Read Online The Highlander's Folly (The Novels of Loch Moigh Book 3) by Barbara Longley - Free Book Online

assaulted Hunter’s senses. “There are none here who are capable of sorcery, as well you ken. I speak naught but the truth.”
    “Nay?” Cecil’s pacing came to a sudden halt, and his suspicious glare fixed upon Meghan. Distrust and malice cloaked him in a thick cloud. “What do you ken about that lass in truth?” He pointed an accusing finger at her. “Mayhap she’s fae and wishes to steal our souls whilst we sleep.”
    “I’m not!” Meghan cried, jumping to her feet. “I told you. I was just minding my own business when Hunter popped out of that tent and grabbed me. Everything that has happened today has been totally against my will.” She sucked in a breath. “Besides, why would I want to steal anybody’s soul? Not that I could,” she muttered. “Because I can’t.”
    “Why, to make it all the easier to take our gold and silver, of course.” Cecil’s hands fisted at his sides. “ ’Tis naught but sorcery, and I will no’ consort with the fae.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he ranted and paced. “Heresy, I tell you!” he shouted, pointing at Meghan again. “I say we bind her and leave her here in the wood. Let her own kind take her back. We dinna want her with us.” He stopped and drew his sword. “Be gone, witch, and may God have mercy upon your black soul.”
    “First she’s fae and now she’s a witch? Here now, Cecil, you’re spewing nonsense.” Tieren was the next to rise to his feet. He shoved Meghan behind him. “Have you lost your wits?”
    “Humph. She has already bewitched you, sir.” Cecil waved his sword in front of him. “Do ye no’ see it is so?”
    “Enough.” Hunter got up and relieved Cecil of his claymore. “Be reasonable. Sit down. Once you’ve filled your belly with a hot meal, things will look better.”
    “Once she is gone from us, things will look better.” Cecil glared. “ You brought her into our midst. You must force her away.”
    “I will do no such thing.” He caught Gregory’s frantic movements from the corner of his eye. “Och, cease with crossing yourself, Gregory. ’Tis causing my head to pound worse than it already does.” He stuck the point of Cecil’s sword into the dirt. Massaging his temples, he tried once more to restore reason. “By all that is holy, I swear to you—neither I nor Meghan had aught to do with what happened this day, and for the last time, she is no’ fae.” He sent a pointed look around the circle of men. “She’s Irish.”
    Strangled hysteria-tinged laughter broke free from Meghan. He quelled it with a stern look. “ ’Tis true, is it no’, lass?”
    “It’s true. Not even a little bit faerie.” She crossed her heart and held up her hand in some sort of salute. “Scout’s honor. I’m one hundred percent Irish.”
    “ ’Tis just as bad,” Cecil cried, but once again he took his place by the fire. “Were it no’ for the fact that I’ve lived in close quarters with you for nigh on four years, Hunter, I would take my leave anon. ’Tis true you have never led me false in the past. For that alone, I have no reason to doubt things went just as you say they did.” He cast Meghan a dark glance. “Still—”
    “You have my word, Cecil. Let us sup together and say no more about bewitchings and such.” Hunter handed him back his sword and settled himself once again. “Smells good, lads. Do we have any wine left?”
    “Aye.” Allain rushed to do his bidding. “I’ll fetch it from the wagon.”
    His heart and temples pounding, Hunter did his best to behave as if all were well, even though he now had a new worry. He signed to Tieren, “We must guard Meghan carefully this night. I sense Cecil’s hatred and fear. I worry he might try to slit her throat as we sleep.”
    “Done,” Tieren signed back.
    “I will no’ have it.” Cecil leaped back up and launched into a fresh complaint. “I like it no’ when you two speak with your hands. You share secrets.” He narrowed his eyes at them. “Do