Read Online The Angel and the Highlander by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Donna Fletcher
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into pagan territory, he grew even more annoyed.
She was placing herself in danger, though no one else seemed to agree with his assessment of the situation. The other sisters assured him that Sister Terese would be fine; she had been there many times before without incident. His men even seemed unconcerned, Boyd suggesting that Sister Terese could look after herself.
Nothing anyone said mattered and he planned on following her with Evan’s help. Evan had gone into the forest just a few moments ago to see if he could pick up their tracks. Lachlan waited impatiently, Andrew joining him.
“Sister Megan assured you that Sister Terese would be gone two, maybe three days at the most,” Andrew reminded.
“And much can happen to her in that time,” Lachlan said.
“She’s a resourceful and determined woman.”
“And a beautiful one,” Lachlan snapped and cringed at his words.
Andrew pursed his lips to prevent a grin.
“Don’t say a word,” Lachlan warned.
Andrew obeyed, though he couldn’t keep a grin from bursting clear across his face.
He was doomed to damnation for even allowing himself the thought that he would miss her. He found he enjoyed conversing with her, or simply spending time with her. Her smile was always pleasant and her tongue thoughtful, though he could see that a spark of temper lay beneath her agreeable nature.
Lachlan saw Evan before he heard him, his steps too light to make a sound.
“I’ve never known anyone with Piper’s skills,” Evan said as if in awe.
“Which means you can’t pick up their tracks,” Lachlan said annoyed.
“Not a sign.” Evan smiled broadly.
“And why does this make you happy?” Lachlan asked, growing more annoyed.
Evan wiped the smile from his face. “I’m not happy, not happy at all. It’s just that…” He ran his hand through his tousled brown hair. “She’s amazing. I’ve never seen anyone cover tracks with such skill. Not a footprint or scent. Nothing.”
“Are you telling me that she covered her tracks on purpose?” Lachlan asked, now angry.
“That she did,” Evan confirmed.
Lachlan began to pace. “She made certain no one could follow. She paid no heed to my order at all.”
Andrew and Evan nodded, both knowing it was their safest response.
Lachlan stopped and glanced at the woods as though it waited to swallow him up if he should enter. He tempered his anger and instead asked himself why. Why did she feel the need to purposely leave him behind?
Lachlan turned suddenly and asked Evan, “Have you noticed how much time Sister Piper spends in the woods?”
Evan smiled and nodded. “Much more than I do.”
“Which means she practically lives there,” Andrew said.
“And what of Megan?” Lachlan asked turning to Andrew. “How often is she gone from here?”
Andrew rubbed his square chin. “Come to think of it she’s always taking off with that basket of hers on her arm.”
“Sisters Rowena and Hester are always about,” Evan remarked.
“Are they?” Lachlan asked. “We assume Sister Rowena is always in the common room cooking, but we don’t know for sure. And as for Sister Hester, she’s here and about, but if we think on it, how much do we really see her?”
The three men grew silent.
Lachlan spoke first. “I think it would be wise to keep an extra watch on the sisters.”
“What are you thinking?” Andrew asked.
“I’m not sure,” Lachlan admitted. “But something doesn’t seem right. Why wouldn’t Sister Terese want me to go with her? With news of clans battling and confirmation that a band of mercenaries have claimed land here, wouldn’t she be eager for protection?”
Evan offered another explanation. “But Piper knows these woods and could probably get Sister Terese more safely to her destination than you could.”
“That’s true too,” Andrew agreed.
“It’s questionable,” Lachlan said, “therefore we keep an eye on the sisters’ activities. I’ll instruct Boyd to help, no others
She was placing herself in danger, though no one else seemed to agree with his assessment of the situation. The other sisters assured him that Sister Terese would be fine; she had been there many times before without incident. His men even seemed unconcerned, Boyd suggesting that Sister Terese could look after herself.
Nothing anyone said mattered and he planned on following her with Evan’s help. Evan had gone into the forest just a few moments ago to see if he could pick up their tracks. Lachlan waited impatiently, Andrew joining him.
“Sister Megan assured you that Sister Terese would be gone two, maybe three days at the most,” Andrew reminded.
“And much can happen to her in that time,” Lachlan said.
“She’s a resourceful and determined woman.”
“And a beautiful one,” Lachlan snapped and cringed at his words.
Andrew pursed his lips to prevent a grin.
“Don’t say a word,” Lachlan warned.
Andrew obeyed, though he couldn’t keep a grin from bursting clear across his face.
He was doomed to damnation for even allowing himself the thought that he would miss her. He found he enjoyed conversing with her, or simply spending time with her. Her smile was always pleasant and her tongue thoughtful, though he could see that a spark of temper lay beneath her agreeable nature.
Lachlan saw Evan before he heard him, his steps too light to make a sound.
“I’ve never known anyone with Piper’s skills,” Evan said as if in awe.
“Which means you can’t pick up their tracks,” Lachlan said annoyed.
“Not a sign.” Evan smiled broadly.
“And why does this make you happy?” Lachlan asked, growing more annoyed.
Evan wiped the smile from his face. “I’m not happy, not happy at all. It’s just that…” He ran his hand through his tousled brown hair. “She’s amazing. I’ve never seen anyone cover tracks with such skill. Not a footprint or scent. Nothing.”
“Are you telling me that she covered her tracks on purpose?” Lachlan asked, now angry.
“That she did,” Evan confirmed.
Lachlan began to pace. “She made certain no one could follow. She paid no heed to my order at all.”
Andrew and Evan nodded, both knowing it was their safest response.
Lachlan stopped and glanced at the woods as though it waited to swallow him up if he should enter. He tempered his anger and instead asked himself why. Why did she feel the need to purposely leave him behind?
Lachlan turned suddenly and asked Evan, “Have you noticed how much time Sister Piper spends in the woods?”
Evan smiled and nodded. “Much more than I do.”
“Which means she practically lives there,” Andrew said.
“And what of Megan?” Lachlan asked turning to Andrew. “How often is she gone from here?”
Andrew rubbed his square chin. “Come to think of it she’s always taking off with that basket of hers on her arm.”
“Sisters Rowena and Hester are always about,” Evan remarked.
“Are they?” Lachlan asked. “We assume Sister Rowena is always in the common room cooking, but we don’t know for sure. And as for Sister Hester, she’s here and about, but if we think on it, how much do we really see her?”
The three men grew silent.
Lachlan spoke first. “I think it would be wise to keep an extra watch on the sisters.”
“What are you thinking?” Andrew asked.
“I’m not sure,” Lachlan admitted. “But something doesn’t seem right. Why wouldn’t Sister Terese want me to go with her? With news of clans battling and confirmation that a band of mercenaries have claimed land here, wouldn’t she be eager for protection?”
Evan offered another explanation. “But Piper knows these woods and could probably get Sister Terese more safely to her destination than you could.”
“That’s true too,” Andrew agreed.
“It’s questionable,” Lachlan said, “therefore we keep an eye on the sisters’ activities. I’ll instruct Boyd to help, no others
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