Brenna flew across the meadow on her horse in all her glory.
He tried to return his gaze to the Grant but couldn’t. Powerless against the siren flying toward them, his chest swelled with a strange kind of pride as she galloped toward them. Her hair was unbound, chestnut locks waving in the sun, but she didn’t let that stop her. He knew Brenna by now. She never cared about her appearance, whether due to her innocent misunderstanding of how it affected people or because it wasn’t important to her, he wasn’t sure. Her hair had been back earlier, but it was always in a bit of disarray, so it hadn’t taken much for the wind to pull it from its confines.
She was magnificent—glorious in her beauty, steadfast in her strength. Everything about her called to him without speaking. He couldn’t let her go, he realized as he watched her, he would never let her go. Beyond her beauty, she was the most intelligent lass he had ever met. She knew things most men could not begin to understand, thingshecouldn’t begin to understand. They belonged together. He knew he couldn’t marryher, but mayhap he could settle with having her stay in his keep as the healer. He would force himself to use restraint and stay away from her just to keep her near. His people needed her, his children needed her.
Heneeded her.
He loved her and admired her more than he had ever loved before. That thought frightened him, but he knew he would do whatever it took to make her stay. What Laird Grant wanted did not matter. This called for extreme measures.
She approached their group and nodded to her brothers, situating herself almost between the two chieftains. “Alex, Brodie.” She greeted both with a stiff countenance that puzzled him.
“Lady Brenna,” Alex greeted her. “How do you fare?”
Her mouth curved a touch. “I am well.”
Quade still could not take his eyes from her. She sat her horse as a queen would, regal in her bearing, her brown eyes taking in everything at once. Grant’s entire army of warriors stood as still as can be, awaiting any word from her.
“Brenna, move your horse behind mine.” Alex barked his order without flinching.
She didn’t budge.
“Brenna? Your laird gave you an order.” Brodie glared at her.
“Aye, Alex. I heard your order. Excuse me, my laird. I would like permission to speak first.” Her eyes bored into her brother’s.
Stubborn woman! What was she thinking to deny her laird? Quade wanted to shake her before she made any more poor decisions. He glanced back at Laird Grant and decided he didn’t like the menacing look he was giving his sister.
Quade moved his horse over in front of Brenna. “Lass, go behind me.”
Brenna paused for a long moment, clearly thinking about her decision and its implications, before slowly moving her horse behind him.
Quade’s heart soared. Mayhap there was hope.
A muscle in Alex’s face twitched. “You give your life for my sister, Ramsay?”
“Aye, I do.”
“You’ve made your choice.” Alex pulled his claymore out, wielding it high enough for all to see.
“Alex, stop! Please listen to me. If you have any regard for me at all, you will stop this nonsense and enter the hall. I have need to speak to you and no’ in front of your guardsmen. Quade, you will allow my brothers into the keep for purposes of negotiation?”
Quade’s eyes never left the laird’s eyes. “Aye, your family is always welcome. As long as I have your brother’s word that he will not harm you or force you to do anything against your will.”
Alex’s eyebrow rose. “I would never harm my sister, but she may no’ like the decision I make. I agree, for her sake only, to discuss the situation.”
Quade looked to Brenna for confirmation. “Lady Brenna? Is this agreeable to you?”
“Am I allowed to be part of the discussion?” she asked, her eyes pinned on her brother. “Alex, I willnae have important decisions made about my life without my input. You ken how our mother felt about such things.”
Alex’s mouth quirked before he nodded in agreement. “Stubborn lass. You have my word.”
“I welcome you at my table, Laird Grant. You and your brother. We will send food and ale out for your guardsmen.”
“Agreed. Brodie, get the men settled and I will see you in the hall.”
Brenna is trying to convince Alex that Quade and his family are right for her:
She had to call on her reserves. She had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, that her brother would listen to reason and do what was best for the Ramsays, but she would have to do what was necessary.
