The Legend Mackinnon by Donna Kauffman Read Free Book Online Page A

thought, coming abruptly to his senses. He should be backing away. She drew him in, made him feel a warmth the likes of which he had not felt in three hundred years. Nay, perhaps ever. And yet it was precisely that she so easily drew him in that alarmed him the most. With more control than he’d expected to be able to drum up, he let her go, stepping away from her as further insurance.
    “If yer as smart as that mouth of yours, Maggie, you will be well warned to stay away from me.”
    He took the loss of her smile as if it were a physical injury to him. That the look of hurt and confusion was quickly masked only made him feel worse. She had pride, that one did. And he was hard-pressed, despite their twined history, to do anything but admire her for it. “Yer pride will stand you in good stead, where I canno’.” He braced his feet and crossed his arms as if needing a shield. “Take yourself off with Lachlan’s journals and learn something of your ancestors. Perhaps there you will learn why I warn ye awa’.”
    He waited for her rebuttal. When she did not deliver one he realized just how badly he’d wanted to be challenged to change his mind. After a long quiet look, she turned and walked back to the trunk, retrieving a batch of Lachlan’s leather volumes.
    “Maggie.”
    She paused, then finally looked at him, her brow raised in a silent question.
    “Where do ye want the trunk?”
    “I can handle—”
    “Where do ye want it?” he demanded, somewhat moreforcefully than he’d intended. Och, but she tried him in ways he didna ken and perhaps would be wise not to.
    “The loft,” she answered evenly. “But don’t think you can blink it away and make amends for your rude behavior.”
    “I’ve been pompous and distant, now rude, have I? Those are the least of the names ye’d have called me if I’d continued.”
    “You’re taking an awful lot for granted where I’m concerned, Duncan MacKinnon. I can make up my own mind on what I want and don’t want.”
    “As can I, Maggie, as can I. Like as no’ it will be another sin I’ll be paying for, but less of one against you.”
    “What are you talking about? We’re both adults. Why can’t we do whatever the hell we want to if we both agree to it?”
    “I’ll no’ listen to yer swearing and carryings on. If I say we are done wi’ it, we are done wi’ it. Now move out of my way.”
    She merely glared at him and folded her arms. “You’re scared aren’t you? You were actually feeling something there and it scared you, didn’t it?”
    Duncan decided to ignore her. She’d live longer if he did. He bent to lift the trunk. With a groan he hoisted the unwieldy thing and began a labored walk to the stairs. He prayed he did not disgrace himself by tripping on them.
    She walked behind him. “Why are you doing this?”
    He had no breath to answer.
    After several more strong opinions regarding his stubbornness, she ran past him and called out instructions, guiding him up the warped stairs and around the rotted boards. She then held the door for him as he maneuvered himself and the trunk inside. He lowered the thing beside the base of the ladder in a dust-raising thud.
    “Couldn’t you have just, you know, blinked it in here?”
    He straightened and looked at her. “Aye,” he said, gathering his breath.
    “Then why—”
    “Because I have only thirty-one mortal days a year and I wanted to use my God-given strength where I could.” He gave her a pointed look, but as usual, she did not heed his warning.
    “Then you are mortal?”
    “As much as a soul in purgatory can be.”
    “Purgatory? Why? Penance for Mairi’s death? Surely you don’t bear the guilt of her choice.”
    “It is not I who makes the choice of purgatory, but Them who do. I merely exist in it, to feel guilt or no’.”
    “Them? Who are
They?
”
    “
They
control the passage of souls.” He sighed, not sure if this was a wise discussion. But her curiosity was fired up. He could see it