April Holthaus - The MacKinnon Clan 01 by The Honor of a Highlander

out here alone? Ye should have a guard wit ye. I can no’ protect ye if ye go out alone. It’s no’ safe.”
    “I dinna need a guard, I told ye that before. This is my home. I will no’ cower away like a scared child.”
    “Ugh, woman. Are ye daft? There are English out there who have nay issues wit killing a lass. I am trying to keep ye safe, my lady,” he said waving his hands in the air.
    Annella looked at him with frustration and put her hands on her hips. She did not like being treated as a child. She understood his concern but did not appreciate that he underestimated her ability. She would not willingly go into hiding and let Rory fight her battles. Let the English come. She had hoped that even Laird Stewart would show his face so she could have the pleasure in killing the man herself…slowly.
    “I will no’ discuss this any further, my laird,” she said and walked past him back into the church.
    “It’s Rory.” Stubborn lass .
     
     
    Throughout the day, Annella kept herself busy to avoid Rory. She even tried to avoid eye contact with him from across the table in the great hall. Rory, Ewan, Colin and Alastair were sitting around the table discussing the further actions that needed to be taken to fix the castle. It would need to be completely repaired as in its current condition, it was not livable. They were speaking very cryptic and she had a hard time following what they were saying.
    Annella watched as Lady Kenna entered the room with a jug of whiskey to fill their cups.  Annella noticed that she looked nervous at first but when she looked over to Annella, she smiled. Wondering what was going on, she turned her attention back to the men.
    “What did I miss?” Annella asked Rory.
    Rory raised an eyebrow at her and gave her an inquisitive look. 
    “I can see it in yer eyes and the tone of yer voices. What are ye no’ telling me? Please I want to ken. I have a right to ken,” Annella’s voice was strained as she asked.
    “There’s nay use in no’ telling the lass, my laird. She will find out one way or another soon enough,” Alastair replied.
    “I dinna want to worry ye, lass. I was only trying to protect ye, as I said before. When Colin returned from the hunt this morning, he spotted a small band of riders heading this direction. They are a wee day or two ride away,” Rory explained.
    “The English? Laird Stewart?” Annella quickly asked looking back and forth between all three men. The tone of her voice became high pitched from anticipation.
    “We are no’ sure. It looks like they were wearing both colors.”
    “Now what? What do we do?” she asked hoping that they would stay and fight.
    “We need to head back to Dunakin, my lady. We have more men there and will be more prepared if we are followed,” Rory said and stood up knowing that she was going to argue with his decision.
    Quickly Alastair stood up next to Rory. “My lady, ye must go with Laird MacKinnon. Ye are no’ safe here. I love ye like me own daughter and I could no’ stand it if ye were hurt or taken again. What few men are left, my lady, are simple farmers and only a small group of warriors. We can no’ ask them to fight. Laird MacKinnon has offered those who are left a home at Dunakin and employment. Nothing is left for us here. Winter is coming and it will be too cold to start repairs. We have Laird MacKinnon’s word that in the spring, we can return and build again. He also mentioned to us about yer upcoming marriage, my lady, and this union is what is giving hope to yer people.”
    Annella sat there and stared at Alastair. She was taken aback that Rory had made all of these decisions without her knowledge. Leaving however was one thing that she did not want to do. She did not want protection, she wanted revenge and going to Dunakin to be locked up in some chamber for protection by her soon-to-be husband was something she wasn’t going to do quietly.
    “Alright. We will leave, Alastair,” Annella said with