Seduced by Her Highland Warrior by Michelle Willingham Page B

measurements, once we’ve determined the proportions of the chapel. He will also bring a sketch of what we have decided for the subject of the window.’
    With the matter settled, Bram thanked the abbot, and Laren joined Nairna in bidding farewell. As they departed with the coins, she sent a last look towards the abbot and caught him smiling at the glass.
    She looked away, hardly able to breathe. Her heart pounded so hard, her ears roaring, until she thought she might faint. One hundred and twenty-five pieces of silver. Because of her glass.
    By the saints, she couldn’t believe it. She could barely manage to hold her thoughts together as they rode away. Nairna and Bram had ridden ahead of her, while she continued behind them. As she rode through the valley, she couldn’t stop her hands from shaking.
    The wind stung at her eyes, and she followed them for several miles more, before Nairna stopped to wait for her.When she caught up, the woman threw her hands up in the air and let out a celebratory scream.
    Laren couldn’t laugh or join Nairna the way she wanted to. Instead, the shock of success left her speechless. She hadn’t truly believed the abbot would want her glass or that he would find her work worthy of paying for it.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ Nairna asked, coming up beside her. ‘You should be happy.’
    She took her hand and Laren tried to brave a smile. ‘It’s just…too much. I can’t believe he would pay such a sum for a simple pane of glass.’
    â€˜It’s not simple,’ Nairna insisted. ‘And when everyone finds out that you were responsible for bringing in such wealth, they—’
    â€˜No.’ She cut Nairna off. Though she’d have to tell Alex about their success, she wasn’t ready to be put on display before the rest of the clan. Trepidation seeped into her veins, freezing up her courage. ‘I have to talk to Alex about it first.’
    Nairna squeezed her hand. ‘You’ll be the one to tell him what we’ve done this day. He’ll be proud of you, I know.’
    Laren wanted so badly to believe it. But as they began the journey home, her worries continued to grow.
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    Alex rode hard, Dougal and Callum trailing behind him. Brodie and his family had travelled just past the boundary of Glen Arrin, ignoring everything Alex had said the other night.
    Damn the man for giving up so soon.
    He pushed his gelding hard, bringing the animal up in front of Brodie, forcing the family to stop. ‘I won’t let you turn your back on us, Brodie. We’re your clan. Your family.’
    Brodie’s wife sent her husband a troubled gaze, her arms tightening around their young son. ‘It’s not safe to live here any more, is it?’
    â€˜Can their horses travel through walls?’ Alex countered. ‘Can they burn down the stone?’ He could see the flicker of uncertainty on Brodie’s face and continued. ‘If we had rebuilt Glen Arrin in wood, aye. We’d be vulnerable. But we’ve made a strong start.’
    â€˜We’re taking him away from the fighting.’ Brodie’s hand went to rest upon his son’s shoulder. ‘He’ll be safe.’
    â€˜Aye, he will. Here, with his family and friends.’ Alex led his horse close enough that he could reach out to Brodie. ‘Turn back and look at Glen Arrin, Brodie.’
    His kinsman did and, for a time, neither spoke. He wanted his friend to see the vast walls stretching around Glen Arrin, like a shield. ‘It’s already changed from the place our fathers built. And when we’re gone, it will still be standing, for our children.’
    He regarded Brodie and saw the indecision on his face. ‘What legacy do you want to leave? The memory of a father who fought and won his freedom? Or a man who abandoned his clan, out of fear?’
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    Finian MacLachor stared at the fortress of Glen Arrin. Though the main