Forgiving Hearts: Duncurra 1-3 by Ceci Giltenan Read Free Book Online Page A

mustn’t tell anyone, but ye should be warned because once we get to Duncurra, ye are bound to notice,” said Fingal, glancing around as if checking for eavesdroppers. “Turcuil is a changling.”
    Confused, Katherine cocked her head to one side.
    “Oh, aye, he is,” Niall said dryly.
    Deciding to play along, she asked, “What, pray tell, does he change into?”
    “A lovesick swain,” answered Niall, and the men chuckled.
    “Ye see,” Fingal explained, “Turcuil is rather fond of Edna, who is in charge of the staff at the keep. Edna is a widow and most of us think she has a soft spot for Turcuil, too, although it’s hard to know why.” This elicited more chuckles. “The problem is whenever Turcuil is near Edna, he forgets how to form words, so he has never actually done more than grunt at her. It is no wonder she doesn’t know of his affection.”
    The other men roared with laughter.
    Katherine suspected the huge man could put the fear of God into anyone, but when she glanced at him, he blushed like a maid.
    “Since I am going by age, I have to tell ye about Keith and Keavy together.”
    “They are the same age?” Katherine asked, glancing at the two men. Keith had pale blond hair and was shorter and slighter than the other guardsmen. He laughed a lot and looked youthful. But tall and stocky with shaggy brown hair, Keavy appeared quiet, almost sullen.
    “I guess technically Keith is older by a few minutes. They are twins, though ye have probably noticed they are not identical. They are, in fact, as different as the night is from the day, but they are as close as two brothers could possibly be.”
    “That they are,” said Alan. “If Keith eats too much, Keavy gets the indigestion.”
    The men laughed but Fingal interjected, “Alan must have cleaned that joke up out of respect for ye, Lady Katherine. As I recall, it is normally a much bawdier comment.”
    The men laughed harder.
    When the laughter died, Fingal went on, “Now we come to Rab.” Fingal indicated a tall slender man with a head of shocking red hair. “Most people refer to him as ‘Rab the Red.’ I trust I don’t have to explain why; that isn’t a fire burning on his head.”
    Rab grinned and ruffled his own hair. “Fingal, ye know it makes me a fierce warrior.”
    “It only makes ye easy to see from a distance,” Fingal countered to the amusement of the other men. “And finally, ye have me, the more charming and handsome of the MacIan brothers.”
    “Brothers?” said Katherine.
    “Brothers,” answered Niall. “And the one who is going to die young if he doesn’t watch himself,” he added. Although he appeared to be teasing, Katherine thought she heard a serious undertone that surprised her.
    Niall rose, offering his hand to her. “Now that ye have been properly introduced, I think it is time ye rested. We have another long day ahead of us.”
    Somewhat reluctantly, Katherine kissed Tomas’ cheek and slid his head off her lap before taking Niall’s hand. Moving away from the rest of the men, she lay down with him on a plaid. He wrapped it around them and she fell asleep within the safety of his arms, thinking she could get very used to this.

Chapter 4
    Their third day of travel went much the same as the first. Niall changed the dressing on Katherine’s back again before they left. The lacerations still looked very angry. He knew no matter how he tried to cushion her as they rode, the constant motion was irritating them. Then, late in the afternoon, the skies grew dark and a wind whipped up, signaling a brewing summer storm. Well into the Highlands now, Niall knew they really must have shelter this evening.
    If he pushed their pace once again, they might be able to reach the protection of some caves he knew of. As much as he hated to do it, he reasoned sleeping in the rain would be considerably worse on Katherine than a couple of hours of hard riding. Niall wrapped his plaid around her as the storm hit, but it didn’t