Mr. Haines turned as she came in. “The barley barrels were moved.”
Annie frowned. “Aye. Mr. MacLean is expecting a shipment of kelp to arrive soon. That location is the driest in the warehouse.”
Mr. Haines looked as though he were debating what he wanted to say. Kingsley stood quietly watching him. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked.
“No.” Mr. Haines paused. “You are quite right that it is the driest location, but that is why I put the barley barrels there. If the wood gets damp, the barley will rot by the time it reaches the States.”
“I dinnae realize that,” Annie replied, “but the side wall should be dry as well.”
“That may be, but I prefer the barrels to stay where they were. Delivering the barley—dry—produces more profit thansimply storing kelp bales for a short period.” He opened the door leading into the warehouse. “I will have them put back. In the future, please see to it they remain where they are.”
He left before Annie could respond. She gave Kingsley a puzzled look. “Both places should be dry. I just thought the one closest to the office would be better for the kelp with less wind to blow through.”
“You are correct about that,” Kingsley answered, “and the barrels are set up on blocks so even if the floor did get wet, the bottoms would remain dry.”
“Then why do ye think Mr. Haines was so upset?”
Kingsley looked thoughtful. “I am not sure.”
****
Annie was still pondering over it late that afternoon when Niall arrived to walk her home. Mr. Haines had not come back into the office. When she’d checked the warehouse, all forty barrels—she’d counted them twice—were back in their original place. She hoped Mr. MacLean wouldn’t mind the switch in location.
“Where is Owen?” she asked Niall as they started back toward the boardinghouse.
Niall frowned. “Why do ye ask?”
Goodness, but he sounded irritated. And Niall thoughtshewas prickly? She’d merely asked a question. “’Twas a change in location for storing his kelp at the warehouse. I wanted him to ken.”
“Oh.” His expression smoothed. “I have nae seen MacLean since this morning. Why was a change made?”
“I am nae sure. Mr. Haines seemed quite upset that the barley had been moved.”
Niall stopped walking. “Did he insult ye?”
Annie stopped too. “Nae. He just…just was adamant that the barrels should stay where they had been. He even had them put back.”
“But he did nae offend ye?”
She shook her head quickly and started walking again before Niall decided to go back and have words with Mr. Haines. “I cannae take offense because my boss requests something so simple. ’Tis my responsibility to follow his wishes.”
Niall caught up to her in two strides. “Aye, but ye are a lady. I’ll nae allow the man to mistreat ye.”
A part of her should feel indignant because Niall thought a woman couldn’t handle criticism, but he sounded so concerned that Annie wondered if he might actually care about whether she was treated like a lady. Unbidden, an image of Sir Walter Raleigh spreading his cloak over a puddle floated through her mind. Another emotion stirred inside her—one that she’d not allowed to surface in a long time—one that made her suddenly feel feminine and maybe even fetching. She pushed the thought back. That path was one she’d walked down before, only to be thoroughly disillusioned.
“I am nae so stubborn that I cannot accept an order.”
One of Niall’s black brows rose. “Ye willnae accept an order from me.”
“Ye are nae my…” Annie stopped talking, mortified that the word “husband” had almost slipped out. Where in the world hadthatcome from? First, Sir Raleigh and now…husband? What was wrong with her that a simple statement from Niall could make her thoughts spin in directions for which they had no reason to go? Niall was looking at her oddly. She needed to say something.
“…employer. I am earning wages at the warehouse.”
“Aye, but that does nae give Haines the right to disrespect ye.”
That strange feeling shot through Annie again. “At least Mr. Haines did nae shout at me like some men have.” She managed to shrug and hoped she sounded nonchalant. “Our Progress Club is nae exactly popular with men.”
“That is nae excuse,” Niall replied as they reached the boardinghouse. “Nae one will shout at ye again if I am around, lass, unless they wish to see what a Highlander can do with a sword.”
