Page 54 of To Charm a Highlander

She noticed Haydon watching the two of them verra closely.But before she could think about that, she said, “Are ye finished, Laird?I’m going to the kitchen and have Jonet give me something to eat.I will then go see Dorathia and help her.”

Looking carefully at her, he said, “Aye.Whatever I need we can discuss tomorrow.”

Donella nodded and stood, brushing her skirts.Then she turned and left the room.The days of everyone taking care of her were o’er.

Dorathia was away from her cottage, most likely attending to a patient.With time on her hands, Donella wandered over to the stables.Angus, Jonet’s son, had been named stablemaster a few years ago when the old mon who’d been in charge of the stable for years took to his bed and died within days.

“Angus, I saw ye working with one of the lads who isna old enough to start training.Ye were showing him how to throw a knife.”

Angus grinned.“Aye.Young Brandon was interested in doing some sort of weaponry while he waited for the laird to accept him into warrior training.”

She nodded.“I want ye to train me, too.”

Instead of laughing, the mon looked curious as he rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger.“Is there a reason ye want to learn that lass?It doesna have anything with yer new husband, does it?”

Donella laughed.“Nay.I love Callum.”She dinna want to tell the mon that she wanted to learn more about knives in case she had to kill Gunn again.

“I just want to ken something besides mending and other women’s chores.”If she told Angus she wanted to learn for any other reason than what she just told him, he would most likely go straight to Haydon and tell him.

“Do ye have a knife, lass?”

Her shoulders slumped.“Nay.Only my eating knife.”

He thought for a minute then said, “That wouldn’t do.I have a few good, sturdy knives needing sharpening back here that ye can use.If yer looking to protect yerself, which is a good idea for all women, I have a few tricks I can teach ye besides throwing a knife at someone.”

She grinned.“That’s wonderful.Can we start now?”