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or two's time," he answered. "The Kincaid is already chieftain over his own clan. There, does that answer your question, Beak?"
     
    "Will he have first choice in this bride-choosing then?" Beak asked Daniel.
     
    "He will."
     
    "And he's more powerful than you?" the stable master asked.
     
    Daniel nodded. "For the moment," he announced with a grin. "Beak, have you never heard of the Kincaid warriors?"
     
    "Aye, I've heard all sorts of stories."
     
    The grimness in his tone made Daniel smile. The old man was obviously frightened of Alec. "I take it some of the stories you've heard include descriptions of Alec's methods in battle?"
     
    "They have. I shouldn't be believing them," Beak added with a hasty glance in Alec's direction. "They were told by Englishmen, you see, and I'm sure they exaggerated the laird's… ruthlessness."
     
    Daniel grinned at Alec before responding to that remark. "Oh, I doubt the stories were exaggerated in the least, Beak. Did they say he never showed mercy? Compassion?"
     
    "Aye."
     
    "Best believe the stories then, Beak, for they're true. Aren't they, Alec?"
     
    "Aye, they are," Alec agreed, his tone hard.
     
    "Beak," Daniel continued, "your questions amuse me, though I've no idea what it is you're really wanting to find out. Is there another question you'd like to put to us?"
     
    Beak timidly nodded. He turned to stare up at Alec now. A long, silent moment passed while he tried to think of a fitting way to explain about his Jamie without being downright disloyal.
     
    Alec could see the fear in the old man's eyes. He walked back over to stand directly in front of the stable master. "What is it you wish to say to me?"
     
    Beak decided the Kincaid's intuition was as unsettling as his size and voice. His own voice trembled when he blurted out his question. "Have you ever mistreated a woman in all your days, Alec Kincaid?"
     
    It was obvious the laird didn't care for that question. His expression turned as fierce as a bolt of lightning. Beak took an instinctive step back and had to steady himself by bracing his hand against the wall.
     
    "I've been patient with you because you're Scots, old man, but if you ever put such a foul question to me again, I swear it will be your last."
     
    Beak nodded. "I need to know, inside my heart, because I'm set on giving you a great gift and I have to know you'll recognize its value, my lord."
     
    "He speaks in riddles," Daniel stated. He walked over to stand next to Alec. His frown, Beak noted, was almost as fierce as the Kincaid's. "You've been in England too long, old man, asking such obscene questions."
     
    "I know I ain't making a spit of sense," Beak admitted in a forlorn tone. "Yet if I blurt out the full of it, then it would make me disloyal in my mistress's eyes. I can't have that," he added. "She'd have my hide, she would."
     
    "You admit to being afraid of a woman?" Daniel asked.
     
    Beak ignored the astonished look on the man's face, ignored the laughter in his voice, too. "I'm afeared of no woman. I just don't want to break my word," he explained. "The lass means the world to me. I ain't ashamed to admit I love her like a daughter."
     
    Beak valiantly tried to meet Alec's hard stare. It was a pitiful effort, though. Oh, how he wished the other warrior were the more powerful of the two. At least the one called Daniel smiled on occasion. "Are you strong enough to protect what belongs to you?" he asked the Kincaid, wanting to get to the heart of the matter as soon as possible.
     
    "I am."
     
    "Baron Andrew will call forth many soldiers. He'll come after the gift I'm giving you. He's also called friend by England's King Henry," Beak added, wobbling his eyebrows to emphasize that fact.
     
    The Kincaid didn't seem impressed with that statement. He shrugged with indifference. "It would matter not to me."
     
    "Who is this Baron Andrew?" Daniel asked.
     
    "An Englishman," Beak answered.
     
    "All the better," Alec said. "If I decide to take