She braced herself, expecting the worst. “Yer terms, sir?”
“Unquestionable loyalty and trust.”
She blinked, waiting for the rest, but he remained silent. “That’s it?”
His sternness shifted to befuddlement. “What do ye meanis that it? True, steadfast loyalty is everything.”
“I agree,” she hurried to say. “I feared yer terms would be less honorable.” She offered a gracious nod. “Ye have my loyalty, and I am sure Robbie’s as well.”
“Ye willna be mistreated here, lass.” With another tempered scowl brimming with challenge, he offered his arm yet again.
His form of a test. Of sealing the pact. And not even thinly veiled. She tried not to smile as she relented and took it. “Thank ye, Chieftain MacDonald. Robbie and I welcome and accept yer protection.”
“It is Teague, ye ken?”
“Sorry—thank ye, Teague.”
His charming, lopsided smile returned, eroding her resistance. “There now. That wasna so difficult, was it?”
She almost laughed, but stopped herself. Better not. At least, not just yet. Instead, she smiled while taking in the amazing surroundings. “No. It wasna difficult at all.”
“Yer face lights up whenever ye let yer smile reach clear to yer eyes.”
“Thank ye,” she said, then ducked her head. Her cheeks warmed with the compliment. It triggered memories of uncomfortable years because of her introverted nature. She found it difficult to relax around new people and make friends. Still did, even though she had learned coping techniques. She was and always would be a loner at heart.
“Mistress?” Teague’s expectant smile made her wonder what he had just said.
“Sorry. Woolgathering.” The forced lightheartedness of her tone sounded fake, even to her.
“Woolgathering?” He looked even more amused.
“Forgive me,” she said, and meant it. “I have a great deal on my mind.” The man had no idea of all she had on her mind. “What were ye saying?”
“I forget now.” The look in his eyes revealed that to be a lie.
Time to get the conversation back on track and pay closer attention. “So many working and scurrying about. Do many live here?”
“Enough do.” He sounded evasive. “But there is always room for more.”
While she appreciated the invitation, she still felt she and Robbie had a better chance of surviving in a town. Of course, it all depended on the year. So many opportunities to make the wrong choice threatened to paralyze her. “A growing clan is a powerful clan, aye?”
“Most definitely, mistress. Most definitely, indeed.”
Mila managed a nervous smile at the suggestiveness in his tone. Teague MacDonald was too endearing for her own good.
Chapter Four
Damned if hehad not done it again. Taken in more strays. And after swearing to break that dangerous habit. Especially after the last one tried to shackle him into marriage.
Teague shuddered, recalling that near miss. He stole a glance at the beguiling woman at his side. Ah, but this one was different. She fought to hold herself away from everyone, trusting no one. Not just a fine-looking lass, but temptation incarnate with that mix of stubbornness and beauty. Hair black and shining as an onyx jewel and eyes the rich amber of smoked whisky. He especially liked how her chin came almost level with his shoulder. Tall filly she was, since he stood well over six foot six. And those strange clothes of hers revealed curves enough to satisfy any man. Thank the saints, he had convinced her to cover herself with that makeshift skirt. He still wondered why she had dressed as she had. That and why she and the lad were trekking across the Highlands with naught but the clothes on their backs. A mystery to be solved, indeed.
But even wetter than a drowned rat and muddier than a peat cutter, she had captured the attention of his men as soon as they laid eyes on her. Himself too. But this one would take careful wooing, if she allowed wooing at all. Her leeriness bespoke of ill-treatment in her past. That thought made him clench his teeth in disgust.
As they maneuvered through stacks of building materials, she slipped her hand from his arm and fisted it against her middle. If the poor woman grew any tenser, she would pop like a bubble in a boiling cauldron. A worker tossed an armload of planks into a pile with a loud bang. She skittered aside with such an unsettled look that he fully expected her to hiss like a startled wildcat. She didn’t. Which he found both surprising and mildly disappointing. He liked a bit of untamed wildness in a lass.
“If ye dinna mind my asking, how long have ye been widowed?” Her secrets tantalized him. He needed to know more about this mysterious lady.
She eyed him with something akin to fear.
