Page 50 of Never Kiss a Highlander

She nodded and wiped away the tears.

Finn placed his hand under her chin and turned her face to his. “The healer mentioned a bruise on yer back and seemed reluctant to say it. Were ye injured on the ride here?”

“Aye. Archie tossed me onto his horse when they grabbed me. Of course, I gave him a hard time and, eventually, he punched me on the back.”

She could feel Finn’s entire body tense. “Is that all?”

“Aye.”

He nodded and brushed her hair back from her face. “I want ye to eat and sleep as much as ye can today. Even riding in the cart, it can be an arduous trip back home.”

“Is that an order, husband?”

He grinned. “Since we’re talking about yer safety, aye, ‘tis an order.”

She yawned. “I doona think I will have a problem with that order since that’s what I want to do anyway.”

Finn kissed her lightly on the lips, but she wanted so much more. He smiled as he pulled away. “Get yer rest now, wife. We can continue this when ye’re feeling better.” He pulled the bedcover up and quietly left the room.

Finn had one chore to complete before they left. James and Albert were preparing the cart since they would leave tomorrow first light. The cook had promised she would have food packed for them before they left. Aside from The Sinclair and his sons, everyone in the keep seemed accommodating and pleasant.

The healer had even said she would send a bit of sleeping draught to make Alison’s trip easier.

He hadn’t seen his father-in-law since the meeting with The Sinclair. When he inquired, he was told that he had returned to the bedchamber he’d been assigned and stayed there.

Finn pushed the mystery out of his mind. He stopped and asked one of the guardsmen where Archie Sinclair was.

“He’s at the lists right now, Mackay. If ye want to see him, go into the outer bailey and ye’ll see them on the right side of the keep.”

The morning was bright with sunshine, and Finn dearly hoped it would continue for their trip on the morrow. With usingthe cart he figured it could be a two day, or possibly three day, trip instead of the full day and part of the evening it took them to arrive here.

He touched the top of his sword as he made his way to the lists. Hundreds of men were practicing. It didn’t take him long to spot Archie swinging his sword at one of his brothers.

“Archie Sinclair!” Finn called out.

His voice carried over the clash of swords and men’s grunts. Most of the men stopped to stare at him.

Archie wiped the sweat from his forehead. “What do ye want, Mackay.”

“A challenge.”

Buzzing began with the crowd of warriors. Archie smiled brightly and strode up to him. “A challenge, eh? Ye think ye can beat me?” He laughed and turned to his men who laughed with him.

“Aye, I do.” Finn removed his shirt and, like the other men, also his kilt which left him naked. The best way to fight.

Archie smirked as he approached him, strutting along, smiling at his men.

The two of them circled each other with shouts and taunts coming from the Sinclair men. Now was when Finn had to use his well-honed control, even though it was hard to control his rage. The idea of Archie harming Alison made him want to remove the man’s head from his shoulders, but that would make their departure a bit difficult.

To defeat the man he had to be careful of every move.

“Do ye enjoy the whore in yer bed?” Archie shouted as he circled Finn.

Knowing it was his way of distracting him, Finn shoved down the extra rage. “No whore in my bed, but there is sure one in yers.”

They began to strike, the men appearing at first to be evenly matched, but, as the fight continued, Archie began to make mistakes, resulting in Finn slashing him on the arm. The man jumped back and looked down at his arm.

A mistake.