Lana and the Laird Read Online Free PDF Page B

hips and offered a cocky grin. “Twice.”
    â€œIn one night?” Galen’s tone was a challenge, and Trevor’s expression fell.
    â€œNae. All right. How about Irene? The butcher’s daughter.”
    â€œAh. A fine lass.” Galen winked. “Quite a handful.”
    Trevor held out his hands in a cupping motion. “Especially from behind.”
    Lana’s face burned as she realized exactly what they were discussing. She should probably make herself known before the conversation got truly salacious. But as she made to stand, Trevor’s next words froze her in place.
    â€œAnd Lana Dounreay?”
    Galen’s features pinched and his lips curled in what she could only interpret as disdain. The sight of it made her belly tighten. She eased back down, but didn’t look away. Couldn’t.
    â€œThe baroness’s sister?”
    Och, she didn’t like his tone. Incredulity was hardly warranted.
    â€œShe’s a pretty thing,” Trevor offered, but there was a hint of mockery in the words. It made the little hairs on Lana’s nape stand up.
    â€œAye.” Galen picked up a brush and began to curry his mount.
    â€œPrettier than all the others combined.”
    â€œAye.” He grimaced. “But she is the laird’s ward.”
    Trevor chuckled. The sound skittered through the room. “When has something like that stopped you from pursuing a pretty lass?” He slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Come on, man. Why do you no’ admit the truth?”
    Lana’s fingers closed tightly on the slats. She leaned forward even more.
    â€œWhat truth is that?” Galen had stopped brushing to glare at his friend.
    â€œShe frightens you.”
    Ah. The pain.
    It was a silly pain, because she knew. She knew what people thought of her. Still, it was difficult to hear.
    â€œI’m no’ afraid of anything. Much less a wee lassie.” The brushing resumed, with a vigor so robust, the mount shuffled restlessly.
    â€œExcellent.” Trevor rubbed his hands together. “Then I dare you to seduce her.”
    A flush crept up Galen’s cheeks. He tossed the curry brush onto the bench and snarled, “I am no’ seducing the laird’s ward.”
    â€œBah. We both know that’s not the reason ye doona want to seduce the witch.”
    The witch.
    The word resounded in her brain. Bile crept up the back of her throat, and she swallowed it down. This wasn’t the first time she’d been called such. Certainly not the first hint that her gift was the reason men reviled her company. But it still hurt.
    â€œTrevor, leave off.”
    â€œYe’ve seduced almost every lass in the keep. Hell, you’ve nearly surpassed the Silver Fox himself. What’s one more conquest? And she’s such a pretty thing. With that angelic face, those devilish curves. Tell me you doona want—”
    â€œI said leave off,” Galen snapped. Lana was filled with gratitude that he seemed to be defending her, but it deflated at his next words. “The woman is touched. Demented. No man in his right mind would go near her. You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it.”
    Ah.
    Aye.
    The truth at last.
    Lana wasn’t sure if she should give in to her anger or despair. Both warred within her. But she did know she could take no more of this conversation. Not a moment more. Without hesitation, she tossed the rest of the scraps to the dogs and stood, brushing the hay from her skirts. Then she pushed open the stall door and faced the two men.
    Galen, to his credit, flushed. His lips worked and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Trevor merely gaped at her.
    It was, indeed, an awkward moment.
    For them.
    Lana knew she could make it worse. She knew she could tell Galen that his dead mother despaired he would never settle down, or she could warn Trevor that in his assignation last night he might have contracted the pox, but she did not.
    She leveled