How to Handle a Highlander (Hot Highlanders) by Mary Wine

Fraser know his sister Sandra was still alive and locked up in the oldest tower at Dunrobin Castle. The bitch should be dead, but neither he nor Norris had the stomach for hanging her. It was not the Highlander way. Maybe Bari and his father had no reservation about sending a woman to do their dirty work, but in the end, Gahan hadn’t been able to bring himself to order her execution.
    So she stayed at Dunrobin.
    Taking Achaius to Dunrobin could well see that fact uncovered, because servants talked. No castle was without spies or those looking to improve their lot by selling secrets.
    ***
    “What do ye mean ye are heading to Dunrobin?” Bari asked.
    “It is simple enough,” Achaius said. “I failed in me duty, and I intend to apologize to me overlord.”
    “We have an alliance.”
    “Indeed we do, lad.” Achaius finished his breakfast and belched. “I always keep me word when the dowry has been paid.”
    Bari leaned closer to him to keep their words from drifting. “Then why are ye going to Dunrobin?”
    “Ye truly are newly weaned from yer mother’s tit,” Achaius replied. “If I have the opportunity to inspect the defenses of me foe before the fighting begins, I would be a fool nae to take it.”
    Achaius slapped the table. “Someone go wake me bride! I’ve no doubt she is nae here because I gave her little chance to rest last night, but we have duties to attend to.”
    “Ye intend to take Moira?” Bari asked. “I do nae think that is wise.”
    Achaius was on his feet and making ready to leave the high table. He froze and shot a hard look at Bari.
    “She is me wife now. She’s going to help me soothe the ruffled feathers of me overlord—something ye should be doing too, since yer sister Sandra tried to kill him. Remember yer place, Bari Fraser. The Earl of Sutherland is also yer overlord. Get yer men together and saddle the horses. We’re riding north.”
    ***
    “Like hell Bari Fraser is riding with us.”
    Cam was furious, and so were half the Sutherland retainers. They clustered around him as they waited to see what their orders would be. They might be bound to obey him, but more than one Highlander laird had learned that loyalty was best earned. Highlanders did not follow fools for long.
    “Let him. It will save us the trouble of watching him.” Gahan surveyed the faces of his men. “It’s going to be entertaining to see him try to convince me father that he had naught to do with Sandra’s actions.”
    A few grins appeared, and most of the men nodded. Their eyes were bright with their hunger for vengeance. He moved toward his horse, but Cam followed.
    “And Moira? Ye are set to allow her to ride with us?”
    Gahan tugged on a strap. “Aye,” he answered. “There is no reason to deny her.” He knew he shouldn’t feel glad about her traveling north with them, but he was filled with satisfaction all the same.
    “Oh, there is reason—and a good one.” Cam smoothed a hand along the neck of Gahan’s stallion. “Ye watch her like a hungry wolf. Are ye thinking to follow yer brother’s example in bringing home a woman to keep?”
    “She’s another man’s wife now. I won’t be doing any more watching.”
    Gahan shot his brother a hard look. Cam held his stare for a long moment before nodding. He reached up and tugged on the corner of his bonnet before going to see to his own horse. It granted Gahan a moment to relax his grip on his emotions. Hiding his pleasure was hard because Cam was right; he did watch Moira too closely. The reason eluded him, but the need to continue to be near her remained.
    It was almost suspicious the way fate was keeping her near him, but he wasn’t in the mood to question forces beyond his control.
    ***
    She was leaving.
    Moira had to squelch the urge to skip down the stairs like a little girl. Two Matheson retainers trailed her, making it imperative that she maintain dignified behavior. Yet it was almost impossible.
    She was going with Gahan after all…That