was failing miserably. Why did that not surprise her? When Iosbail glanced over her shoulder she saw Shamus riding behind her two ladies. As promised, the women were being protected. Fine. There was little help for it. She felt the dagger at her side, tucked discreetly beneath her dress. As if she’d be without a blade! It would not have hurt to obtain another though.
    The path grew narrower, the trees thicker as they slowly made their way downhill.
    While she knew several warriors fell in before Alexander, most kept to the rear. Iosbail also knew at least five had been sent ahead to scout. It was an extremely dangerous time and land to be traveling.