Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) by Kara Griffin

the
keep.
    The
warrior returned with a beautiful lady whose long hair was pulled back with a
tie, but Kate could see its length swing behind her. She started to stand, but
he motioned for her to remain seated. Kate did as he requested, and the lady
sat next to her. Her face reflected an odd look, as though she tried to reason
why Kate was there.
    “Welcome
to our home, I’m Julianna MacKinnon. Brendan tells me you brought a gift.”
    Kate’s
eyes widened hearing the warrior’s name. She’d been with Bonnie’s uncle,
Brendan, all the while, the man with a heart who didn’t want anyone to know
about it. He was standing right next to her and she turned a frown at him.
“You’re the man with a … oh, good Goddess, save me.”
    “Pardon
me, what did you say?” Julianna’s brows furrowed at Kate’s rude remark.
    If
this warrior had a heart beneath that hard-looking body, she’d be stewed for
supper. She smacked her forehead, realizing she was judging again. So the man
painted his body like a heathen, but wasn’t it similar to her praying to her
ancestor’s spirits, the Goddess and Gods? Nay, he was definitely not of the
same gentle manner as she. Besides, he raided her country, and he looked
arduous. Why did she feel attracted to him? Was she attracted to him? “Good
Goddess, I am.”
    “Lady
Kaitlin?”
    Kate
blushed at her affront. She hadn’t realized that she’d prayed and spoken aloud,
or that she had become immersed in her thoughts.
    “Oh,
um … I do apologize, Lady MacKinnon. Please forgive me for my lack of manners.
I am happy to meet you finally. I’m Kaitlin Stanhope of Cheshire, England. I do
have something for you.”
    “Kaitlin,
what a bonny name. So what have you there?” Julianna leaned closer, with a look
of dismay on her pretty face.
    The
lady seemed in shock at having an Englishwoman sitting at her table, probably
because her brother in-law, Brendan, had brought her home. She likely
considered her to be a lady of vulgar manners or ill repute. Lady Julianna kept
looking from her to Brendan.
    Brendan
took the seat next to her. She grimaced at the way he sat too closely on the
bench, and it made her feel awkward. His body pressed against hers, causing her
to move aside.
    “Julianna,
God sent this lass to Bonnie and—”
    “Bonnie?
Oh, my … is she … she … dead?” Julianna began weeping into her hands.
    “Nay,
nay, my lady, she’s well, truly. In fact—”
    “You’ve
seen her? Where is she?”
    “Julianna,
let the lass finish and she’ll tell you all.” Brendan’s voice rose with
impatience.
    Kate
gave him a hard glance for speaking to Lady Julianna that way.
    “Oh,
I do apologize, Lady Kaitlin, please continue.”
    Kate
smiled. “I have brought your daughter home.”
    “You
have? Where is she then?” Julianna stood, looking toward the door. “Is she
outside?”
    “Nay,
she’s right here, beneath the plaid.” She pulled back the woolen cover to
reveal the sleeping child. Lady Julianna’s eyes widened when she viewed her
daughter. Kate placed Bonnie in her mother’s arms, who looked at her lovingly,
then wept.
    “She
looks thin and frail. Oh, her wee face is so sweet. It’s hard to believe I am
actually holding her, seeing her.” Julianna whispered, trying not to wake her
daughter. “It has been months since she went missing and I never thought to see
her again.” She cried harder, and her shaking woke Bonnie.
    Bonnie
opened her eyes and started crying. “Mama.”
    They
hugged and bawled, oblivious to Brendan and Kate.
    “Darling,
I’ve missed ye. You don’t know how happy I am to see you,” Julianna whispered
against her daughter’s head.
    “Mama,
I missed ye, too. I’m sorry I didn’t listen and stay in the tent. Is Papa
angry?”
    Julianna
smiled, hugging her tightly. “Nay, love, he’s not angry with you. In fact,
you’re going to make him very happy.” Her eyes rose to Kate’s, holding a look
of love.
    “Where
is he?” Bonnie shouted as loud