“I would like to meet Mr. Haines in person if I am going to be using his warehouse,” Owen said and then smiled. “But I agree, MacDonald doesn’t have to come along.”
A muscle twitched in Niall’s jaw. “’Tis nae out of my way.”
Annie closed her eyes briefly, then shook her head and started down the steps of the boardinghouse, leaving the men to follow. They did, one on each side of her, their assortment of knives, swords and muskets rattling with every step. Apparently, clan rivalry was still alive and well, for they both also wore tartans. Even a bairn still in leading strings could probably figure out the two of them had no liking for each other, but they seemed to have decided to play some kind of competition-like game to which only they understood the rules. She just hoped they weren’t regarding her as some kind of trophy.
She was tempted to point that rather important fact out, but since neither of them had actually alluded to her in the game inwhich they were engaged, she could hardly say she didn’t want to be the prize. And maybe she wasn’t. Judging from the way both Niall and Owen tried to stay a step ahead of each other, they probably wouldn’t even notice if she stepped back and let them continue on jostling one another for position.
She tried it. Three steps later they both stopped, turning about as precisely as soldiers in a drill.
Niall frowned. “Why did ye stop?”
“Are you all right?” Owen asked.
“I… ’Tis a bit crowded walking three across,” Annie replied.
Owen nodded. “MacDonald can go ahead to his own office since I need to meet Mr. Haines.”
Niall gave him a steely look. “I told Annie’s mother I would escort her.”
He was bringing hermotherinto this? Annie was about to tell him that was nonsense, but then remembered her mother’s words to be more kind and bit back the retort. “There really is nae need, gentlemen. No one has accosted me or even come near.”
Niall and Owen each put a hand on their swords’ hilts.
“’Tis because they ken to respect the MacDonalds,” Niall said.
“And tofearthe MacLeans,” Owen added.
Annie sighed. She hadn’t intended to encourage the rivalry. “’Tis a safe walk. Nae a person has even looked at me this morn.”
That much was true. Everyone that had been on the sidewalk had given startled looks to two highly-armed Highlanders and given all three of them a wide berth.
“Ye doona need strange men looking at ye,” Niall stated.
“Indeed, although it is difficult for a man to ignore a beautiful woman,” Owen said smoothly, “but that is why I am here to keep you safe.”
Niall glowered at him. “’Tis why I am here.”
Annie looked heavenward. She couldn’t stop herself. If she didn’t put a stop to whatever silly game they were playing, they’d probably end up in fisticuffs or worse, given the assortment of weapons they each carried. “Gentlemen. May we continue? I doona want to be late for work.”
Owen adjusted his sword belt and stepped to her side. “Of course. I should have thought of that.”
Niall adjusted his belt too as he stepped to Annie’s other side. “Aye, I should have thought of that too, lass.”
“Very well,” Annie answered and picked up her pace. It was only two more blocks to the warehouse. Surely they could make it.
****
“Excellent!” Mr. Haines said when, after they managed to arrive intact with no one wounded a short time later, Annie explained that Owen was interested in renting space. “I am sure we can find a spot. I will leave it to Kingsley, since I have a meeting this morning.”
Kingsley unfolded a layout of the warehouse and spread it on the counter after Mr. Haines left. “We will need to keep the kelp bales in a dry spot. Which location is best, Miss Ferguson?”
Finally. A man was treating her as an adult and not a dimwitted bairn. John was asking for her actual opinion on something and not just assuming he knew the answer. She smiled at him and moved toward the counter. Then she realized that both Niall and Owen had moved with her. She was tempted to look at her waist to see if they had woven a rope around it to stay attached.
“I think I am capable of handling this,” she said, her jaw so tight she hoped she didn’t crack a tooth.
“I want to make sure the spot is dry,” Owen said, “since I could lose substantial money if the kelp rots.”
He was right, drat it. “Of course.” Annie sidled to the left to give him more room to look and bumped into Niall. He didn’t budge when she glowered at him.
