Caelen's Wife: Book One - A Murmur of Providence (Clan McDunnah Series 1) by Suzan Tisdale Read Free Book Online Page B

“Gird yer loins, lad,” he whispered to Caelen. “The Devil approaches disguised as a woman.”
    Caelen acted as though he hadn’t heard the man’s warning.
    Kenneth shivered. “Is it me, or has the air gone quite cold?”
    “Shut up, Kenneth,” Caelen told him.
    Kenneth glanced at his chief, studied him closely for a moment and grimaced before turning his attention back to the riders.

    F iona , her brothers and her men approached the encampment slowly, as if they were simply out for a quiet ride and had not a care in the world. Outward appearances could oft be deceiving. Her face, what of it that could be seen, held no sign of the fury she truly felt.
    Pulling her horse and men to a halt at the edge of Caelen McDunnah’s encampment, Fiona gave a quick scan of the area for signs of men hidden in the scattered trees. It appeared as though these were nothing more than men on a hunt. She refused to let her guard down for it had appeared days ago that Caelen McDunnah meant neither her nor her people any harm. Last night’s raid told a different story.
    A quick head count put the McDunnah numbers at nine. Fiona had thirteen men with her. Though they might not be as skilled or battle-honed as the McDunnah men, they would be able to hold their own if necessary.
    In truth, she did not want a war with the McDunnahs. After living in peace for more than one hundred years, she didn’t want to be the one who led her people to trouble or war. However, she was not about to cower in fear. She would defend her people and their land if she had to.
    “McDunnah,” she greeted him before she and her men dismounted. As always, they fell in around her.
    Caelen stepped forward, smiled, and bowed. “Me Lady,” he said.
    She found the bow and his greeting quite odd, for any other chief would have extended his arm to her as if she were a man. The bow she surmised was meant to disarm her senses. It worked, albeit for a fleeting moment. She pushed the tickling sensation that fluttered in her stomach aside and decided to ignore the fact he called her Me Lady.
    “What brings ye to McDunnah lands this day?” Caelen asked.
    Fiona watched as the man she remembered as Kenneth fell in beside his chief. She made a mental note to keep a close eye on that one. There was something about the man … she couldn’t quite put her finger to it, but she didn’t quite trust him.
    Never one to tip-toe around an issue, Fiona went straight to the point. “When last I saw ye, Caelen, I thought we had an understandin’.”
    Caelen cocked his head slightly, his brow furrowed, but said nothing.
    Although his confusion looked genuine, Fiona was far too angry to believe he had no idea to what she was referring. “I told ye and yer men to stay off me lands, McDunnah.”
    Caelen righted himself, crossed his arms over his chest and spread his feet apart. “Neither I nor me men have been on yer lands.”
    “Then have ye taken to usin’ yer women and bairns to reive?” she asked bluntly.
    Fury flickered briefly behind his dark brown eyes. He glowered down at her, little wrinkles forming around his eyes. Were she not so bloody angry with him, she might have found him quite attractive. Nay, not even she believed that lie. She did find him exceedingly handsome, even whilst glowering down at her.
    “I told ye before and I tell ye again. We’ve no’ reived any sheep from ye. And I thank ye kindly to keep yer insults to a minimum.”
    Fiona tilted her head ever so slightly and took another step forward. “Last night, at least ten of yer men came onto meland and stole twenty-five more sheep. One of them left a message fer me. ”
    “A message?” Caelen asked.
    “Aye,” Fiona answered before recounting what she’d been told. “Caelen McDunnah sends his regards. ” She let him think on it for a moment. “Be it possible that ye have men raidin’ that yer no’ aware of?” She’d only asked that question because Brodie had made her promise to at least