Page 30 of The Highland Heir

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Arran Sutherland was a good chief and a goodfighter. Kieran knew so by how his body ached after drills werecompleted. He’d used muscles Teague must have missed in recentmonths. But it was a good thing, and he’d not complain.

“Do ye wish to head into the village for adram and a meat pie?” Arran asked.

“Nay. I must check in with my friend. She iscaring for her aunt, and I should see if they need any help.”

“I’ll come with you. We can see to the ladiesquickly and still go to the village.”

Kieran agreed to this plan. A half-dozen meatpies would not be amiss after training as they had. Kieran tuggedhis clothes back on after a dip in the loch and led Arran towardJenny’s cottage.

The man chatted easily about this andthat.

It was odd having a male friend, but hethought he could count Arran as such. Or at least until they’dentered Jenny’s cottage and Arran’s gaze fell upon Ellie.

Kieran worried the man’s tongue might spillfrom his mouth.

“Arran Sutherland, the Ross war chief,”Kieran introduced him. “This is Ellisay Ross, niece to the Rosslaird. And you’ve probably met her aunt Jenny.”

“I’ve heard of Jenny, but we’ve not met. Itis a pleasure to meet you both,” Arran said, though his gaze nevermoved from Ellie.

Kieran expected Ellie to narrow her eyes onthe man, as he’d seen her do many times when she’d receivedunwanted attention. But to his surprise, she smiled at Arran in amost becoming way. The way he’d only ever seen her smile athim.

Something ugly stirred in his chest, and hefought the urge to grab hold of his new friend and toss him fromthe cottage on his arse. Kieran was not so daft to not realize whatthe feeling was.

He just didn’t expect to feel it sofervently. Ellie was not his. She was free to smile at other men.He only wished he didn’t have to witness it.

“I didn’t realize my kin was no longer thewar chief. I wonder why my da didn’t tell me,” Ellie said.

“I believe the laird reached out to Teague tooffer him the position when it became available, but he turned itdown. I’m rather glad for it. It gave me an opportunity heredespite my age.”

“I didn’t know that,” Kieran said. “Teaguenever said.” Kieran wondered why Teague would stay as chief withthe Sinclairs when he could have come home and been the chief forhis own clan.

“He didn’t tell me either,” Ellie said with ashrug. “Please have a seat. I made tarts. I know Kieran won’t beable to pass them up. Tell me, Arran, is your stomach your masteras well?”

“Aye. At least until I find some fetchinglass to serve instead.”

What was this? Were they flirting? Kierandidn’t know this Arran well enough, but he knew Ellie, and shedidn’t flirt. He didn’t even know she knew how to.

Clearly, she had gotten her talent forsecrecy from her father.

“We only came to see if you needed anythingbefore we went into the village to—”

“Surely, we wouldn’t want to miss out onfreshly made tarts. The village will be there another time,” Arransaid quickly and offered a courtly bow to Ellie. “We would behonored.”

Ellie laughed. Nay, she didn’t laugh, shegiggled. A tinkling, frail little sound made by dainty women beingtrained to lure a husband. Ellie had never made such a sound in herlife, he was sure of it. But then, mayhap there were things hedidn’t know about his best friend.

She surely didn’t know everything about him.Like how that silly laugh had affected him or how much he wanted topull his dirk if Arran took another step closer to her.

Jenny didn’t help matters as she asked Arrana litany of questions. Most were strategic inquiries set todetermine whether or not Arran had a wife or was promised toanyone. Both were answered as no.

“I do hope to marry someday,” Arran said, nottaking his gaze from Ellie. Kieran felt his hand twitch as hefought the instinct to punch his new friend in the face.

Had he thought this man a friend earlier? Nowhe seemed a threat to Kieran’s true friend.

And why were these tarts so bloody dry? Hecould hardly manage to swallow them. Perhaps it was the hideouslump in his throat.

It was a shock to see no one seemed to noticeKieran’s reaction. He did better at hiding it than he would havethought. Eventually, Kieran managed to relax and let go of hisanger. Or at least loosened his grip a bit.