Free The Highlander's Bride by Michele Sinclair Page A

was unbelievable. Earlier that evening, this captivating woman had him feeling so hard and on fire. Now, while he still wanted her with a fierce possessiveness, he didn’t want to do anything to disturb this absolute feeling of contentment.
    He bent his head and kissed her hair, inhaling her sweet scent. How this Englishwoman had woven a spell around him so quickly he did not know. But he knew that he was decisively caught in her enchanting web. He also knew that he was never going to let her go. His last thought before he drifted to sleep was that Laurel belonged to him.

Chapter Four

    They had been traveling most of the morning when Finn pulled back to ride next to Laurel for a while. The terrain had changed, and they were now steadily climbing into higher country. Laurel was glad their horses were bred with the stamina and strength needed to continue up the mountains.
    “Milady.”
    “Finn,” she returned with a smile that would light even the darkest of nights.
    Oh, this lady was going to set the clan in a whirl, he thought. “How do you fare this morn? Your breathing does not seem as labored.”
    She smiled in agreement. “Fine. My ribs are mending, and my breathing has much improved.”
    He fell behind her momentarily as the path narrowed. “I’m glad. We should be home in a day or two, depending upon the weather.”
    She moved Borrail closer to his mount. “Finn. Please do not let the group travel slower for my sake. I can keep up.”
    He saw the earnest pleading in her hazy, bluish-green eyes and decided that he could neither lie nor tell her the truth. “Aye, milady, but we can only travel at the pace of the slowest animal.”
    Laurel thought to ask whose animal was the slowest and then decided that she didn’t want to know if it was hers. Instead, she changed the subject.
    “You mentioned that we would soon reach McTiernay land.”
    Aware of the tension in his laird’s posture, Finn focused on the path ahead and avoided unnecessary eye contact with the bewitching woman at his side. “Aye, milady.”
    “Can you tell me a little more about the McTiernays?”
    “Well, milady, the McTiernays are a proud, strong clan, and Conor is a wise and strong leader.” Finn paused trying to determine how to talk about the respect and admiration he had for his clansmen and laird.
    “The laird is following in his father’s ways, leading his clan with a calm but firm hand. His skill with the sword and ability to train men have enabled him to build strong allegiances with many important clans. Recently, the McTiernays have absorbed a couple of smaller clans, so our numbers are formidable. Conor now has the job of bringing their fighting skills up to the level of their numbers.”
    Laurel considered what Finn had told her. “Why would Conor agree to absorb men who could not contribute to the clan as well as his other soldiers?”
    “Well, milady, the laird has a reputation of leading men who are highly skilled and ruthless in battle. This gives him a position of influence and power. Some of the smaller highland bands have had no choice but to join a larger clan for support. Then there are the highly skilled warriors who have no clan to return to after fighting for William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.”
    Laurel nodded, knowing that Edward I had been plaguing Scotland with wars for years and was only recently driven from these lands with the exception of the three or four Scottish castles still under his control.
    “Other clans,” Finn continued, “are predominantly farmers or have lost most of their trained soldiers to battles. The younger men remaining have yet to be trained and are looking for leaders who can instruct and guide as well as protect. Our laird,” Finn said devotedly, “is one of the few who excels at all three. This is why, milady, you are so fortunate.”
    As she was about to contest his last statement, he added, “But I don’t think my laird realizes that it is he who may be the lucky