Free The Highlander's Bride by Michele Sinclair Page B

one.”
    Puzzled, she responded, “Finn, I think you and the rest of this party misunderstand Conor’s intentions. He finds me a mystery, something to figure out. But he does not desire me.”
    Finn did not react to her comment and continued looking forward, giving his laird no reason to be concerned. “Milady, that is simply not true.”
    “Fine, I will not insult your intelligence and say that there is not some strange attraction between us. But, Finn, it has not, nor will it ever be acted upon.” The intensity of her last statement caused Finn to turn and look at her disbelievingly.
    Laurel’s eyes were large and round with sincerity. “I mean it. Ask your laird directly if you must. But he has told me in a most honest and candid manner that he has no intention of marrying. I do not think that his views on matrimony have changed.”
    Finn knew that Conor had strong views, especially on marriage, but he was sure that Laurel had shifted them. Could it be that Conor had not thought ahead to what would happen upon their return? Once news traveled that Laurel was unwed and available, many would seek her hand in marriage. Conor was deceiving himself if he thought he would allow that to happen. But maybe Conor’s short-sightedness was a good thing, Finn reflected.
    Finn had seen the two interacting and knew they would be happy together. Conor had never seemed so alive. He laughed and argued and was genuinely open and expressive when she was around. In her, it seemed that Conor had found what he had been searching for—someone to whom he could open his heart and soul. He may not know Laurel as well as his laird, but Finn guessed that she, too, acted more naturally around him than she ever had in the proper world in which she had been raised. If he didn’t know better, he would swear she had Scottish blood coursing through her veins. It was just when she spoke with that awful English accent that the idea sounded ridiculous.
    “Umm, returning to our original discussion,” Laurel encouraged, “what about the McTiernay brothers? They seem to be a rather close lot. I have one brother, but he and I never were sociable.”
    Finn’s grip on his reins tightened. “Will your brother be looking for you now that you have disappeared?”
    Her somber dismissal calmed his fears for his laird. “No, Finn, I think my brother will be more relieved than anything else at my disappearance,” she said sorrowfully and prodded her horse onward.
    Saddened by her change in mood, Finn tried to refocus her thoughts and began describing the McTiernay brothers. “Now, each of the younger McTiernays has a reputation of being fierce warriors on the battleground. While only the three eldest have actually seen battle, the younger McTiernays are all in training and will be excellent soldiers. All of them—even Clyde—have shown a keen gift for strategy, a McTiernay trait. Unfortunately, that is the one skill most difficult to teach.”
    Laurel looked puzzled. “Oh, why is that?”
    “Milady, one can teach any man how to swing a sword accurately and quickly with practice. But it is difficult to improve how a man thinks or the speed in which he formulates plans during battle. Concepts can be conveyed, tricks and tips can be passed on, but the ability itself has to be there.”
    Laurel ducked to avoid a low hanging branch. “My grandfather often said the same. He would talk of his best friend and often boast of his ability to outmaneuver any group of English soldiers—no matter what their skill—by just outthinking them.”
    Finn didn’t say anything in response, but sat wondering at her words. Outmaneuver English soldiers, she had said. Now why would her grandfather be wanting to outsmart his own kinsmen? Unless her grandfather was not English. He knew that Conor was waiting until they were closer to home before asking her about what happened, but Finn knew that he would want to know this revelation before the questioning.
    Concentrating on