“They will mend.None sustained seriousinjuries, and they are resting comfortably since Lindsey prepared apotion.”
“Did I hear you speak my name?”
At the sound of Lindsey’s husky voice, Jamieturned away and busied himself with his meal.Lindsey sat downbeside her brother, facing Jamie, smoothing her skirtsmodestly.
“Jamie asked about the wounded men.I toldhim that you had ministered to them.”
“Aye.With Ian’s help.”
Jamie shifted uncomfortably.
“What have you learned about thisMacPherson?”Murray asked his sister.
“He is a man of some importance.”
“So he has told us,” Murray said with a traceof impatience.“Though I have always found that a truly importantman need not talk about himself.His reputation speaks for him.Abraggart, on the other hand, must boast to all who wouldlisten.”
Donald nodded as he joined them.“HasMacPherson a fortress or a clan?”
Lindsey glanced at Jamie, then at herbrothers.With an impish grin she shrugged.“I know not.He seemedeager to share but one fact with me.”
“And that is?”Murray and Donald asked inunison.“He has no wife.”
Murray shot his sister a dark look.Besidethem, Jamie got to his feet.He would not sit here and listen tosuch prattle.“I will join Neal in seeing to the horses.”
As he stalked away, Lindsey watched himthrough narrowed gaze.What imp inside her made her behave sofoolishly around this man?It was obvious to her that JamieMacDonald avoided her whenever possible.She must learn to do thesame with him.Though the thought vexed her, she struggled to putit aside.It mattered not to her what Jamie MacDonald did.The manwas a bully and a brute.Not at all like Ian MacPherson, whosemanners were gentle and whose obvious attentions to her were like asoothing balm.
At Murray’s sudden silence, Lindsey put asideher troubling thoughts to concentrate on the matter at hand.Shehad been so deeply engrossed in thoughts of the HeartlessMacDonald, she had not even noticed that all her brothers hadjoined them.
Neal, the youngest, gave her a lingering lookas he repeated, “Did MacPherson reveal nothing else abouthimself?”
“Nay.Nothing.”
“I was hoping he would take us to his homeand introduce us to many beautiful sisters,” Donald said with alaugh.
“Can you think of nothing but the wenches?”Murray asked.With a sigh of disappointment, their oldest brotheremptied his tankard and went in search of his father.
Laughing and chatting, the others atequickly.Only Lindsey did not join in the laughter.She seemeddistracted as she went about her evening chores.
As night settled over the Highlands, theywrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay close to the fire.
* * *
Jamie made a slow turn around the camp andpaused at each side to check with the guard who stood watch.Assured that there was nothing out of the ordinary, he turned andretraced his steps.At a sudden movement he drew his dirk and wentvery still, blending into the shadows.
The small, slender form nearly collided withhim before he reached out a hand.
“Oh!”Lindsey’s eyes went wide when a handclosed over her mouth, cutting off her cry of alarm.
“Not a word, my lady.Do you understand?”
Lindsey felt the warmth of Jamie’s breathagainst her cheek and was reminded of that first time, when he hadhandled her so roughly.She felt the tingle race along her spineand wondered if it was fear, or the reaction she always seemed toget when she stood too close to this giant.
When she nodded her assent, he slowly removedhis hand from her mouth.They continued to stand so close they werealmost touching.
“What are you doing here?”Damn her forcoming out here now.He had spent hours thinking about her, denyingany concern for her.
Lindsey’s heart was pounding like the thunderof horses’ hooves.“I might ask you the same.”
