Wicked Laird (Brethren of Stone 2)

“I beg your pardon?” She turned fully toward him. “Why would ye think that?”

“That you’d make a fine Sinclair? Ye don’t seem flummoxed at all by our rather boisterous personalities.” He gave a wink as he rocked on the balls of his feet.

“No, I mean, why would ye think I’d become a Sinclair?” Her heart raced in her chest as she waited for his answer.

He quirked a brow. “I ken my brother is a good man, but ye don’t go through the trouble he is unless yer in love.”

“I…” the words died on her lips. He had called her love. “I don’t belong with a man like yer brother. I’m just a common girl from the village.”

“Say what ye want about the Sinclairs, we don’t give a pig’s fart about any of that. It’s the quality of character we’re concerned with.” He winked then. “Speaking of, Stone says that if my brother compromises ye and ye want to force the issue, I’m to defend yer honor. I’ll have to insist he weds ye and if he doesnae, challenge him to a duel. On the bright side, if he loses, I’ll get to keep his land.”

Elle stared at him. “Yer not serious?”

“About defending yer honor, most definitely. But yer right, I suppose. I’ll just wound him so he can still marry ye. I suppose killing him will defeat the purpose. And I’ll become a laird on my own. We Sinclairs will own the entire coast before we’re done.” Then he walked away whistling.

Elle titled her head. Both Stone and Blair had a seriousness about them like a winter storm. Not that she minded. Will, however, was like a sunny summer day. How funny.

Had he been joking about Blair’s feelings?

While he didn’t seem to take much seriously, he also didn’t appear to be jesting.

Tacking into the harbor, Elle had thought she might feel a sense of foreboding arriving here that wasn’t the case at all. Rather, a happiness made her light. This was her home.

She knew that she wouldn’t move south. She’d stay here. Whatever that meant for the future, she’d face it. She was a Highlander.

The ship anchored and a dingy was loaded up to head to the shore. Tomorrow, they’d begin recruiting.

But tonight, they were just situating their living quarters.

She honestly didn’t have much at Blair’s cottage. Only a few items she hadn’t packed to take south. A few trinkets and keepsakes that Ailean had brought form her uncles.

But she’d like to have them. And while Blair could likely fetch them, she wanted to go with him. Elle wasn’t sure if she didn’t want to be alone or she just liked being in his company but she didn’t want to stay on the boat while he was gone.

Blair waved her over once they were ready to depart. He easily lifted her in his arms and then climbed into the dinghy.

It soothed her rattled nerves to feel his arms about her. He’d been angry about something but not enough that he wouldn’t still protect her, help her. “Thank ye, for lifting me,” she wrapped her arms about his neck.

“I’d imagine ye donnae have yer sea legs yet.” He answered, though he didn’t look at her.

“Blair,” she whispered. Two other sailors were in the dinghy with them. “What’s wrong?”

His mouth turned down. “Nothing. At least nothing with ye. It’s me that has the problem.”

She needed to ask what that meant but she couldn’t do it now as Will also stepped into the little boat.

They didn’t talk any further as he set her down on the seat next to him. She couldn’t seem to help herself, despite her lecture about only being his employee, about her feelings being that of gratitude—she was lying to him and herself.

In this moment, as they touched land and might see Malcolm McKenzie, she knew she wouldn’t stray from Blair’s side.

They crested the last rise before the cottage and Elle sighed with relief when they found it still standing. Though she had only stayed there a few days, she loved this place.

But as they approached down the path to the front door, it stood wide open. Sick dread made her clutch her stomach. “Oh no,” she breathed.

Blair let out a low growling rumble as he charged through the door. “Hell and damnation,” he cursed as he stepped inside.

Elle came in behind him and gasped. The place had been ransacked.

“Back outside,” he barked as he pulled two pistols from his belt.