Page 8 of Highlander’s Sweet Poison

Once the council and other MacSeavers learned of her talents, it may very well seal her fate.

Once they broke through the trees and she was encased in moonlight, he studied her. Instantly, his mind flashed back to her injuries. He’d memorized every one. There were gauges on her thighs, but she seemed to sit in the saddle with no unpleasantness. Lashes had scored her back, but she held herself upright. One of her attackers had taken a blade to her neck and cut a line to her chest. It had been shallow, and he couldn’t see how it had healed beneath her cloak. If he didn’t know better, he would have no idea how close she’d come to death four months ago.

After assuring himself that she would not die, he’d stayed only a few more days to help Theo clean up the mess the mercenaries had made, and then he’d headed back to his home. The twist of his stomach whenever he thought of Jillian told him it was best if he stayed far away.

Now all he wanted to do was demand to see her body again and assure himself that she had indeed healed.

“I’m home,” she said with a sigh as she stopped and dismounted. “I’ll stable my horse and go in, as ye wish, Laird.”

He flinched at the venom in her voice but refused to be pushed away. Instead, he dismounted as well. Her mouth fell open. “Ye dinnae trust me to stay?”

“Lady Jillian, I dinnae trust ye to do anything that I ask of ye simply because I know how much ye hate me.”

“Do ye plan on stationing a guard outside my home?”

He chuckled. “Nay, I wouldnae put a guard through that. They need to sleep.” Relief swept over her features, and he grinned. “I plan on keeping an eye on ye myself.”

A feral growl escaped her. “I hope ye dinnae plan on sleeping in this cottage with me!” He raised an eyebrow, and she stomped her foot and started leading her horse away. “Fine, ye may sleep outside, but if I catch ye in my home while I am asleep, trust me when I tell ye that I know plenty of mixtures that will ensure ye will never wake up again!”

Graeme groaned. He sincerely hoped she didn’t plan on telling the council that.

5

Two dozen people were crowding the path that led to Jillian’s house. Graeme had awoken, on full alert, the second he sensed movement, but he didn’t dare crack his eyes open until they were close enough to attack. His hand was already on the hilt of his sword, but then he listened to their steps. The shuffling of the elderly. The skips of the young. The dragging of cloaks on the ground. Slowly opening his eyes, he sat up and cocked his head.

Elizabeth was at the helm of the group, a fierce glare in her eyes and a broom in her hands. They all carried some sort of makeshift weapon. Shovels. Axes. Hammers. Not a single one would attack. He knew that without a doubt, but their presence was unwelcome at the crack of dawn.

“Planning on shooing me away with the broom?” he asked Elizabeth politely. She’d regained her vigor after the attack as well. Even Gemma had her happy gleam in her eye. He wished Jillian was the same, but then, she’d taken the worst of it.

“I will do more than shoo ye,” Elizabeth threatened. “I am going to take this broomstick and shove it up yer arse!”

Next to her, her father looked at her in shock, and Graeme swallowed a laugh. Harris had spies all over the highlands, but he somehow didn’t seem to know his own daughter.

“Why are ye threatening me so early in the morning, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked as he pulled himself to his feet. He was chilled from the night and stiff from the ground, but it was not the first time he’d slept out in the open, nor he suspected would it be the last. Since it looked like he wasn’t bringing Jillian back today, he would likely be spending another night like this tomorrow.

“Ye know exactly why! Ye are here!”

“Aye. I was also here a few months ago, and if I recall, ye were not so hostile.” She’d called him handsome, but he didn’t want to embarrass her by reminding her of that.

“Then ye werenae planning on taking Jillian away!” She waved her broom threateningly, and Graeme stood. He had no plans to hurt her, and while she did pale, she didn’t back down.

The door opened behind him, and Graeme could feel Jillian’s presence. No doubt she was watching from the window. “Laird MacSeaver,” she called out in an inviting voice. “Breakfast is ready if ye wish to join me.”

Graeme was still staring at Elizabeth when her gaze slid past him, uncertainly, and she looked at Jillian. “Is everything all right?” she said hesitantly.

“Good morning, Elizabeth. Everything is fine. If ye all came to join me for breakfast, then I am sorry to tell ye that I did not make enough.” Her voice was calm as she eyed the makeshift weapons with a twinkle in her eye. The villagers shifted and looked at each other, mumbling under their breath before Elizabeth scowled at Graeme.

“Not to worry. If there is anything that ye need, please come find anyone, and we will help ye.” She was still talking to Jillian, but she cast an angry look at Graeme. Nodding his head at her, he turned and walked into the house.

“Do they all still look like they want to kill me?” he murmured.

“Aye. Best hurry. I hear Elizabeth is quite deadly with that broom.” There was a twinkle in her eye, and he sighed. She was enjoying this.

After closing the door smartly behind him, she chanced a look at the window. “They are leaving.”

“Then, I suppose I should thank ye for rescuing me.”

Jillian snorted. “I have seen ye on the battlefield. Believe me, ‘twas not ye that I was rescuing. I won’t have anyone hurt on my behalf, Graeme. I mean it. Ye are here for me, so ye will leave everyone else out of it.”