Part 1 (1/2)

The Warrior.

Kinley MacGregor.

Prologue.

It was long after dark when Lochlan MacAllister and his brothers, Braden and Sin, sat with the father of their brother Ewan's new wife. The overhead candles had been doused and the hall was illuminated only by the fire in the large fireplace that rested along the right wall.

Its light played against the banners and weapons that decorated the whitewashed walls, dancing strange shapes all around them while they joked and sampled the food that had been left out before the servants had taken their leave of them.

The happy couple had retired hours ago and no one had seen a single sight of Ewan or Nora since.

Not that they expected to.

Indeed, given Lochlan's knowledge of his brother, he fully expected days would go by before either of them showed themselves again.

It was something that made his heart soar.

He was glad happiness had finally come to his brother. Ewan had needed it.

”I can't believe we got Ewan married off before Lochlan,” Braden said as he picked at a platter of sliced fruit that was set before him. ”We needs be careful, Sin. I think the Second Coming might be upon us. I feel the sudden urge for Confession.”

Sin laughed. ”Perhaps.”

”Have you any more word about the MacKaids?” Nora's father Alexander asked.

Lochlan shook his head. How he wished to find them. And he would. He wouldn't rest until they paid for what they had attempted to do to his family.

”None of my men have found a trace of them,” he said to Alexander. ”Have yours?”

”Nay.”

”That sits ill with me,” Sin said. ”I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of them.”

”Most likely not,” Lochlan concurred.

”So what should we do?” Alexander asked. ”I've notified my cousin what they've done and he has issued an order of execution for them, but until they're caught...”

”There's not much we can do,” Braden said.

Sin finished off his tankard of ale and poured more. ”Sure there is.”

”What?” Braden asked.

”Marry Lochlan off.”

Lochlan shoved playfully at Sin's arm. ”You're drunk.”

”Is he?” a feminine voice asked.

They looked up to see Sin's wife, Caledonia approaching the table.

She moved around the side of the table until she was behind Sin's chair. Looking down at her husband, she gave him a chiding, gentle smile. ”I had a feeling my wayward husband was spending far too much time down here.”

Sin looked a bit sheepish.

”Come, my lord,” she said, taking Sin's hand. ”We have a long journey home tomorrow and I promised my brother Jamie that we would be back in time for his birthday.”

Sin kissed her hand, then rubbed it against his cheek.

Lochlan was amazed by the gesture that was so alien to Sin. It was good to see his brother so well suited with wife.

Sin was another one he had never expected to see happy. It did him good to know life had finally treated his elder brother kindly.

”Good night gentlemen,” Sin said, rising to follow after his wife.

They pa.s.sed Maggie in the entranceway.

Lochlan smiled as she came forward, eyeing the three of them suspiciously. He remembered a time when he had contemplated her death and had wished many vile things upon her.

Now he was glad he had refrained from the urge to kill her.

”Look lively, Braden,” he said to his youngest brother. ”'Tis your turn to have your ears boxed.”

Braden scoffed, ”My sweet Maggie knows better than to box my ear, eh, love?”

There was a saucy sway to her hips as she approached the table. ”It depends on if you've done anything to have them boxed for.”

She smiled sweetly at Alexander and Lochlan. ”Do you mind if I steal him away from you?”

”Not at all,” Alexander said.

Braden got up, swept her up in his arms, and headed for the stairs at an almost dead run.

Lochlan watched them leave, his heart light at his brother's antics. No doubt, Maggie would be gifting him with another niece or nephew soon.

”So,” Alexander said once they were alone. ”Have you any plans to take a bride?”

Lochlan swirled the ale around in his cup as he considered that. In truth, there was no woman in his heart. He doubted if there ever would be. But still, his duty commanded him to take a bride.

There was only so long he could put off that particular responsibility.

”Mayhap one day,” he said quietly.

Alexander arched a brow at him. ”Aren't you a little old now not to be looking?”

Perhaps he was. But Lochlan had too many things that demanded his time and marrying a woman sight unseen wasn't something he relished.