Laird MacDonald could hardly think. Never before had a woman talked to him like that. If she were a man, he would strike her down and silence her. Then again, a lively wife might just brighten his world. He smiled.

It was not the reaction Kevin hoped for and he held his breath.

Kenna narrowed her eyes. "Are you too old to answer my question?"

That riled Laird MacDonald. "See here, Charlet, you may not speak to me that way."

She swung her hips just a little to taunt him and he noticed. Every man in the room noticed. "I decline your offer of marriage. I will not bed an old lad." She turned, walked back up the stairs with her head still held high, and opened the nearest door. She didn't even look back before she slammed it shut behind her.

Laird MacDonald jumped at the noise and then turned to glare at Kevin. But when Kevin only shrugged, he stormed out with his guard right behind him.

Everyone inside the Keep waited, listened for the sound of the horse's hooves going across the wooden bridge and then collectively let out a sigh of relief. Kenna opened the door a crack, saw they were gone and then flew down the stairs. But instead of running to Kevin, she threw herself into Anna's arms. "I was so frightened."

Anna held her tight. "You were wonderful! Had I not known better, I would have thought you a princess."

"Truly?"

"Aye," agreed Kevin, "and a very bonnie one at that. Perhaps we should have all our women with golden hair borrow your trick."

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Connor seriously considered it. "'Tis not a bad idea, Kevin. Did you see the way the MacDonald guards looked at her? Word of her beauty will spread quickly and they may try to take her. More lasses with red hair would addle them."

"Aye and they will spread the word that Charlet is still here, which is precisely our plan."

Kenna leaned closer to Anna. "Am I truly bonnie?"

"Of course, all MacGreagor lasses are very, very handsome."

Kevin took hold of her shoulders, turned Kenna toward him and kissed her forehead. "We have burdened you greatly for one your age. I am pleased..."

She didn't mean to interrupt him, but she truly wanted to know. "Where is Charlet?"

"She is safe but there is a lad who wants to hurt her and we have hidden her." Kevin let go and took a step back. "That is our next problem. How do we explain her absence to the clan?" He hadn't meant to direct his question at Kenna and was surprised when she answered.




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