Page 13 of Highlander’s Mercenary Lass

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Men!

Grace's cheeks sizzled with rage as she rushed out into the night sky. All day long, she had journeyed through the distant villages of the Highlands. Her last mission had taken her far away, and she had had to "remind" the laird who hired her about her pay. Three days it had taken to get some coin off the miserly churl, but she had done it at last. Since then, she had spent her time warding off any man who had come within spitting distance.

And not just for the usual reasons. Grace wasn't bothered there—at least, more than she should be. She was a good swordswoman and could chop a man's ear off if he as much as touched her. In fact, she would not stop at his ear!

But carrying this amount of coin made her nervous. Men pawing her was one thing, but them robbing her was another. In her time, Grace had encountered more than one trickster. And many of them posed as men of breeding, like this stranger in the bar.

His friendly overtures seemed anything but, and Grace felt no great cause to hang about. The last thing she needed now was yet another man getting in her face, especially one with such a silver tongue.

Men she knew were bad enough; ones she did not could go to hell. The only man Grace fully trusted was Donny, her father. He would be waiting at home, incidentally, probably waiting patiently for her to return.

This thought winning out, Grace darted out from the inn. She was full of fight, but mainly just to make it home.

Finally, out in the cool of the street, she took a sigh. Her village was not far. If she set off now, she could make it back before the middle of the night.

Glancing about quickly, Grace hitched up her skirts and prepared for her horse, still waiting patiently at the opposite side of the street. There, beneath the starlight, was Sparkle, her white fetlocks rippling in the night breeze.

At the sight of Grace, the horse harrumphed. She threw herself up onto the mare and was about to get seated when a voice halted her in her step.

"Miss?"

Grace's heart ran cold, then hot again. She was furious at being followed out.

"What?" she snapped, continuing to get into the saddle. Swiftly, she pulled herself up, getting into position on the horse.

"Miss, ye should come inside an' finish yer drink," said the tall stranger.

For the first time, Grace appraised him. Standing in front of her in a wash of moonlight, his firm features carved into a silhouette, and from under the shadows, two bright green eyes sparkled out, teasingly.

"I already did," she said, turning to go. "Thank ye. Now leave me alone."

The man paused, sending the full force of his jade eyes all over her. Grace felt herself prickle. She could not fully see his face, but his eyes said it all. He was laughing at her.

"Och, well, that's a pity, lass. I thought maybe ye'd forgotten something?"

The man smiled, flashing a row of unusually pearly teeth. Grace couldn't see that well, but the sparkling white of his teeth caught the shaft of moonlight from above her. And then it illuminated his cheeks, sending them into sharp relief against the black sky.

"We were getting on well, weren't we?" he added.

Silhouetted against the night, the man's outline glowered, and from his expression, she could not tell if he was gentle or mischievous.

"Well, we are nae," stated Grace plainly. She tugged at Sparkle's reins. "An' I havenae forgotten anything. I just wanted tae leave!"

The man smiled, showing once again his perfectly straight teeth. His grin twisted around his cheeks, bringing them into full play. Grace could not help noticing how shapely his face was.

Then, he cocked his head in front of hers and winked slyly.

"Well, that's a shame, 'cause ye wilnae want this then?"

In front of her, he thrust a pocket—a full pouch of golden coins—which gleamed brightly in the night sky.

And not just any pouch.

Her purse.

"It was dropped on the floor. I'm only guessing it's yers."