Read Online Highland Troth (Highland Talents Book 3) by Willa Blair - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Willa Blair
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from the blush she knew stained her cheeks. Jamie’s man, Ewan, still tending the meat, frowned at them. She had no doubt he heard every word. But embarrassment was the least emotion coloring her face. Fury at Will’s effrontery scalded her throat, and she nearly growled a warning as the wildcat had done just minutes before.
“Enough, Will.” His eyes widened. Her sharp tone surprised even her, but she didn’t want Jamie to hear from Will, in anger, what she had been unable to say to him herself. She turned her back to Will, then glared at him over her shoulder. “Can ye no’ recognize claw marks when ye see them? What man can shred a dress like that? I suppose ye’d want the cat to tear out my throat to prove its existence to ye.”
Will choked. “How can ye even suggest something like that?”
She turned to face him, trembling with anger and reaction to the cat’s attack and Will’s interruption of the conversation she wanted to have with Jamie. She ignored the outrage on his face. “How did ye no’ hear it screaming when it attacked?”
Will had the grace to look abashed, but only for a moment before his scowl returned. Jamie stood by, arms crossed over his chest and lips compressed, forbearing to defend himself against Will’s accusations. Or had her anger driven her too far when she accused Will of wanting the cat to tear out her throat to prove its existence? She had no doubt Jamie disapproved. Now, only moments later, she regretted uttering those words. Or had Will’s comment about him being her old flame silenced him? If so, she couldn’t deal with that right now. First things first.
Caitrin advanced until she stood toe-to-toe with Will and glared up at him, but kept a tight rein on her temper. “Twice now, Jamie has saved me from injury, perhaps even death. Twice ye have accused him of behaving improperly. Mind yer words, Will Fletcher, before yer wild imaginings goad him to the point he canna ignore yer insults any longer. Before I canna, and send ye home.” Will jerked at that, and Caitrin raised a hand, forestalling any objection he might be about to make. Softening her tone, she added, “To save yer life and avoid a war between Fletcher and Lathan. Do ye think that’s what my da would want?”
Will dropped his gaze to Caitrin’s shoulder, where tufts of torn wool stuck up through her tangled hair and tickled her neck. “Nay. But I must ken why ye went into the woods after him.”
“After him? What makes ye think such a thing?” As Will opened his mouth, Caitrin plunged ahead. “I dinna wish to hear it. I went into the woods alone...for the usual reason.” The lie stung, especially since Jamie knew she lied. She shook her head. The truth would only inflame Will’s anger further. Jamie must see that and keep his silence until she dealt with the immediate problem. Then she would talk to Jamie. If he would let her. “The cat attacked. Luckily, Jamie was nearby to scare the creature away before it had a chance to do more than claw my dress. Had he no’ been nearby, one of ye would have reached me soon after, I’m sure. That’s the end of it, Will Fletcher, do ye hear me?”
She watched the muscle jump in his cheek. He glared at her then turned his glare on Jamie before answering, “Aye.”
Caitrin spared Jamie a glance and saw a similar flex in the muscle of his cheek. Oh dear. He knew what she was doing. And he must have heard Will’s remark about her old flame. His narrowed eyes glinted in the firelight.
“Well enough then,” she sighed, turning back to Will, “Get something to eat and haud yer wheesht from now on. I willna tolerate any more of this.”
Ewan cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “If ye want to eat, it’s ready.” He bent and began carving slices of meat from the loin, laying them on trenchers. Caitrin took one from him and handed it to Will in time to see Jamie turn on his heel and stalk out of camp—again.
Caitrin moved away from Will,
“Enough, Will.” His eyes widened. Her sharp tone surprised even her, but she didn’t want Jamie to hear from Will, in anger, what she had been unable to say to him herself. She turned her back to Will, then glared at him over her shoulder. “Can ye no’ recognize claw marks when ye see them? What man can shred a dress like that? I suppose ye’d want the cat to tear out my throat to prove its existence to ye.”
Will choked. “How can ye even suggest something like that?”
She turned to face him, trembling with anger and reaction to the cat’s attack and Will’s interruption of the conversation she wanted to have with Jamie. She ignored the outrage on his face. “How did ye no’ hear it screaming when it attacked?”
Will had the grace to look abashed, but only for a moment before his scowl returned. Jamie stood by, arms crossed over his chest and lips compressed, forbearing to defend himself against Will’s accusations. Or had her anger driven her too far when she accused Will of wanting the cat to tear out her throat to prove its existence? She had no doubt Jamie disapproved. Now, only moments later, she regretted uttering those words. Or had Will’s comment about him being her old flame silenced him? If so, she couldn’t deal with that right now. First things first.
Caitrin advanced until she stood toe-to-toe with Will and glared up at him, but kept a tight rein on her temper. “Twice now, Jamie has saved me from injury, perhaps even death. Twice ye have accused him of behaving improperly. Mind yer words, Will Fletcher, before yer wild imaginings goad him to the point he canna ignore yer insults any longer. Before I canna, and send ye home.” Will jerked at that, and Caitrin raised a hand, forestalling any objection he might be about to make. Softening her tone, she added, “To save yer life and avoid a war between Fletcher and Lathan. Do ye think that’s what my da would want?”
Will dropped his gaze to Caitrin’s shoulder, where tufts of torn wool stuck up through her tangled hair and tickled her neck. “Nay. But I must ken why ye went into the woods after him.”
“After him? What makes ye think such a thing?” As Will opened his mouth, Caitrin plunged ahead. “I dinna wish to hear it. I went into the woods alone...for the usual reason.” The lie stung, especially since Jamie knew she lied. She shook her head. The truth would only inflame Will’s anger further. Jamie must see that and keep his silence until she dealt with the immediate problem. Then she would talk to Jamie. If he would let her. “The cat attacked. Luckily, Jamie was nearby to scare the creature away before it had a chance to do more than claw my dress. Had he no’ been nearby, one of ye would have reached me soon after, I’m sure. That’s the end of it, Will Fletcher, do ye hear me?”
She watched the muscle jump in his cheek. He glared at her then turned his glare on Jamie before answering, “Aye.”
Caitrin spared Jamie a glance and saw a similar flex in the muscle of his cheek. Oh dear. He knew what she was doing. And he must have heard Will’s remark about her old flame. His narrowed eyes glinted in the firelight.
“Well enough then,” she sighed, turning back to Will, “Get something to eat and haud yer wheesht from now on. I willna tolerate any more of this.”
Ewan cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “If ye want to eat, it’s ready.” He bent and began carving slices of meat from the loin, laying them on trenchers. Caitrin took one from him and handed it to Will in time to see Jamie turn on his heel and stalk out of camp—again.
Caitrin moved away from Will,
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