Highland Song Read Online Free PDF Page B

thought.
     
    "Aaron Slade." As he spoke, he stuffed most of her meager possessions back in her saddlebag. "But most folks call me Slade."
     
    "What do you want?" she whispered from the back of her throat. The words sounded hollow and thin to her ears.
     
    A few wild seconds passed while all Lainie could think of doing was bolting for the underbrush and hiding until Slade gave up and left. But some little voice in the back of her mind told her he wasn’t the kind of man who gave up and went away. So she discarded the hasty scheme.
     
    Slade’s personification of lazy charm no longer fooled her. One too many times she’d seen the way he moved, his hands so fast they blurred. She had no elusions that if she tried to run and hide, she wouldn’t get more than three steps from her bedroll before he caught her. She didn’t want to think what he’d do then.
     
    Ah, but then she knew. He would most likely teach her how to treat a guest, according to Aaron Slade.
     
    "You aren't my guest," she repeated, trying to make a point and hoping the man would leave.
     
    He ignored her for a few more seconds. "Don’t suppose you want to tell me what you plan on doing with the sealed document you stole from me?" Slade asked after a few seconds of watching her with wary green eyes.
     
    "The sealed document?" she asked innocently. “I dinna ken what you mean.”
     
    "Papers with the King's seal stamped on them," he said, seeming to loose patience.
     
    "Papers? Lainie asked again, breathing slowly, trying to asses the situation she’d fallen into. "I don’t know anything about sealed documents." She lied.
     
    "You stole them from the tavern, and if I’m right, you plan on using them for something," Slade said, shooting her a look out of eyes like green ice. "That could be construed as treason."
     
    "No--'tis not treason. I’m Scottish. My family pledges its loyalty to the Scottish King James."
     
    Slade laughed.
     
    It was a cold sound.
     
    "Sure, wee fox," he said mockingly, "you didn’t steal the papers. They just jumped up and slid into your nimble fingers, begging you to take them from my satchel."
     
    "You set a trap."
     
    He smiled but made no confession.
     
    Fear swept through Lainie driving out the strange feelings that had disturbed her since she had seen him run his hands over the papers in the saddlebags. She had only one document with her that could convict her of any crimes. He had already found it, and he'd stuffed the papers into is coat pocket. With the surge of fear, there came a withdrawing of prudence. Once again, her hand eased toward the dirk that lay strapped to her leg.
     
    "Actually, I had hoped to find something I could use against you. I haven't had a chance to read then papers yet, so I couldn't say. You're going to have to give me a chance to inspect the documents."
     
    "Not a chance this side of Hell."
     
    "Why?" Her voice was reed thin. Still, she challenged him.
     
    Slade slanted a disgusted look her way and went back to rummaging in the saddlebag. "I’m not leaving you alone. I'm sure Jericho and his men will have a fine time with you when they catch up to you."
     
    "I have nothing for--" she began.
     
    "Oh, you have a lot for me," he interrupted. "I just didn’t think you’d admit to treason and thievery so quickly."
     
    "'Tis for the cause."
     
    "Why did your partner give you up so easily?" he asked
     
    "Damn you, why won’t you listen to me?" Lainie demanded. She didn’t understand why, but she was furious that Slade thought her capable of treason even though she was.
     
    "I’m listening. I’m just not hearing anything worth believing. You have a great deal of explaining to do."
     
    "Try not acting so superior and know it all. You’d be astonished what you might hear if you weren’t talking all the time." She didn't mean to provoke the man. It was just that he was so infuriating.
     
    The corner of Slade’s mouth twitched, but it was the only indication he gave