Page 10 of Forge of the Highlander’s Destiny
Cohen kissed the top of his sister’s head, and he smiled.
Arya watched the gesture, and she felt a wave of affection for him.
He was good and kind, but he could also fight back.
But those were dangerous feelings to have about a man.
She didn’t want to think about listing off Cohen Kirk’s positive traits.
However, despite that logic, Arya knew what was going on. She didn’t like how she was beginning to like him. It made things far too complicated, frustrating, and it went very much against the promise she’d made when she was younger: not to have anything to do with men.
While she was thinking—yet not thinking—about Cohen’s positive attributes, she hadn’t realized that she’d stopped walking. Both Sienna and Cohen turned around at the same time when they were a number of steps away.
“Are ye comin’, Lass? Whether I think yer presence is strange or nae, ye do deserve a meal.” Sienna gave her a warm smile, and Arya jumped to catch up to them, inwardly thanking Sienna for her kindness.
Even if Laird McMahon seemed a fool, he was a harmless fool, and harmless men were exactly her style. Once she sat down on one side of Cohen while Sienna sat on the other side next to her husband, Arya realized how hungry she was.
It hadn’t been enough to just eat in her chamber the night before and the morning, and now, she felt like she could consume the entire table of warm foods.
Roast chicken, warm bread with butter, steaming potatoes, boiled carrots.
The lot of it was looking good to her, and she felt a swell of gratitude that Laird Sinclair had included her as his dinner guest.
Guest.
She remembered the way that Cohen had used the word, awkwardly and slowly, as if his mind had selected it but still wasn’t sure if it should be used.
Well, it was as good as she could have thought of, certainly.
Now that the stress of finding her way out of Muir Castle was over, the awkwardness and precariousness of her situation was becoming ever clearer.
As a servant poured the wine, and Arya gathered things onto her plate, she caught Cohen’s eye.
He was watching her as if she was something to be studied. There was a slight furrow between his brows. When she lifted one brow in silent question, he looked away and spoke to his sister instead.
“How long would ye like to stay, Sienna?” he asked, facing away from her completely and looking as if he was entirely engrossed in that conversation.
“Well, I had hoped to hear a few things about yer changes with the clan. I ken shepherding is growin’ more popular of late, what with the damned English gettin’ involved, and I wanted to see what plans ye have drawn up.” As she spoke, Thomas was still eating, not even engaging in the conversation.
A pang of jealousy struck Arya as she watched Sienna’s confidence and listened to her discuss leading a clan.
Cohen was listening too, as if it was no strange thing that his sister was discussing such matters.
Arya had never seen a woman with such power or confidence before.
It was mesmerizing, and it made her run to freedom all the more beautiful.
She would be like Sienna one day; she was resolved to it.
“Fascinating, is it nae?” Mr. Marshall said to her right. Arya turned to him, surprised that he had spoken since he appeared the shyer, more reserved sort of man.
“What is?” she asked.
“To hear a woman speak of such things. Lady McMahon takes a great interest in the McMahon Clan matters. Laird McMahon allows it freely.” Calvin was watching Sienna speak of the difficulty of finding good shepherds, and Arya felt a little tingle of annoyance that he had used the word ‘allow’ to speak about a husband and wife.
“Och, aye, it is fascinating. I think it quite refreshing. Me faither would never have allowed such a thing. However much I might have wanted it.” She scrunched her nose when she realized her words sounded too much of bitterness, and so she added with a smile, “And what do ye do at McMahon Castle?”
She noticed that Calvin seemed to sit up a little taller. “I assist the Laird with every and all matters. Whatever he needs, I supply. I speak with the villagers, help to collect taxes, and as ye can see, I work with the Lady Sienna each day.”
Arya took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, even though she wished she could shovel all the food in at once. Her ladylike manners won out. “Aye, well that sounds very nice indeed.”
“Och, Lady Muir,” Sienna trilled from across the table, turning Arya’s attention away from her tablemate.
“Ye may just call me Arya. Naeone above me faither’s guards calls me that.”
“Arya, then,” Sienna grinned. “Dae tell us for I am dyin’ to ken. Yer story intrigues me. What was yer plan when ye left yer faither’s castle to come here? What dae ye plan on daein’ next?”
Arya started, her heart pattering away with worry as Sienna looked at her encouragingly. Even Cohen had turned to look at her, and she knew that he was likely wondering that as well.
‘‘When would Arya leave?’’ would now constantly be the question on everybody’s lips.