“Why are ye here?” Niall asked Owen as Annie went to get her shawl. “’Tis nae your responsibility to escort the lass.”
“I had to return the storage contract,” Owen answered and then held the door open as Annie joined them. “Besides, maybe I enjoy Miss Ferguson’s company.”
“Ye would see Annie at supper,” Niall muttered as they walked outside and down the steps.
One of Owen’s brows rose. “If you are on such familiar terms that you address Miss Ferguson by her first name, perhaps she needs a chaperone from you.”
Niall scowled. “Are ye challenging MacDonald honor?”
Owen smiled easily. “Only if you think it justified. Rumor in Arisaig has it you left a trail of brokenhearted lasses.”
The scowl deepened. “Ye may think on your own reputation, MacLean. Ye had more than one father ready to lock up his daughter while ye were in town.”
Annie sighed. So much for thinking their silly game was over. “I would really nae want to hear of your conquests with ladies.”
Niall blinked at her. “I doona discuss such things.”
“Neither do I,” Owen said.
“Good. Then it’s settled,” Annie replied, although she had a feeling nothing was settled between the two men. Neither did she have any doubt that both of them left an assemblage ofdisappointed ladies behind. She had to admit that Niall and Owen were good-looking and braw to boot. Even if they weren’t scoundrels like Broderick and didn’t make promises they didn’t intend to keep, they were smooth-talking enough that naïve, innocent girls of marriageable age would read intent into their words. Annie grimaced. At least, she wouldn’t fall intothattrap. She decided to change the subject and turned to Owen.
“Ye will be glad to ken I cleared the space ye wanted for your storage.”
“All of it?” Owen looked surprised. “There were a good number of barrels taking that space.”
“Aye. Barley barrels bound for the States,” Annie answered, “but I moved them.”
“I dinna think ye were going to be working in the warehouse,” Niall said.
“Doona fash. I did nae handle them,” Annie said. “Mr. Kingsley instructed the workers. I only assisted in taking count.”
Niall gave her a stubborn look. “But I thought ye said ye would be managing the paperwork.”
Annie tried to hide her exasperation. “How do ye think I can count the barrels if I doona actually see them?”
“Is that nae what the foreman is for?”
Although she was grateful that John had gone over the books with her this afternoon—they had caught two minor subtraction errors—she didn’t want to relinquish what authority she had. Men were quick to take total control if given the opportunity. “I am responsible for the entries I make in the ledger.”
Niall set his jaw. “But ye were nae moving the stock to a ship, so there were nae entries to be made.”
Annie wanted to stomp her foot, but that would be equivalent to a childish tantrum. The man was incredibly stubborn and had the single-mindedness of a hawk soaring over its prey. “I just want to make sure everything is accounted for.”
“Which I think is a very good thing,” Owen said before Niall could reply. “I will rest easy knowing my kelp bales will be watched over.”
Annie gave him a grateful smile although she wasn’t sure how serious he really was being. “Thank ye for trusting me to do my job.”
Owen returned her smile. “I have no doubts you will.”
Beside them, Niall made a noise that sounded like a growl.
Annie smothered a grin.
****
Her good humor quickly faded the next morning when she entered the office. Mr. Haines was pacing by the counter. Kingsley stood on the other side. Neither of them looked pleased. In fact, Mr.Haines actually looked angry.
“Is something amiss?” she asked, glad that Niall for once hadn’t come inside with her. She didn’t need him coming to her defense over her job.
