Samantha James Read Online Free PDF Page B

bare feet beneath her ragged gown to warm them. Though she longed to avail herself of the fire’s warmth, she decided a little cold was far preferable to being near the three men.
    The men tore into the hare, devouring it with gusto. Watching them, Meredith’s mouth began to water. Until then, she hadn’t realized how truly ravenous she was. A glimmer of resentment sparked within her as Cameron put his fingers to his lips, sucking the juices from them. With an uncharacteristic crossness, shewondered if he planned to starve her to her death.
    With his knife, he hacked off one of the hare’s legs. Leaning forward, he reached out and retrieved it. As he pulled it back, he chanced to glance at her. Their eyes caught and held. Meredith was the first to look away.
    “Are you hungry?”
    His voice reached her ears. Meredith was sorely tempted to ignore him, to pretend she hadn’t heard, yet something warned her it would not be wise. Nor could she lie, for at that precise second, her stomach gurgled, loudly protesting its fast.
    Her eyes barely grazed his. “Aye,” she said, her voice very low.
    He held out the leg in one hand. She hesitated but an instant, then moved toward him. She bent forward to take the morsel, only to realize her mistake—the gown she wore was mud-stained and ill-fitting, for the other woman had apparently been of larger stature than she. The neckline slipped, baring the naked curve of her right shoulder. Those eyes dipped low, an inspection that was all too thorough and missed nothing. Hastily she jerked the gown over her bare skin, searingly conscious that she wore nothing beneath. With a nod she took the tidbit, a wordless profession of thanks.
    Quickly she resumed her place against the oak. While she ate, she considered all she’d learned this day. Aye, there had been blood spilled, on both sides, MacKay and Munro. Yet she could not believe that her father would sanction such butchery as Cameron MacKay had described. Was it possible he was mistaken?
    Surely he didn’t think so.
    A horn of ale was passed among the men. Cameronoffered it to her, but she declined. Seconds passed into minutes. A weak light wavered from the fire. Cameron paid her no further heed, but Egan and Finn regarded her with ill-concealed hatred.
    Egan stroked the scar on his cheek. A sneering smile curled across his lips. “Can ye imagine? The Red Angus has but one child!”
    Finn nudged Egan. “He is nae a man! What do ye think ails him, that his seed did nae flourish!”
    Meredith longed to snap that his seed did flourish! Was she not proof of the same?
    “He has nae children, save this one!” ’Twas a sneer, a biting condemnation. “Aye, but one child, and a daughter yet!”
    “’Tis obvious why.” Egan stared at her as he spoke. “’Tis because he is a Munro!”
    Finn poked him. “That may well be, for we all know the Munros are but spineless cowards. But methinks ’tis because his balls are like shriveled turnips!”
    Ribald laughter filled the air. Their crudity embarrassed Meredith no end. Her hair sheltered her burning cheeks as she pressed her lips together and turned her face away, pretending to ignore them.
    A flicker of movement caught her eye. It was him—Cameron. Deliberately he made his way toward her. Meredith felt herself pale. What did he intend now?
    He sat beside her, stretching out his legs. He wore no kilt. The trews which covered his legs only emphasized their lean, taut length. His shoulders were wide and strongly muscled; his left was covered by his plaid. Her awareness of his nearness was overwhelming—and rattled her every sense. He smiled, as if he knew her every thought, her every fear. His air was that of a predatory animal.
    Meredith longed to scurry away, like a rat in the night. Ah, she thought bitterly, if only she possessed the daring!
    Her appetite had vanished. She tossed aside the rabbit leg. She did not look at him as she spoke.
    “Why did you abduct me?”
    His tone was