Page 70 of Steel & Surrender

Her breathing grew shallow. Aye, her wee brother was growing up. Soon enough, his voice would break, and his jaw would sprout whiskers.

Soon, her parents would expect her to find a husband.

She spied Ian then, flexing his muscles next to the Caber Toss ring. A row of trimmed tree trunks sat there, awaiting the competitors.

Ian turned then, his gaze spearing her across the crowd. A slow smile tugged at his lips, as if he thought she’d been admiring him. He flexed again, slower this time—making sure she saw.

Scowling, Brìghde yanked her attention away. Vain peacock.

Her belly sank then.

The last thing she needed was Ian pursuing her again.

Walking on, she saw the clan-chief himself had joined the crowd; a sign that the competitions were about to kick off. Loch Maclean walked tall and proud, his wife on his arm.

Brìghde tracked them, marking the way Loch looked at Mairi then, his gaze warm. Reaching out, he brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek.

An ache rose under Brìghde’s breastbone.

What would it be like to have a man look at her like that?

The Lady of Duart was fortunate indeed.

The clan-chief’s two surviving sons walked behind their parents, striking and darkly handsome.

Brìghde’s chest started to ache.

Greig walked straighter than she’d ever seen him since his maiming. Aye, his limp was still there—he’d never lose it—but it no longer defined him. The year before, he’d hunched over that stick, shoulders rounded, as if he carried the weight of the world upon his shoulders.

Not this morning.

And even though looking upon him hurt, seeing him look so fit and strong again made warmth suffuse her.

Greig Maclean would indeed one day lead their clan.

The world had tried to best him, but he’d fought back. He’d proven he was stronger than the blade that had maimed him. He was a survivor.

How she respected him for that.

Her breathing caught then, realization slamming into her.

Her chest tightened.

This wasn’t admiration anymore.

It hadn’t been for some time.

Somehow, she’d fallen in love with him.

Sweat dampened her skin. Her pulse hammered in her ears.

This was a terrible mistake.

And worse—she wasn’t sure she could stop it.

Feeling sick, she moved forward, joining the crowd that had gathered around the Caber Toss ring, where the first of the contests was about to begin.

Fortunately, Greig hadn’t seen her as he took his place amongst the contestants.