Free Debra Kay Leland by From Whence Came A Stranger...

annoyance than he knew he should.
    The man shifted and crossed his arms over his broad chest like he always did.  “The men are nervous about the English that comes here.”
    “He does naught but barter and leaves me with a feast in the process; and one which ye might remember I share evenly with ye also.”
    “We know that, Alden, but the man could be up to no good and using ye in the process to accomplish it!  Ye know him not well, and yet ye leave yur own daug hter to go with him unprotected!”
    Alden took his eyes from his work long enough to throw the man beside him a warily look.  “Is this what yur visit is all about?  Well, Miranda is never far from the village nor our farm…  And need I remind ye that she has a knife, and she knows well how to use it!  Though, I think that yur wrong about the English, I don’t see violence in his eyes.”
    “Ye see what ye wish to see!”
    “Do not bring harm to the man, Egan.  He is English; and if ye attack him, ye shall likely bring an army down u pon our heads in the process!”
    The younger man’s only pursed his thin lips, his nostrils flaring angrily knowing it was true.  “ Aye, he is English and all the better reason to keep him away from our village…!  He paused and drew a calming breath that did not work.  “ Alright — we shall not lend to his trouble; but let me be clear, Alden, we shall watch the man, and if he dare lend to ours, he best beware!”
    “Well and good.”
    The younger man stood there for a moment longer; and Alden looked up at him again.  “Is there aught else that bothers ye, Egan?”
    “…Aye, ‘tis Miranda… I—I wish to ask if I may take the lass for a walk.”
    Alden stiffened, but didn’t look up.  “The lass ‘tis not yet even six and ten summers, Egan.  She feels she is too young to accept a suitor and so do I.”
    Egan shifted with a hard scowl .  “’Tis true that the lass is young; but yet some girls have married and had children by her age.  I—I have been patient with her, and ye know it well.” He shifted on long legs as he spoke in an annoyed sincerely tone , “…I would be good to her and am able keep her safe, ye know that…”
    Alden stood and set the tool down as he looked at the man squarely.  “I thank ye for yur honesty, Egan Wallace, but the lass has no mind to wed yet; and I shall not force her to do so.  If ye are true, then ye shall show her by waiting till she be ready!  Show the lass she can trust ye!  But until that time, I shall not let her go off with ye alone; nor any other man for that matter!”
    “She wanders away with the English!”
    “Ye know yurself that every eye in the village is upon them, and one can see the village from the bend as well as my farm!  I would not do so if I felt that the man meant harm, and ye know that to be true!”
    The younger man shifted on rigid legs and dropped his hands to his hips as he let out tense breath.  “Alright then, I see ye are in no mind to be reasonable...!  Good day to ye, Alden.”
    “I am being reasonable; Egan—and ye shall wait!”   He watched the younger man go with an uneasy feeling.  Miranda was too young for the likes of him and he knew it well, but young or not, he would rather she found another than the likes Egan Wallace!
     
    Miranda stood in the shadows of the barn and listened to Egan and her father talk; a sickening feeling settling in her stomach as she did so.  She bit her lips softly and prayed that her father would not give into the man’s angry request.  He had told Egan no before this, but yet the man persisted and she could only pray that her father would again stand his ground.
    When the man finally left she came out with a w orried look on her young face.
    “Ye heard then?”
    “…Aye.”
    “Are ye sorry for it, lass?”
    “Nay, da, I do not wish to go off alone with him, ye know that!”
    He looked at her then lowered his gaze.  “I shall not force ye to marry, lass, though Egan is