The Wedding by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online

flying every which way, mud splattering everywhere, clutching her piglet in her arms as she screamed over and over again for her papa to come and save her.
    The sight that befell her parents was horrifying. Their sweet little angel was covered with mud and running around like a hen without her head.
    Everyone started running at the same time. Papa didn’t rescue her, for he had neither the speed nor the stride; the giant who had smiled at her did. And just in the nick of time.
    The mama’s snout tripped her, and just as Brenna was being pitched to the ground, she felt herself being lifted high into the air. She squeezed her eyes shut, remembered to stop screaming, and then looked around again. She was still in his arms, yet on the opposite side of the fence a fair distance away from the pen. She couldn’t imagine how he’d been able to jump over the obstacle.
    Chaos surrounded them. Everyone was running toward her. Her papa was the last one to reach the fence. He was still panting when she heard him ask his company if they knew what had caused the animal to attack his dear little Faith.
    Brenna wasn’t offended. Papa was always getting their names confused. He’d remember by nightfall though, and from the look in his eyes, she knew what would happen then. She’d spend a good hour sitting on his knobby knees while he scolded her. She didn’t even want to think about what her punishment would be if he discovered what she had hidden in her skirts. She fervently hoped he never found out.
    She knew her savior could feel her pet wiggling between them, and she finally gathered enough courage to look up at him to see what he was going to do about it. He looked surprised, and when the piglet let out another squeal, he smiled.
    She was so happy he wasn’t angry, she smiled back before she could remember to be shy.
    One of his friends stepped closer to the fence. “Connor, is everything all right?” He turned to answer. Brenna stopped him by putting her hand on the side of his face and nudging him back to her again. She whispered her plea then. He must not have heard her, because he leaned down closer until their foreheads were almost touching.
    â€œDon’t tell.”
    The giant suddenly threw his head back and roared with laughter. She told him to hush, but that only made him laugh all the more. He didn’t tell on her, though, and once he’d put her back down, she was able to run past her papa before he could grab hold of her.
    â€œCome back here, Brenna.”
    She pretended she didn’t hear him and continued on. It wasn’t until she was safely hidden under the kitchen table, with her new baby sleeping in her lap, that she realized she’d forgotten to ask the man to marry her. She wasn’t discouraged. She would ask him tomorrow, and if he told her no, she would come up with another plan. One way or another, she meant to catch him and save her papa the trouble.

Chapter 2
    Scotland , 1119
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    H e wore war paint to his wedding.
    Connor MacAlister’s mood was just as grim as the dark blue paint smeared across his face and arms. The laird wasn’t happy about the duty he’d taken on, but he was an honorable man, and he would do whatever was required to gain justice.
    Connor had vengeance on his mind and in his heart; though, in truth, he didn’t think he was unusual. Every Highlander worth his sword was vengeful. It was simply the way things were.
    Five soldiers rode with their laird. The men were also finely turned out for battle, but their collective mood was much lighter, because none of them was going to be saddled with an English bride for the rest of his days.
    Quinlan, the first-in-command, rode beside his laird. The warrior was almost Connor’s equal in height, but he wasn’t quite as muscular through his shoulders, upper arms, and thighs and, therefore, didn’t measure up to Connor’s strength. That wasn’t the reason