Free A Highlander's Home by Laura Hathaway Page B

know you.”
                  Raine muttered, “Believe me, ma’am , I assure you that we have never met.  I guarantee it.”
    Leith said carefully, “Mother, perhaps y e should rest.  Mac should be here momentarily to check on y e .”
                  On cue, the old monk entered the room, his brow furrowed with concern for the wife of his oldest and dearest friend, Leith’s father. 
                  “Madam.” 
    He went to her side and immediately began poking and feeling her head, shoulders, arms.
                  She gave a small laugh.  “Mac, my dear, I am fine, I assure you.” 
    She glanced at Raine from beneath her lashes.  “Tell me, Mac, do you still have that old, black leather bound book that my grandfather gave you when we were children?  The one that speaks of that silly curse on Hell’s Gate?”
                  Mac stopped his perusal of her body and met her gaze . He followed her gaze to Raine and then back, then back again to Raine.  Lady MacGregor touched a strand of Raine’s hair again, then grabbed her chin and tilted it to catch the evening light.  He gasped.  How had he not seen this before?  How could he have been so stupid?  Leith had given him all the information and he had overlooked it.  He realized that she was somehow connected to the stones, but it was the stones themselves that he had concentrated on, not the lass who was the catalyst of the two.
                  In unison, Mac and Lady MacGregor said softly, “Rayanna.”
                  Leith stared at them in bewilderment.   T hey had both lost their minds.  Raine was chewing her bottom lip so fiercely he was waiting for the blood to come forth at any moment.
                  The bell sounded for dinner , and he grabbed at the opportunity to end this.  He took Raine’s hand in his and his mother’s in the other.  “Dinner, my ladies.” 
                  As they entered the dining hall, he seated his mother on the opposite side of Mac in the hopes of discouraging any more talk of this legend , but they just craned their necks and spoke around him or over him.
                  “Believe me, Leith , she is identical to the girl in the book.  I have not seen it in many years but I know it, ” his mother whispered excitedly.   She grasped his hand.  “I know it.”
                  Mac chimed in, “I find it difficult to admit that I did not make the connection myself, since it is my duty to know everything in the books that occupy my shelves.”  He took a bit of venison.  “Especially after you told me that she was inquiring about the stones.”
                  “Stones?” his mother repeated , frowning .  “What stones?”   After a second of thought, her face lit up.  “The stones!” she exclaimed. 
                  Leith briefly retold the story that he had previously explained to Mac.  Lady MacGregor leaned back in her chair and shook her head.  “I never thought that I would live to see it, but my grandfather always said it would happen soon.  Hell’s Gate will prosper and will no longer be considered the boil on the Queen ’s arse.”
                  Leith choked on his wine.  “Mother!”
                  She patted his hand absently.  She continued as if speaking aloud to herself, instead of carrying on a conversation with others.  “He said that a girl of hair the color of the sun and eyes the color of the sea would ensnare the heart of the Laird of Hell’s Gate and would breed magnificent warriors who would one day rule the land as far as England’s shores.  The land would prosper, the crops would be bountiful, and the water would flow as clear as crystal.  The women would start to have babies again and Hell’s Gate would no longer be cursed.”
                  Leith dropped his fork.