Kara Griffin - The Pith Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page A

to her own husband then laughed at her remark about the warrior.
    “Steven is handsome, Sara, but I’m angry with him even if he’s as large as the warrior.” Julianna leaned forward to look at Steven, who now sat beside Sara. His light, sandy colored hair and blue eyes were indeed attractive, yet he couldn’t compare to the other man.
    “Why are you angry with Steven? What did he do?”
    “He’s taking you away.”
    Sara sighed. “We knew this day would eventually come. I’ll never be too far away from you, Julianna. We shall always be friends. I want ye to be happy for me.”
    “I am happy now that I’ve seen the warrior. I shall dream of him tonight.”
    “I should find out who he is since he is the only man ye have ever shown interest in. Describe him,” Sara ordered.
    “He’s tall and Scotts. He has light brownish hair and his eyes are green. He wears a dark tartan, but I was too busy looking at his …” She trailed off.
    “Looking at his what?”
    “His muscles. He’s strong.”
    “I cannot believe I’m hearing this.” Sara yanked a tress of her hair. “Let us have a look around so you can point him out. I want to thank the man who captured your heart.”
    Captured her heart? Mayhap he had, because he was the first man she’d ever felt giddy over. Julianna considered he might have left the celebration because she couldn’t find him.
    “Is that him?” Sara pointed to a Highlander.
    “Nay, but I danced with him last night.”
    “That’s Robin MacKinnon. He’s a handsome rogue.”
    “Aye, but the other warrior is much more—”
    Sara gasped. “Listen to ye, you sound like a true maid, Julianna.”
    She couldn’t find the warrior the rest of the night, but her promise to be cheerful was easily fulfilled. She kept thinking about the handsome man and hoped to see him before she returned to the convent the next day. Inside the crowded chamber that night, she tossed and turned. The heat from so many slumbering in the chamber made it stuffy. She left the chamber and decided to get a bit of fresh air.
    When Julianna reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard voices in the great hall. There was a meeting taking place. She crept to the archway and watched the men in heated debate. One of the men glanced at the stairs and she backed into the hallway. Quickly, she darted through the back exit and stubbed her toe of the doorway. Dancing from foot to foot, she tried to rub the pain away, but heard someone coming.
    Dashing out the door, she ran until she reached a nearby tree and hid behind it. As she stood there, she rubbed her foot and waited. She couldn’t hear anyone and peeked around the oak. Whoever had seen her must have turned back.
    Julianna left the tree and started toward the pond beyond the walls of the Langton holding. If she was a dreamer, she might imagine fleeing to meet a secret lover, but a dreamer she was not. A sound of a cracking twig came from behind her, and when she looked, the night had darkened for her to see anything. Finally, she’d reached the pond. Dipping her toe in the water she swirled it around. She sighed at the coolness of the water.
    The water felt so good on her skin. Julianna needed to cool herself and so she removed her nightrail and threw it onto a nearby branch. She walked into the water and then floated with her back arched, making her breasts peak above the waterline. Her flesh cooled by the breeze covered with goose bumps. The sliver of moon seemed to shine right on the spot where she swam. She hummed a tune, one that her aunt enjoyed hearing while they relaxed in the evenings. That feeling came over her and Julianna stood, hurrying to retrieve her nightrail.
    Darkness prevented her from seeing between the trees and she wasn’t sure if someone was there. Once her nightrail was replaced, she walked toward the keep. Julianna gasped when she bumped into someone. A large body blocked the path. To her surprise the warrior she’d seen earlier stood in front