Ian by Elizabeth Rose Read Free Book Online Page B

“I heard in the pub last night thet the MacGillivrays have been raidin’ the area. Rumor has it they’re stealing sheep and cattle and even rapin’ the lassies they find on the road.”
    “I can take care o’ meself,” she said. “I ken how te fight and I have me bow and arrows as well as me dagger te protect meself.”
    “Kyla, he’s right,” said Onyx. “Ye dinna want te be on the road alone.”
    “Ian can take her back te c amp,” suggested Effie. “She’ll be safe with him along te protect her.”
    Kyla shook her head, trying to signal to Effie that she didn’t want to be alone with him, but before she could relay her message, Ian appeared at the top of the ladder.
    “Did I hear me name mentioned?” he asked.
    Kyla’s eyes fastened to his open leine, displaying not only his strong chest, but all the way down to his taut stomach. His hair was mussed from sleeping, and the stubble on his face made him look ruggedly handsome.
    “Aye, I need ye te take me sister back te camp,” said A idan, standing and brushing off his clothes. “We’re leavin’ right away, and since the MacGillivrays are on the rampage, it’s probably best ye get her back te MacKeefe territory where she’ll be with the rest o’ the clan and safe.”
    “O’ course, I’d be happy te do thet.” Ian looked over and smiled at her just then and she wished he hadn’t. Because his smile was drawing her in, and the thought of traveling alone with him for nearly two days was going to drive her mad.
    “Well, it’s settled then,” said Aidan, walking over and placing a kiss atop her head. “Now ye be a guid lass and mind Ian, and do whate’er he tells ye too, me wee sister.”
    “I’m no a child, Aidan,” she said, pushing his hand from her. “And though I’ll be travelin’ with him, I assure ye I willna be doin’ anythin’ he wants me to, so dinna even think I would.” She stormed over to the ladder, putting her hands on her hips. “Well, move aside,” she told Ian, “and let’s get goin’ already.”
    He moved aside, and as she descended the ladder, she heard her brother from behind her.
    “Whate’er ye’ve done te ruffle her feathers, Ian, jest kiss and make up already or she’ll make yer life hell.”
    “Whate’er ye want, guid friend,” she heard Ian saying. “After all, ye ken I’d do anythin’ fer ye, as Kyla is like a wee sister te me as well.”
    That was all she needed to hear. She was furious now. And if it was the last thing she ever did, she would make sure that by the time they got back to the Highlands, he would never think of her as a little sister again.

    Chapter 7
     
     
    The sun was setting when Ian decided they’d make camp for the night. Kyla had been riding in front of him on his horse, since the clan didn’t have enough horses for everyone to have their own. His wolfhound followed at their side and often led the way, as it instinctively knew they were going home.
    Kyla’s unbound hair had been blowing up into his face, and the scent of sage and lavender drifted from her, telling him she’d been collecting herbs again. She’d turned out to be one of their best healers of the clan.
    She hadn’t spoken much to him the entire day, and he knew that he couldn’t let this go on any longer. He had to try to talk to her and let her know that nothing would ever happen again between them because it just wasn’t right.
    “Kyla, we’re goin’ te stop here fer the night,” he told her.
    “Fine,” she said, hopping off the horse before he had the chance to help her down. They would make it to the MacKeefe camp tomorrow by midday, and he knew once he got there she’d avoid him again, and he’d never have another chance to talk to her about what happened in the stables. “Do ye want me te start the fire or would ye rather I hunt fer somethin’ te eat?” she asked nonchalantly, reaching for her bow and arrows attached to the horse.
    “Neither.” He gave her the reins of the horse