Page 4 of The Highland Heir

“What does my father always say?” she asked.“We get to choose to make the best of every situation.” She did herbest to force a pleasant tone while she squeezed and released herfingers to relieve the tingling heat that remained from touchinghim. She’d never suffered such an affliction before.

“Except I have no choices, Ellie. None. I canonly do what my father orders me to do. Though at times I do wonderif it matters. Would he hate me any less for doing his bidding thanif I resisted?”

She let out a breath. When Kieran spoke inthis manner, he often got himself into trouble by lashing outagainst his father. Not that his father would deign to exert theeffort to punish Kieran. He was simply dismissed with that casuallook of disappointment from Rolfe that made Ella’s blood boil.

“You know it’s not your fault. When Rolfelooks at you, he can only see your mother and the pain she causedhim. It’s not fair, but you have to know you are a good son.Despite how he treats you.”

As she watched, he seemed to calm a littlemore and eventually stood.

Ella didn’t remember Anna Sinclair any morethan Kieran did, for they were both babes when Kieran’s motherdied. Or was killed, depending upon what story one chose tobelieve.

Ella’s own mother died when she was born, soshe and Kieran were both raised by their fathers. But Ella’s fatherhad extended his duty to help raise Kieran as well, filling in thegaps left by the laird. Mostly in matters of affection.

Even as war chief of the Sinclair clan,Teague Ross was a sweet father and a kind man.

“And they didn’t even tell you when thewedding would take place?” she asked again. Not that she wanted herfriend to worry any more than he already was, but Ella wanted toknow. Though she wasn’t so sure why it mattered.

“Nay, though Iheard the MacKenzie retainers talking. It sounds as if it will takeplace after harvest. The MacKenzies plan to take half the cattlewith them now. The laird will bring his daughter to Girnigoe afterharvest, and when he leaves, he’ll take the remaining cattle forhis loss.”

Ella felt a flare of irritation at the waywomen were traded like livestock. In this case, it was even moretrue. She shook her head.

“I know you are upset, but can you imaginewhat she must feel? To have to move to a new clan? To be exchangedfor cattle?”

Ella’s father had been the third son to theRoss laird, and as such, Ella didn’t hold any status to speak of.It meant she wouldn’t have to face such a fate as being married forthe purpose of an alliance. She had the luxury of being able tomarry for love.

But at almost twenty years, she had not metanyone she cared for more than Kieran. Theirs was the love offriendship, rather than what one would feel for a husband, but ithad been a gauge she’d come to hold all other men to.

As of yet, no other man had been interestedenough to get to know her.

She knew some thought her too rough for allthe time she spent with a practice sword, sparring with herfather’s men.

She’d heard only a few rumors that somethought Kieran used her in his bed and therefore Ella wasunsuitable for marriage. It wasn’t true, and she didn’t worry overwhat others said.

The right man would not believe such things.He would get to know her and the truth. The rest of the lot couldgo to the devil.

And, of course, her use of profanity, bothmental and verbal, didn’t help her attract potential husbandseither.

“Who are you sending to the devil in yourthoughts?” Kieran asked with a half-grin.

“How did you guess?”

“You’re making that face.” He pointed ather.

It was sometimes difficult to hide thingsfrom one’s best friend.

“To be honest, I was cursing every man butyou and my da.”

Kieran nodded. “I’m pleased you still affordme pardon from hell.”

“Always,” she promised.

Kieran blew out a breath and seemed to relax.She’d seen him do the same many times as he resolved to face hisfate.

“Everything will be all right,” she offeredanother promise. But unlike the first, she didn’t know if it wastrue.

She wanted nothing more than to make him feelbetter, even if she was unsure. How would everything be all rightif his new wife forbid him from spending time with Ella?

What woman would allow her husband to have awoman as a best friend?