Page 34 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

"Lissie," said the girl. She smiled shyly. Like Grace, she had black-brown hair and the same face shape, but there the resemblance ended. Her chin, brow, and nose were all different, although looking around, Grace could see a similarity with some of the others around the table.

"Pleased tae meet ye too, Lissie," said Grace, surprise washing over her. It seemed impossible to believe she was related to so many people. Further down the table were two others, who she had not yet been introduced to—a girl and a boy.

More siblings, no doubt, thought Grace.

"We're all really excited tae have ye here," said the unknown girl. She had deep auburn hair and a friendly face that Grace could picture as mischievous. "I'm Aileen."

"Ye'll soon get tae ken her," whispered Lissie in an aside, and the whole table erupted in laughter. Grace smiled politely while trying not to feel like the outsider to a private joke.

"That's braw," she said, wishing she could think of something else to say. Suddenly, she had no small talk, or even any talk at all. But then again, it wasn't every day you met a surprise family.

Grace turned to the young lassie, trying to guess how old she was; maybe thirteen or fourteen. Her dark red curls cascaded to the side of her, but her attire was modest and unassuming. Although the maid of the ruling family, she was clad simply in an arisaid not all that different from hers.

"Paton has filled us in an' told us ye’re our elder sister," said Aileen, with a smile curling around her chin. "But nae an' awful lot else!" She paused, waiting as if hoping to be filled in. "So come on. Let's hear it... I want tae ken all about it! We dinnae ken anything!"

Grace could only lament. "Same here," she said, with a sudden grin. "I dinnae ken anything more about it mysel, an' so far my father—the one who raised me—hasnae said much either."

It shocked Grace to be thinking of her father, the blacksmith, suddenly in such terms. Until a couple of days ago, she would have thought it inconceivable that she was not his daughter. The thought of it tugged at Grace's heart. Without any warning, hot tears welled in her eyes. She did not let them fall, but even so, it was clear that she was upset.

Seeing her face, Fiona rushed to her side. Touching her arm, she comforted her softly.

"Grace," she said gently, "please dinnae take any notice o' my sister. She's a mouth the size o' Loch Ness!"

"Wi' a brain half the size o' one o' the fishes that swim in it!" added Lissie, with a deadpan face. All the sisters laughed, even Aileen. However, Grace noticed there was one person who didn't laugh.

Across the table from her was a well-built red-haired lad. If she had had to guess his age, she would have put him at about sixteen. He was broad and muscular, although not very tall. When she looked over, it seemed the lad's face glazed over in disinterest.

Seeing her looking at the lad, Aileen smiled. "Och, I suppose ye want tae ken who that muckle lump is." She flashed one of her playful grins, and instantly, Grace was intrigued.

"Grace, this is our brother, an' cross tae bear, Billie Duncan!"

The girls all looked at each other and giggled. That made Billie finally look up. His face full of heavy truculence, he stared straight at Grace.

"Pleased tae meet ye, Sister," said Billie, his bright blue eyes moving warily around the packed room. Grace noticed him staring intently at Andrew, being buoyed up by the crowds. Around them, the jollity was still going on. Andrew was being raised into the air by the cheering crowds.

Billie's eyes cut from the roaring horde back to Grace as if he had only just noticed her.

"Welcome tae the clan," said the youngster earnestly. From behind her, Aileen nudged Billie. "We're very pleased tae have ye, an' as laird, I'm happy tae have ye stay." The lad nodded abruptly, but before Grace could answer, he turned his head back to the celebrations.

Finally, the raucous crowd was calming, with Andrew finally back on his feet and walking to meet them.

"Thank ye," said Grace unsurely. Her eyes flashed to Andrew, and he looked back at her blankly. No one had told her that Billie was the laird. And judging by their giggling, no one had told his sisters, either!

Grace was not sure what to say, but she didn't have to worry. After being largely silent, Billie had decided to do the talking for both of them.

"So go an' make yerself feel at home, lass," said Billie, sitting importantly in his chair. "My sisters will take care o' ye, but it might be that ye'll nae see a lot o' me...as I will be away a lot at battle."

His eyes snaked away, and as they did, Grace noticed her sisters sharing a look.

"Battle?" said Grace. She knew that fights were always breaking out in the Highlands, but she had not heard of anything that recent.

"Aye," said Billie, with a serious look. He was getting ready to stand up. "For I am the clan's top warrior!" he said assuredly.

The girls behind Grace murmured, and she sensed that this was not strictly true. Then Billie stood up and fixed his eyes on Andrew.

"Ye must excuse me, Sister," he said abruptly. "I need to discuss important business wi' my second-in-command."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Grace to look unsurely at the faces at the table around her. There was a moment's pause, then Aileen burst in.