Read Marti Talbotts Highlander Series 1 - Anna Rachel u Charlet for Free Online Page A

unwell?” Anna made it to the bottom of the stairs before she stopped.
    Harold took a deep breath, walked to her and tried to recognize her. It wasn’t easy to look at the extraordinarily beautiful face , that was now all swollen and bruised. He had to take another deep breath and then another. “She sent word by way of her maid, who said to say, the beast has broken out.”
    Anna’s good eye danced and she smiled. “When?”
    “Not more than an hour after you left, your mother guesses. I set out not long behind and did not see him, but I will not be surprised if he is trying to find you.”
    Kevin glared, “What beast?”
    “Threcher is my horse. My father hates him and calls him ‘the beast.’ But Harold, you did not come all this way to tell me about a horse.”
    “No, no , I did not.” He glanced at Kevin and then looked back at her. “‘Tis a private matter.”
    “Then we will ask Laird MacGreagor to excuse us.”
    Kevin was not pleased. “Nay, she is not to be alone with any lad save me, until we find the swine that beat her.”
    “I agree,” Harold said, surprising everyone. He was an old man and so short, his head barely reached the giant’s armpit, nor was he aware the three MacGreagor warriors were now standing right behind him. “In that case, I will whisper it…with your permission, Laird MacGreagor.”
    Kevin allowed it, but the warriors made sure Harold kept his hands off Kevin’s wife.
    Anna listened to his words and then asked, “Does my mother know what is happening?”
    “That is how I knew where to find you.” Harold took a step back and trampled the toes of one of the giants. His eyes flew open wide and he was sure he would meet his maker that very day. Fortunately, the giant didn’t strike him and accepted his hasty apology.
    Now Anna was actually crying. Through a cloud of tears, she thanked Harold and turned to her husband. “Please see that Harold gets home safely. I need him.” She started up the stairs and again Thomas stayed by her side.
    When she turned her back and Harold saw the rope burns, he had to bite his knuckle and turn away until she was out of hearing. Then he lost all control. “That scunner !”
    Kevin and his warriors moved closer. “Who? Tell me his name?”
    “I cannot and neither can she.”
    “Why?”
    “There are lives at risk.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, Kevin watched his wife disappear into her bedchamber and then studied the sincerity on the man ’ s face. “Is Rachel one of them?” Harold looked distressed and could not even begin to speak so Kevin decided to explain. “Anna talked in her sleep.”
    “Oh.” Harold slumped. “That is what I came to tell her. They moved Rachel and we do not know where she is.”
    “Who moved her?”
    “Laird MacGreagor, please do not ask me that question. Rachel is very young and she could be anywhere by now. I cannot say for sure, but I would be willing to wager Anna took that beating to save her sister ’ s life.”
    Thomas asked, “How did you get all this way on our land without anyone spotting you?”
    “Oh , they spotted me; they just did not know it. And if I tell you how, I will not be able to come back.”
    Thomas rolled his eyes, “Kevin, what should we do with him.”
    “See him safely home. Anna wants his help and so do I.” With that, he turned and headed up the stairs. He knew whomever Thomas assigned to see Harold home would grill the man all the way back to England if he had to. Kevin was determined to find out what the hell was going on.

    When he entered the bedchamber, Anna was staring out the window. “Are you all right?” He asked it so softly he wasn’t sure she heard.
    “‘Tis a beautiful land.” The window looked out over the colorful glen at the edge of the forest and she was right, it was beautiful. “I suspect I could see it better without all these tears in my eyes.”
    He picked a cloth up off the table and handed it to her. “Would you like to go for a