“Are ye volunteering?”
The bitter night air would surely kill Jamie’s desire. For some reason, he dinna care if Lady Helen was a Sutherland. Something about the way she carried herself, perhaps her quiet dignity and startling blue eyes, poked at the sleeping beast inside him. He’d overindulged in pleasure while in Constantinople, and returned to Scotland a changed man. Whether for better or worse, he dinna know. But Jamie understood how five years of living in the exotic east had changed Alex. Temptation had a way of following a man through the open markets in the city and into the desert.
“What are ye thinking about, Cousin?” Alex interrupted his thoughts.
“Nothing of importance,” Jamie lied.
“If ye wish to ride out, choose some men to accompany ye.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Thank ye.”
“If a Sutherland pig has followed the lass into MacKay territory, I’ll kill him.”
Alex nodded. “Do as ye wish. I’m returning to my wife’s chamber to watch over her and the bairns.”
“I’m proud of ye, Alex,” Jamie said.
“Aye?”
“Ye saved our clan. Breathed faith back into the hearts of our people by marrying Keely and giving us an heir.”
“Doona forget about wee Rebecca.”
Jamie winked. “A born princess.”
Jamie grasped his cousin’s forearm. Alex, Keely, and their new babes meant everything to him. Aye, he had his own needs and plans for his property. But he’d nearly become the next MacKay laird before Alex accepted his birthright. There wasn’t anything he wouldna do to keep his kinsmen safe from Sutherlands or any other enemies. And if Alex wanted to accept Lady Helen and protect her, then Jamie would do the same. Though he must find a way to meet her. He wanted to hear the beautiful woman whisper his name—if only once.
Departing the great hall, he headed for the barracks where some of the soldiers lived. Over the last two years, Alex had recruited new men, including warriors who had sailed with Jamie from Constantinople, choosing the Highlands as their new home.
He entered the single-story wood building to find a large group huddled around a table playing a dice game brought to the Highlands from Constantinople. “Is this what ye do with yer free time?”
“Jamie, welcome,” Kuresh said with a broad smile.
Jamie and Kuresh had travelled to Constantinople together. Kuresh had acted as his interpreter, councilor, and guide—keeping him safe in the strange and brutal place. Now best friends, Jamie could always count on him.
“Give me the dice,” Jamie said.
One of the guards dropped the two cubes in his open hand. Jamie shook them vigorously, then dropped them on the table, rolling two boar heads.
“Ye win!” Kuresh pushed the pile of silver toward Jamie.
He rolled again, this time a pair of snakes. More coins were added to the pile, but Jamie shook his head. “I doona want to take yer winnings. Here.” He added a gold coin to the cache. “I need six men to accompany me on patrol.”
Twenty raised their hands.
“Pick five,” Jamie directed Kuresh, “then meet me at the stables.”
A short time later, the mounts were ready, and Jamie rode through the gates with his unit, ready to torment anyone that dared trespass on MacKay lands.
Chapter Three
“Is it true?”The attractive maid with blond hair asked Helen once she was settled in her bedchamber. “Ye ran away from yer sire, the Earl of Sutherland?”
Not accustomed to servants asking personal questions, Helen entertained the thought of chastising the lass. But the look on the young woman’s face suggested innocent curiosity. “Aye.”
“I canna imagine doing something so bold and dangerous.”
