Read Caelen's Wife: Book One - A Murmur of Providence (Clan McDunnah Series 1) for Free Online Page B

numbers and the area they claimed as their own. Rocky terrain that abutted Mount Sidh Chailleann, was ill-suited for growing crops of any kind. Its only saving graces were the fact that its waters were so pure and it was a good place to raise sheep and goats.
    Why then were the MacKinnons and all the others so interested in her lands? She hadn’t expected her chiefdom to be this complicated or this lonely.
    A knock came at her door. Whilst she’d have preferred to remain alone and unbothered for a while longer, she knew no answers could be found by staring at the horizon. Smoothing down the skirt of her green dress, she bid entry.
    Bridgett entered, took one look at Fiona and gave a shake of her head.
    “The McDunnah has cast a spell upon ye,” Bridgett said as she came to stand beside Fiona.
    Fiona giggled. “Yer daft.”
    Bridgett was not the least bit offended. “Am I? Then, pray tell, why have ye been in such a sullen mood these past few days?”
    “I’m no’ sullen,” Fiona told her, not averting her eyes away from the window.
    “Nay?” Bridgett asked, feigning ignorance. “Ye could have fooled me, the way ye are always lookin’ so forlorn and distracted.”
    Fiona sighed heavily and realized Bridgett was not going to leave her alone any time soon. “Bridgett, I ken ye mean well, but truly, I am no’ sullen or distracted. Caelen McDunnah has nothin’ to do with me mood. I simply have much on me mind of late.”
    “Such as?”
    “Odd,” Fiona said with feigned confusion. “I thought fer certain ye were there when Edgar MacKinnon made his proposal of marriage just a few hours ago.”
    “Is that what is botherin’ ye? Edgar MacKinnon’s proposal?”
    Fiona let loose with a heavy breath. “Nay, no’ exactly the proposal itself, but somethin’ else he said. When I asked him why he wanted to marry, he said his clan would get all the wonders and magic of our lands. What do ye suppose he meant by that?”
    “I dunnae,” Bridgett replied. “I thought he was merely bein’ a sarcastic arse.”
    Fiona giggled with agreement. “Aye, I suppose yer right. ’Tis no matter. I would no’ marry him or any of the others who’ve proposed.”
    A wry smile formed on Bridgett’s lips and her eyes near sparkled with amusement. “But what of the one who has no’ yet proposed?”
    “If yer referrin’ to Caelen McDunnah—”
    “Aye, I am.” Bridgett continued to smile.
    “Ye can set those thoughts aside, Bridgett. He’ll never propose and fer many reasons.” She held up a hand to stop Bridgett’s impending protest. “He still mourns the loss of his first wife. He’ll never remarry. And if, by some act of God he did propose, I’d tell him what I told the others.”
    Bridgett sighed heavily. “Why? I ken yer lonely, Fi. Have ye no desire to marry again? To be with a man? To share yer life with someone?”
    “I do,” Fiona answered softly as she turned to look out the window. The sky was aflame with streaks of red, orange and purple. “But what I desire does no’ matter. Me clan comes first, above all else.”
    That much was true, but there was more she refused to share with her friend. The simple truth was that she could not stand the thought of being married to yet another man who did not want her in a physical or romantic sense. Though blessed with many friends, she had no desire to be legally bound to one.
    If she could not have a man who wanted her heart, as well as a more intimate and physical relationship, she’d prefer to be alone.

Chapter 6
    C aelen left the keep through the kitchens and walked down the winding trail that led to the little huts that dotted the landscape. He was on his way to see his grandminny, Burunild. The auld woman had sent word earlier that morn that she wanted to see him.
    He’d been home for days now and had not yet taken the time to visit with his father’s mother. Believing the auld woman wanted nothing more than to chastise him for not visiting sooner, he