Free Highland Angels (Fated Hearts Book 3) by Ceci Giltenan

be a scheme to leave Naomh-dùn vulnerable. I must leave it sufficiently well-guarded too.”
    ~ * ~
    Monday dawned fair and bright. Anna felt sure she would be able to get a better look at the outside of the keep and the curtain wall today. However, once again it didn’t happen. Laird MacLeod, Andrew and Graham had gone out with a hunting party. Donald was left in charge and he allowed her to go for a short walk in the courtyard, with Mairi and under his watchful eye, but she wasn’t able to see anything more than she had the previous morning. There was nothing for it. She would have to leave tonight and figure out how to get past any obstacles as she came to them. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me . Again, she hushed the voice that warned against this.
    She spent the day helping Mairi make a new dress, which of course thrilled Mairi.
    “I love having ye here, Anna! I’ve never had a sister. I mean, I do have a sister, but she is much older, older than Andrew even. She was married and gone before my mother got sick and died and I barely remember my mother.”
    “I’m sorry Mairi. I don’t remember my mother at all. She died when I was born.”
    “My mother wasn’t Da’s first wife. He was married to Arabella first. She was Ena’s, Andrew’s and Graham’s mother. I’m only their half-sister.”
    “I have a different mother than my oldest brother too, but just like yer brothers love ye, my brothers love me very much and I love them.”
    “Aye, I do love my brothers most of the time , but I still would like a sister here. I wish ye didn’t have to leave soon.”
    “Please don’t wish that for me, Mairi. I miss my home and family so very much.”
    Mairi frowned and after a moment said, “I’m sure Da will let ye go home soon, but maybe ye can come back and visit?”
    Good Lord, come back? Nay, as soon as she was back on MacKay land, she would never leave. “I don’t think so, pet.” At Mairi’s look of disappointment she added, “But we’ll see.”
    ~ * ~
    Talking about her family during the afternoon with Mairi reminded her of just how much she missed them. She knew she had to escape and get home before the MacLeod thought of some other reason to keep her. When Andrew knocked on her door that evening to take her to the evening meal, once again she declined. She wanted to rest for a while so she could make the long walk home.
    “Anna, I refuse to have this argument with ye every day. Ye will join us in the hall for meals. All meals.”
    “Why are ye forcing me to do this? I don’t want to take my meals in the midst of the MacLeods, especially now they know who I really am. Would ye look forward to dining at my brother’s table?”
    “I would if I were an honored guest.”
    “I’m not an honored guest. I am a prisoner!”
    “Dammit Anna, ye’re not a prisoner. And don’t tell me that ye’ll thank me for my hospitality and bid me farewell. Can’t ye just put yer hatred aside and think of this as home for a while?”
    “Put my hatred aside?” She looked at him askance. “The MacLeods hate me every bit as much. Can’t ye just leave me be?”
    “The MacLeods do not hate ye, for the love of God, ye saved my son! This argument is over, Anna. We are going downstairs now.”
    “The argument is over because ye say it’s over? Nay, Andrew. I’m not going to eat among my enemies. Ye can’t make me.”
    He arched an eyebrow at her, picked her up and put her over his shoulder.
    Hammering on his back with her fists she demanded, “What are ye doing?”
    “Proving ye wrong. I can make ye.”
    “Put me down!” she yelled, kicking her feet.
    He barked “Stop it,” and popped her lightly on the backside. “If ye are going to act like a bairn, I’ll treat ye like one. Now ye have a choice to make. I can put ye down, and ye can walk to the great hall with me for supper, or I can carry ye down kicking and screaming like a petulant child. Which will it be?”
    Defeated, she sighed