Read Online Highland Revenge (Fated Hearts Book 1) by Ceci Giltenan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ceci Giltenan
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noise, laughter, arguments, and general chatter. It felt like a home and, even if it wasn’t her home, Fiona was growing to love it.
Likewise, Eoin MacKay was not remotely like her uncle. His people didn’t tread carefully around him for fear of sparking his temper. He had only been their laird for a few months, but had apparently already earned their respect. Maybe that was because he seemed to respect them. She admired him and was even becoming fond of him. She found him extremely handsome. She remembered his dark hair and dark eyes from long ago, but he had filled out into an impressive man, strong and broad shouldered. Occasionally she would catch a glimpse of him training with his men, and she found him nothing short of spectacular.
Perhaps the thing she admired most was his openness, which was so unlike her uncle. Eoin was very much a decisive leader and when he gave orders, they were followed. However, when appropriate, he also listened to opinions and gave them consideration. He was generally kind, considerate and patient with his people. Well, he was patient with nearly everyone except his sister, Anna.
Fiona adored the irrepressible Anna; she had also never met anyone quite like her. Fiona’s young cousin Kara reminded her of a sweet docile puppy. If possible, Stephen was even more subdued. Kind, gentle and studious, at fifteen he should have been well into his training as a warrior, but he hated the thought of it. Aunt Sorcha, who had always been very protective of her children, admired his studious nature and refused to let Uncle Bhaltair send Stephen away. Her cousins never uttered a cross word or disobeyed their parents. Fiona too had learned to at least feign obedience to avoid her uncle’s temper.
Anna MacKay, on the other hand, was more than willing to frustrate and anger her brother, much as she had the day Fiona arrived. She would go toe to toe with him over the slightest thing—right down to who sat where at meals. Often he gave in to her out of frustration, but one afternoon he refused. She had announced at the midday meal that she intended to go riding with Fiona that afternoon.
“I’m sorry, Anna, not today.”
“I will go riding if I wish, Eoin.”
“Ye will not. Not with Fiona, and not today.”
“Da always let me ride when I wished.”
“Aye he did, with an escort, but I cannot spare the men today.”
“Ye can too spare someone. Maybe Tasgall or Aiden.”
“A single guard is not a sufficient escort.”
“It has always been enough before. We won’t go far.”
“It isn’t enough today, Anna.” Eoin glanced at Fiona. She suspected he wanted more men riding escort because Anna intended to take her.
Anna was clearly not prepared to let this drop. “Why?”
Eoin clenched his jaw. “I don’t intend to discuss it further. I said nay.”
Fiona tried to intercede. “Anna, we don’t need to go today.”
“Ye visit the stables every day to take a treat to yer mare. I know ye want to go for a ride.”
“Still, it needn’t be today.”
“But I want to go riding. It has been ages, Eoin, and ye’re being mean on purpose. We’re going, and ye can just find someone to go with us.”
“I have had enough of this. The only place ye’re going is to yer room.”
“But—”
“Yer room, Anna. Now.”
“Ye aren’t my da, ye have no right—”
“I’m yer laird and I have every right. Go. Now !”
Anna burst into tears and ran from the hall. Fiona started to follow, but Eoin shook his head. “Nay, Fiona. Leave her for a bit.”
Aiden scowled. “Ye let her get away with too much. I don’t care what she says; Da wouldn’t have tolerated that behavior.”
Tasgall jumped to Anna’s defense. “Da has only been gone a few months. She took his death very hard. Give her some time. Ye can’t expect her to adjust overnight. Surely there is someone who could escort them for a wee ride.”
“That isn’t the point, Tasgall. Eoin said nay, and Anna needs to learn to
Likewise, Eoin MacKay was not remotely like her uncle. His people didn’t tread carefully around him for fear of sparking his temper. He had only been their laird for a few months, but had apparently already earned their respect. Maybe that was because he seemed to respect them. She admired him and was even becoming fond of him. She found him extremely handsome. She remembered his dark hair and dark eyes from long ago, but he had filled out into an impressive man, strong and broad shouldered. Occasionally she would catch a glimpse of him training with his men, and she found him nothing short of spectacular.
Perhaps the thing she admired most was his openness, which was so unlike her uncle. Eoin was very much a decisive leader and when he gave orders, they were followed. However, when appropriate, he also listened to opinions and gave them consideration. He was generally kind, considerate and patient with his people. Well, he was patient with nearly everyone except his sister, Anna.
Fiona adored the irrepressible Anna; she had also never met anyone quite like her. Fiona’s young cousin Kara reminded her of a sweet docile puppy. If possible, Stephen was even more subdued. Kind, gentle and studious, at fifteen he should have been well into his training as a warrior, but he hated the thought of it. Aunt Sorcha, who had always been very protective of her children, admired his studious nature and refused to let Uncle Bhaltair send Stephen away. Her cousins never uttered a cross word or disobeyed their parents. Fiona too had learned to at least feign obedience to avoid her uncle’s temper.
Anna MacKay, on the other hand, was more than willing to frustrate and anger her brother, much as she had the day Fiona arrived. She would go toe to toe with him over the slightest thing—right down to who sat where at meals. Often he gave in to her out of frustration, but one afternoon he refused. She had announced at the midday meal that she intended to go riding with Fiona that afternoon.
“I’m sorry, Anna, not today.”
“I will go riding if I wish, Eoin.”
“Ye will not. Not with Fiona, and not today.”
“Da always let me ride when I wished.”
“Aye he did, with an escort, but I cannot spare the men today.”
“Ye can too spare someone. Maybe Tasgall or Aiden.”
“A single guard is not a sufficient escort.”
“It has always been enough before. We won’t go far.”
“It isn’t enough today, Anna.” Eoin glanced at Fiona. She suspected he wanted more men riding escort because Anna intended to take her.
Anna was clearly not prepared to let this drop. “Why?”
Eoin clenched his jaw. “I don’t intend to discuss it further. I said nay.”
Fiona tried to intercede. “Anna, we don’t need to go today.”
“Ye visit the stables every day to take a treat to yer mare. I know ye want to go for a ride.”
“Still, it needn’t be today.”
“But I want to go riding. It has been ages, Eoin, and ye’re being mean on purpose. We’re going, and ye can just find someone to go with us.”
“I have had enough of this. The only place ye’re going is to yer room.”
“But—”
“Yer room, Anna. Now.”
“Ye aren’t my da, ye have no right—”
“I’m yer laird and I have every right. Go. Now !”
Anna burst into tears and ran from the hall. Fiona started to follow, but Eoin shook his head. “Nay, Fiona. Leave her for a bit.”
Aiden scowled. “Ye let her get away with too much. I don’t care what she says; Da wouldn’t have tolerated that behavior.”
Tasgall jumped to Anna’s defense. “Da has only been gone a few months. She took his death very hard. Give her some time. Ye can’t expect her to adjust overnight. Surely there is someone who could escort them for a wee ride.”
“That isn’t the point, Tasgall. Eoin said nay, and Anna needs to learn to
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