Free MacKinnon’s Rangers 03.5 - Upon A Winter's Night by Pamela Clare Page A

the door and brought down the bar, shutting out the night and cold.

    And she could see he was as relieved to be home as she was to have him home. She hurried over to him, began to help him out of his pack and coat.

    Killy rounded the table and walked over to Miss Janssen, who pushed the woolen hat from her head, golden hair spilling around her red cheeks. "Why would you do such a daft thing? Are you tryin’ to catch your death out in this?"

    Miss Janssen brushed the hair from her face. "Is it true what they say — that you want to marry me but are afraid to ask?"

    The room fell silent apart from the happy babble of babies.

    Killy’s face turned a shade of red Sarah had never seen before. He stared up at Miss Janssen through narrowed eyes. "Aye, it is."

    Miss Janssen looked surprised. Had she come all this way in hopes that Killy wanted to marry her? What had she planned to do if he’d said no? Would she have turned on her heels and walked all the long way back to Albany alone?

    Miss Janssen gave a nod, drew in a breath, seemed to steel herself. "You’re not to lie about in idleness, nor will I permit you to drink my profits. The alehouse will still belong to me. As long as you live under my roof, you’ll not show me disrespect, nor will you suffer any other man to put his hands on me. If there are children, you’ll be a decent father to them for as long as you live."

    Killy glared up at her. "Those are your terms?"

    She hesitated for a moment, then her chin went up. " Ja . What say you?"

    A wide grin broke out on Killy’s face. "I accept."

    "Then we’ll be wed in a binding manner on New Year’s Eve and remarried in the Dutch church when the snows allow us to return safely to Albany."

    "The New Year is a fortuitous time for a weddin ’." Killy’s grin faded. "But who is watchin ’ over the alehouse while you’re out here?"

    "I left Bram, my brother, to run things. I’ve served ale every day of my life since I was ten years old. If I want to leave for a few days to take a husband, I will."

    Killy chuckled, glancing over at Annie. "I told you she was fierce."

    Hildie drew something from inside her coat and held it up for Killy to see. It was a sprig of mistletoe.

    Killy stared at it for a moment, then chuckled. "You wild woman."

    He rose onto his tiptoes, drew her head down, and kissed her hard upon the lips, drawing cheers and laughter — and putting a blush in Hildie’s cheeks.

    Through a mist of tears, Sarah looked up into Connor’s eyes, felt his arm slide around her waist, and saw that he was as happy for Killy as she.

    As laughter died there came a terrible bellowing from the barn.

    Sarah had forgotten about the bull.

    "What on God’s earth is that?" Iain asked, picking up the musket he’d just set aside. "It sounds like a… "

    "It’s a bull, brother." Joseph grinned. "Sarah has some Christmas gifts for you."

    Connor and his brothers looked at Sarah, astonishment on their faces.

    Another bellow. A crashing sound. Splintering wood.

    Sarah looked up at her husband. "Merry Christmas."

    * * *

    Hildie was getting married.

    She could scarce believe it, the strangeness of it leaving her almost numb as Killy helped her out of her wet boots, pack, and coat.

    He slipped his hand through hers and led her to a chair by the fire, his fingers warm. "You’re shakin ’ like a leaf, Hildie sweet. Rest here while Annie makes you a hot cup of tea. I’ll be back inside before you can miss me."

    Hildie looked into the eyes of the man she had just agreed to marry and saw genuine concern. " Th -thank you."

    She wasn’t accustomed to tenderness from men.

    Killy and the other men bundled up and headed out to the barn to see the bull, leaving Hildie alone with the MacKinnon brothers’ wives. All were beautiful women, much younger than Hildie , feminine and delicate. Compared to them, she was overly tall, ungainly, and big of bone — a pelican among swans.

    One with fair hair and green eyes