The Highlander's Touch

by D. K. Combs

Problem solved.

  She settled into the bed, nodding to herself. The problem was most definitely solved.

  Saeran gradually fell asleep, and her dreams were the exact opposite of what she’d concluded.

  The problem wasn’t solved in her dreams, because the only thing she saw behind her closed lids was a large, burly man, with a small, blonde woman cradled in his arms, her face lifted to his...ready for a kiss that most certainly happened.

  Waking up was painful, to say the least. Her body was sore, her mind was drained, and she was dreading the whole entire day. To add to that, her body wasn’t only sore, but throbbing with the dreams she’d had of a man she couldn’t bring herself to name, not when she was about to face him.

  She dressed in her manly garb and headed downstairs, stealing an apple. Blaine was never up this early, so she hoped she could ask the laird about the accounts before her sister came down. Her face flamed at the first sight of him coming in from the kitchen doors.

  His chest was bare, sweat dotting his heavily muscled body. Her mouth went dry.

  She hadn’t realized how daunting it would be to approach him as another person, so now, as she came up to him in the kitchen, she had to repeat herself several times to make her voice loud enough for him to hear.

  “What was that?” he asked sharply, shoving an apple into his mouth. He grabbed a cloth off the counter, swiping it over his face and neck, then tossed it aside, taking a crunching bite into the apple.

  “Connor made it aware that you needed someone to work the accounts for you,” she said loudly. The loudness was only because she couldn’t hear herself over her racing heart, she thought, rubbing her chest absently.

  He gave her an arch look, taking another bite. “Ye’ know numbers?”

  She nodded. “Aye. Ever since I was a lad. I know I was taken off the training so—”

  “Start on them tomorrow. Brodrick will review your work and if yer proficient enough, I’ll let ye’ do them.” He took one more bite of the apple then set it on the counter, giving her a brief nod before striding out of the kitchen.

  “Och, where do ye’ think yer going?” a familiar voice called from behind her. She moved out of the way as Brodrick walked in, followed by several red-headed men—the McGregors. Saeran pressed herself so far into the wall that she could have blended in.

  Just like The Lion, the McGregors had an equally renowned name. The McGregor had been the one to train Kane Shaw in battle after his father had died, and together, they’d dominated the Highlands. Besides the Campbells, the Shaws and McGregors were the two most powerful clans in the Highlands, and Saeran was not fool enough to ignore that. She kept her distance, just as she had the whole time they’d been there.

  She’d been lucky so far. Not a single McGregor had spared her a glance. She was sure that if they did, she’d faint dead away at the soulless gaze in their eyes, eyes that promised death to anyone who came near them.

  Much like The Lion’s, when he wasn’t drunk on ale late into the night with a woman in front of him.

  “Fields,” the laird grunted. “Need to work off this...this problem.”

  Brodrick burst into laughter. The McGregor, the laird of the clan, chuckled. “What kind o’ problem are ye’ having, lad? Ye’ look like someone set fire to yer best plaid.”

  “She might as well have,” he growled, glaring at Brodrick when he tossed the unfinished apple to him.

  “‘She’?” The McGregor asked, raising a brow. “Have ye’ finally spoken to Blaine then?”

  Saeran looked between the laird and the red-headed man. He knew of Blaine? She wanted to slap herself at the question. Of course he did. There wasn’t a single person at this castle who didn’t know of Blaine because she made it her job to make herself known.

  “If it’d been Blaine, I wouldn’t be working off a night of no sleep. Nay, it was a bonny lass,” he said, shaking his head. He took a chunk out of the apple, biting right to the core. Saeran flinched, face heating, and pressed as far into the wall as she could.

  He was talking about her.

  Then she frowned.

  What had he meant by that? Saeran had half a mind to ask him, but the McGregor was too busy laughing. Brodrick waved his brows suggestively while taking a loaf of bread. He leaned against the counter, tearing off chunks and tossing them to the other McGregors.

  They were making themselves comfortable right in the kitchen. She mentally slapped herself. Unless Saeran wanted all attention drawn to her, she wouldn’t be able to move from her spot, even though she was in broad daylight. The men would focus on a rat if it scurried by, and Saeran felt like one.

  “Ye’ ken ye’ got to be focusing on Blaine,” Brodrick muttered around a piece of bread. “Although, none of us blame ye’. The woman is a right dragon. Dosna hurt to have a bit o’ fun before it’s too late.”

  Kane rolled his eyes.

  The McGregor spoke up before he could continue his banter with Brodrick. “We’ve all discussed your proposition and found it the most logical. Quick, easy, painful. It’ll hit them hard when they are no’ prepared for it.”

  Kane nodded, obviously pleased. He finished off the apple then set it on the counter. She frowned. What were they talking about?

  “I donna want this bloody. I want it to be a lesson for them, no’ a declaration for more.”

  “Aye. Ye’ do realize that by doing this, though, the Campbells will be drawn into it.”

  “Do I have yer backing?” Kane asked, sounding like he already knew the answer.

  The McGregor grunted. “Ye’ ken ye' do, Kane. I’d no’ leave my favorite Shaw to go against the sorry bastards, although I’m sure ye’ could take them by yerself.”

  Kane laughed. The sound was low, deadly, chilling. Not close to anything she’d heard from him the night before. Saeran wrapped her arms around her chest, watching him intently. Not a single sign of playfullness.

  “If this gets to out of hand, I may just take it upon myself to show him how a battle is actually fought.”

  “Aye, well, I want to be there for it,” The McGregor said, nodding his head. “Our men are packed and the ride will take us a sennight, so we’ll be off now. If anything happens, ye’ ken to send for me.”

  Kane raised a brow. “Are ye’ doubting my skills, brother?”

  The McGregor laughed ruefully. “I trained ye’, didn’t I? To doubt ye’ would be to doubt myself, and I’m much too arrogant for that.”

  “Not so much arrogant as old,” Kane said, laughing when The McGregor slapped him on the back with extra force.

  “Keep yer jabs to yerself, lad. I’m no’ too old that I canna kick yer ass to Sunday and back.”

  They said their goodbyes, with more jokes from Kane, and then the McGregors were gone, leaving only Kane, Saeran, and Brodrick. That had happened so fast it was like they hadn’t even been there, she thought, looking around the room. But that was the way of Highlanders. Quick and to the point. No need to draw it out when what needed to be said, was said.

  “Going to miss ye’ in the mornings,” Brodrick said, jerking her back to reality. She froze, staring at him.

  “Me?” she asked, pointing at herself.

  He laughed, nodding. “Yer so amusing to watch, lad. The way you throw things about. It’s like watching a—”

  “Saeran!”

  All three of them made a sound of displeasure as Blaine’s furious voice echoed through the halls.

  “Saeran, where are you!”

  “I think yer on yer own,” Brodrick said, nodding his head to Kane. “I have men to train.” He was out the door before he’d finished his sentence.

  “I do not enjoy searching for you, Saeran!” her sister continued loudly, a warning. Saeran’s lips pressed. Obviously her outburst hadn’t done a single thing.

  “If she’s looking for ye’, I think I left my horse on fire,” Kane said, completely serious. She stared at him with a dropped jaw.

  “You cannot just run away from her,”
she hissed as her sister’s steps came closer.

  “If my horse is on fire, I sure as hell can run away. Who else will water it?” he growled, pushing away from the counter. He stalked to the door, just as Blaine stepped into the kitchen.

  She stopped, then stared. Kane froze in his tracks, like he knew he’d been caught. Which he had. Saeran felt a small moment of triumph when Blaine’s eyes zeroed in on him.

  “My lord!” Blaine said brightly, running up to him. The dirty look she cast Saeran only lasted a moment. “How did your morning fare?”

  Saeran watched as her sister curtsied. Kane only stared—at the space beside Blaine’s head. She frowned. How utterly rude! And he thought that “Alice” was going to show up for a conversation with him when he couldn’t carry out on his part of the bargain? No way, no how. She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “It fared quite well, my lady.” He looked at the door, not a single ounce of interest in his voice for Blaine.

  “The cook will be preparing mutton for supper.” Blaine was trying to draw his attention back to her, and it obviously wasn’t working. Saeran was getting angrier by the second. He’d lied to her! He thought “Alice” wouldn’t know he wasn’t doing his part of the deal, so he could get away with it. “Would you sit with me tonight?”

  Saeran fully expected Kane to either shrug or walk away, but instead he stopped, looking down at Blaine.

  “Well?” Blaine asked, peering up at him. She looked lovely today. The sanguine red of her gown set off the deep, black-as-night color of her hair. Her eyes were fringed with coal and her lips were as red as her dress.

  Saeran waited with baited breath. If he said no, she’d be off the hook. She wouldn’t have to see him as herself. If he said yes, she would, and then Blaine would have her time with the laird. She wanted him to say no—for more reasons than she was willing to admit.

  “Aye,” he said after a moment. “Tonight.”

  Without another word, he nodded and then strode out of the door, into the blinding light of the morning sun. Blaine rounded on her with a wide, happy grin.

  Saeran didn’t return it.

  She was still angry over last night and what had happened between the two of them. She’d helped her sister with the laird only because that was what needed to happen. She didn’t plan on giving into her sister so easily.

  Saeran turned away from Blaine, walking out of the same door the laird had. She only had a little bit of time before midday. The stables needed cleaning, as well as the horses.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Blaine asked from behind her. Saeran sighed, ignoring her sister. “I asked you a question, Saeran! Where are you going?”

  Blaine ran so that she was in front of her. Saeran stared at her, lips pressed.

  Her sister frowned. “What is your problem?”

  “Are you serious?” Saeran asked quietly, angrily.

  “Yes,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I am. You didn’t even say good morning to me before you came down for breakfast.” Her eyes narrowed into slits. “Are you truly still upset from last night?”

  Saeran shook her head, laughing ruefully. “I have duties to attend to, Blaine.”

  “You cannot just walk away from me like this!” Blaine said, astounded as Saeran did exactly that.

  “Aye,” she said emotionlessly, striding away from her. The stables were her haven. Blaine was too posh to come to the dirty grounds, so when she was close enough to smell the tell-tale scent that clung to the stables, she knew her sister would leave her alone, at least for a little while.

  She set to work, her chest hurting and her head pounding. There was too much for her to worry about, she thought as she brushed down the horses. When her mare moved uneasily under her hands, she realized her movements were angry and rushed. She slowed, leaning her forehead against the mare’s neck.

  “Why is everything so complicated?” she whispered, lifting her head and brushing at her mane slowly. “Everything is falling down around me.”

  The horse neighed like it felt her pain.

  “Did you know,” she said softly, “that I have an ally now? Connor, the laird’s squire. It’s strange, isn’t it, after how angry he was with me. It’s like God is trying to balance my life. Now that Connor knows, Blaine and I are not getting along at all. Though I fear it’s all my fault.”

  “How is that?”

  She whirled around at the sound of Connor’s voice, putting a hand over her heart.

  “You scared me,” she whispered fiercely, rubbing her mare’s nose before moving to the next one.

  He laughed, grabbing a brush. “You scared me, my lady. This is the second time I’ve walked upon you talking to yourself.”

  She sniffed indignantly, gesturing to the mar with a wave of her brush. “I was not talking to myself. She happens to be a very good listener, more than I can say for my sister.”

  Connor grimaced sympathetically, taking the horse adjacent to her. “Do you mind if I ask what happened between the two of you? All you’ve done is serve her every need. I can’t imagine what would make her angry with you,” he said, the bitterness barely veiled. She wrinkled her nose.

  “It wasn’t something she did,” she admitted, feeling herself blush when he looked at her sharply. “I...You notice how she is.”

  “Everyone here does,” he said, laughing when she made a rough sound. “Did you really, finally stick up for yourself?”

  “What might you mean by that?” she asked, leaning over the horses back to glare at him.

  He gave her a point-blank stare. Saeran sighed, dropping her glare. She knew what he was talking about. Blaine had everyone she knew wrapped around her finger, whether they hated or loved her. She had the kind of personality that wouldn’t be denied, and since Saeran was her younger sister, she’d learned to get over it.

  If Blaine wanted something, she’d take it and use other people to get it. Saeran had been one of her main scapegoats throughout life, and she hated herself for only realizing it now. Blaine was her sister, her blood. She’d never do anything to hurt Saeran. That was the only reason she’d let her sister rule her life so strictly.

  Even now, with what she was doing with the laird, it was for Blaine. So Blaine could have the romance, so Blaine could have the power, so Blaine could have the opportunity Saeran would never be able to.

  A husband. Love. Children.

  Blaine was going to get all of it, and even though Saeran realized that and hated it out of pure jealousy, she was helping her sister.

  She guessed that it made up for her nasty thoughts toward her sister. She shouldn’t be jealous of Blaine for something she had no part in. Saeran’s barrenness was God’s way of telling her that she wasn’t suited for married life or children. It was almost as though God was shoving Blaine in her face with everything Saeran was being forced to do for her.

  “I suppose I finally said ‘no’,” she murmured, her anger subdued completely. She had no reason to be angry at Blaine. She couldn’t help that her sister had led a pampered life, that she was who she was. Blaine couldn’t help herself more than Saeran could make herself hate books. Change in a person wasn’t as simple as it appeared.

  “You do not sound too happy about that,” Connor said, finishing up the horse he’d been on and moving to the next. She shrugged, following suit.

  “I think I was wrong in—”

  Connor came to her stall and grabbed her by the shoulder so quickly she didn’t realize what was happening until it was over with.

  “Don’t you dare say that,” he warned, shaking her gently. His voice was fiercer than his hold. “We’ve all seen the way she treats you. It’s good that you took a stand for yourself—so do not think otherwise. She has to get it through her thick, pampered skull that you were not built for her pleasure. You’re a human with feelings, just like the rest of us. How can you justify the way she treats you?!”

  She pulled back from the violence of his conviction.
<
br />   “She’s my sister,” Saeran said quietly. “My first loyalty is to her.”

  “No,” he snapped, pulling away from her and pushing a hand through his hair. “Your first loyalty is to yourself. My lady, I am the youngest of seven older brothers and five older sisters. Do you think I survived them because I did everything they asked of me and listened to them berate me on every single thing I do?”

  She stared at him.

  “I put them in their place as much as they put me in mine,” he told her, point a finger in her face. “I never—not once—let my siblings walk on me as much as you’ve let Blaine. When was the last time the two of you spoke about you?”

  Saeran worried her lip.

  “I do not see how that—”

  “Answer the question, my lady,” he snapped.

  She looked at her lap, sighing. “If I must be honest...I cannot remember.”

  “Exactly. Blaine is not a true sister if she can’t get out of her own head long enough to talk about your day, or how much it pains you to be beat on in the training field, or how much it hurts your back to clean out the stalls. You never had to do any of this before, correct?”

  She nodded slightly.

  Connor sighed and shook his head angrily. “Does she not think this hasn’t been hard on you, as well? God, I could take a pitch fork and shove it up her—”

  “Connor,” she said, cutting him off. She put a comforting hand on his elbow. “It’s fine. Truly—”

  “How can you say that?!” he raged, pulling away from her. “She has you so brainwashed that you don’t even realize how much of a problem this is! Does she ever compliment you? Ever?”

  “Now that does not have anything to do with what we are discussing—”

  “Tell me, Saeran,” he demanded. The hard edge he put to her name made her eyes close with acceptance. Connor was dead set on proving whatever point he felt he had to make.

  “There is not much to compliment me about,” she said, sighing. “If you do not notice, I am dressed in trews and covered in horse manure.”

  He gave her a flat glare.

  “When you are dressed as a proper lady. What does she say to you?”