they could do them without thinking. Daniel was also revered and feared in the camp, she found out because no one wanted to fight with him except Alex.
It came as a surprise to find out they were all trained to fight by a woman. They called her VixenBlade and always put a hand over their heart in salute to her many talents when they made the comment. Melissa couldn’t wait to meet her.
Alex spoke of her with absolute respect and admiration for her skill with a blade. Robert perked up the moment her name was mentioned. Melissa guessed he was madly in love with her but didn’t want his brothers to notice.
There were also craftsmen in the Clan who made and repaired shields and swords. Their shields were not much more than a circle of leather on a wood frame. Some of them had a targe in the center, and Melissa was told it was the center spike.
Melissa announced she wanted to do a painting of the church she passed, and it was decided that Iain, who had more to confess than all of them put together, should be the one to take her to the Kirk. Iain was delighted for the opportunity to spend the day with Melissa.
They rode on horseback to the lovely Kirk set on a hillside. Melissa quickly found the perfect point of view for her painting. Iain went inside to see the priest with a long list of his many transgressions.
Melissa chose the side of the Kirk where a tall statue of an Angel was surrounded by flowers. The contrast of stone against brilliantly colored flowers caught her eye, and she quickly sketched the scene on the canvas. The canvas was placed on the easel, and she began in earnest.
She had been painting for over an hour when she heard someone approach. Melissa looked up and smiled as a gentleman walked up to her and stood behind her to look at the painting.
“You’re an artist,” he said, and she was instantly drawn to the silky sound of his voice.
Melissa noticed a dazzling smile, and the paintbrush lay idle in her hand. “Yes,” she said and returned his smile. “Are you a wandering art critic?”
He laughed softly. “No, Sassenach. I’m a man who appreciates true beauty, like you.”
She was stunned. “Thank you.” Melissa felt a little uncomfortable. She had heard the term before and knew it meant that she was English.
He reached out, gently took her hand in his, and kissed her paint blotched fingers. “I can see why my cousin, Alexander, is enchanted.”
Melissa couldn’t help but notice the heat from his ardent perusal. She was horribly embarrassed at the paint splats on her hand that he stroked, gently and admiringly in his.
“I’d love to take you dancing in the moonlight,” he said smoothly, devastating her defenses with another smile. “I’d give just about anything to see your gorgeous blue eyes twinkle in the starlight. We’d dance until dawn, and then….”
He was standing right next to her, and she had to admit he was one handsome man. He had dark, straight hair with a tinge of silver at his temples and smoldering deep blue eyes.
Tall, dark, and dangerous was her thought as he reached out to brush the backs of his fingers against her cheek. He wanted to take her dancing. The thought whirled her stomach into a knot. Wasn’t that what she had asked for—a man who could love with a passion and could dance? If she hadn’t met Alex first, she would have agreed to a date with him.
But Melissa wouldn’t betray her affection for Alex. “I’m not available.”
“I’m truly devastated. Would you please deliver a message to Alex for me?”
“I’d be happy to deliver a message, but you could probably find him later this evening.”
“I’m sure he’s out riding with his warriors,” he said. “Give Alex this message; tell him his cousin says touché . He will understand the meaning.” The stranger brushed past her on his way back down the path.
Melissa thought he was a very confusing man. “By the way, what is your name?” she called out after him, but he had
It came as a surprise to find out they were all trained to fight by a woman. They called her VixenBlade and always put a hand over their heart in salute to her many talents when they made the comment. Melissa couldn’t wait to meet her.
Alex spoke of her with absolute respect and admiration for her skill with a blade. Robert perked up the moment her name was mentioned. Melissa guessed he was madly in love with her but didn’t want his brothers to notice.
There were also craftsmen in the Clan who made and repaired shields and swords. Their shields were not much more than a circle of leather on a wood frame. Some of them had a targe in the center, and Melissa was told it was the center spike.
Melissa announced she wanted to do a painting of the church she passed, and it was decided that Iain, who had more to confess than all of them put together, should be the one to take her to the Kirk. Iain was delighted for the opportunity to spend the day with Melissa.
They rode on horseback to the lovely Kirk set on a hillside. Melissa quickly found the perfect point of view for her painting. Iain went inside to see the priest with a long list of his many transgressions.
Melissa chose the side of the Kirk where a tall statue of an Angel was surrounded by flowers. The contrast of stone against brilliantly colored flowers caught her eye, and she quickly sketched the scene on the canvas. The canvas was placed on the easel, and she began in earnest.
She had been painting for over an hour when she heard someone approach. Melissa looked up and smiled as a gentleman walked up to her and stood behind her to look at the painting.
“You’re an artist,” he said, and she was instantly drawn to the silky sound of his voice.
Melissa noticed a dazzling smile, and the paintbrush lay idle in her hand. “Yes,” she said and returned his smile. “Are you a wandering art critic?”
He laughed softly. “No, Sassenach. I’m a man who appreciates true beauty, like you.”
She was stunned. “Thank you.” Melissa felt a little uncomfortable. She had heard the term before and knew it meant that she was English.
He reached out, gently took her hand in his, and kissed her paint blotched fingers. “I can see why my cousin, Alexander, is enchanted.”
Melissa couldn’t help but notice the heat from his ardent perusal. She was horribly embarrassed at the paint splats on her hand that he stroked, gently and admiringly in his.
“I’d love to take you dancing in the moonlight,” he said smoothly, devastating her defenses with another smile. “I’d give just about anything to see your gorgeous blue eyes twinkle in the starlight. We’d dance until dawn, and then….”
He was standing right next to her, and she had to admit he was one handsome man. He had dark, straight hair with a tinge of silver at his temples and smoldering deep blue eyes.
Tall, dark, and dangerous was her thought as he reached out to brush the backs of his fingers against her cheek. He wanted to take her dancing. The thought whirled her stomach into a knot. Wasn’t that what she had asked for—a man who could love with a passion and could dance? If she hadn’t met Alex first, she would have agreed to a date with him.
But Melissa wouldn’t betray her affection for Alex. “I’m not available.”
“I’m truly devastated. Would you please deliver a message to Alex for me?”
“I’d be happy to deliver a message, but you could probably find him later this evening.”
“I’m sure he’s out riding with his warriors,” he said. “Give Alex this message; tell him his cousin says touché . He will understand the meaning.” The stranger brushed past her on his way back down the path.
Melissa thought he was a very confusing man. “By the way, what is your name?” she called out after him, but he had
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