The Highlander's Secret(24)

The men beside him whispered among themselves as Conrad’s lip curled up into a smile.

“What do ye think about that, Jain? I could take ye right here and now. Then ye could see exactly what ye’re giving up. I’ll make it so good that when we’re finished ye’ll be begging me to spread yer legs.”

Without thinking, she reached down and grabbed the bucket at her feet.

“Dinnae touch me.”





Chapter Eleven


Alan tied another bundle of thatch and was leaning down to position it in place when Rodrick touched him on the shoulder. He glanced up, confused, but then Rodrick pointed to the what was taking place out on the grass, and Alan felt his blood run cold. Jain was in a heated argument with Conrad by the wash line with her hands clenched around a bucket of suds.

That wasn’t good.

They were so far away he couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but Alan knew he had to get to her before things escalated. Jain was trembling with rage and he could see her fiery temper was about to get the best of her. That was a problem in itself, but unleashing that on Conrad was outright dangerous. Alan sprang into action and tossed the pieces of thatch aside, practically throwing himself down the ladder in his urgency to get to her.

He had to get between them somehow.

The wooden rungs bowed beneath his weight, and with each step, Alan could feel his anger rising.

When his feet touched the ground, Alan grabbed the pitchfork on the side of the house and came storming across the lawn. He was halfway there when to his horror Jain launched the bucket of soap water straight into Conrad’s face.

It happened so fast, Alan wasn’t sure if he imagined it. The soap and water went flying everywhere and Conrad was positively drenched from head to foot looking murderous. His clothes were soaking wet, and his black hair dripped down across his shoulders. Rage built up inside him, knowing the imminent threat Jain had put herself in by insulting Conrad in that manner.

How could she have been so foolish to put herself in danger like that? Couldn’t she see that Conrad was not only a seasoned warrior, but twice as big as her? He could snap her in half if he wanted to. All it would take was a moment of rage and she’d be done for.

Alan was at her side in a flash and stepped in front of her defensively. He angled himself between them, with the pitchfork in his hand as his only weapon. Murray and Scott were on either side of Conrad, looking just as furious.

“Ugh! Ye filthy wench,” Conrad growled. “Just wait till I catch ye. Out of my way, blacksmith!”

“Ye must have lost yer head if ye think I’m going to let ye put a hand on her.”

Alan braced himself for a fit of rage when Conrad turned to him and sneered, pure hatred blazing in his eyes. Conrad’s face was red, his expression strained, and a purple vein bulged at the base of his neck.

Scott had already drawn his weapon and it looked like they were about to strike when the sound of horses riding up across the hill interrupted them. Everyone turned at the sound, which brought an immediate end to the confrontation. Eamon was galloping towards them at full speed, his faithful Angus charging over grass and rock.

He dismounted upon arrival and came up to them with Angus’s reins held tightly in his hand. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

Still red in the face and dripping wet, Conrad took one look at Jain’s father and gritted his teeth. Neither Scott or Murray said anything, but hastily resheathed their weapons and fell in line behind Conrad. Alan stood his ground with the pitchfork in his hand and waited until Conrad backed off before lowering it to the grass.

“Nothing,” Conrad growled, casting a final glare towards Jain and her companions. “We were just leaving.”

The warriors turned to leave and went up the hill back towards the village. Alan watched as they walked away from them, until it seemed like the danger passed. As soon as they were gone Eamon spoke, “Jain, what exactly is going on here?”

“Da, he disrespected me. The things he said—”

“I dinnae care what he, or any other man says to ye, ye’ve got to keep yer head. It’s more important than words, it’s about yer safety.”

“But—”

“Nae excuses, Jain! It cannae happen, do ye understand?”

Alan saw that her cheeks were flushed with rage, but he agreed with Eamon completely. Before he could ask what Conrad said to her, Jain turned and ran off in the other direction. Eamon threw his hands up in the air and called out after her, “Jain!”

When she didn’t stop, he said, “Alan, go after her, would ye?”

Alan was already running before Eamon could get the words out. He would have followed after her even if Eamon hadn’t asked; the fear of Jain getting hurt overshadowed everything else. His legs carried him as fast as he could go and he caught up to her on the edge of the forest. Jain was panting from the exertion when she turned to him. “Alan…”

“Have ye lost yer mind?” he spat. “Conrad could have hurt ye. What were ye thinking?”

“Ye dinnae understand—”

“No, ye dinnae understand!” he argued. “Yer da is right. It dinnae matter what Conrad said to ye, ye cannae insult him like that – or anyone else fer that matter. I’ll listen to what ye have to say, but ye’ve got to hear me out first.”