Page 12 of Glasgow Rogue

Annie closed her eyes briefly, then shook her head and started down the steps of the boardinghouse, leaving the men to follow.

They did, one on each side of her, their assortment of knives, swords and muskets rattling with every step.

Apparently, clan rivalry was still alive and well, for they both also wore tartans.

Even a bairn still in leading strings could probably figure out the two of them had no liking for each other, but they seemed to have decided to play some kind of competition-like game to which only they understood the rules.

She just hoped they weren’t regarding her as some kind of trophy.

She was tempted to point that rather important fact out, but since neither of them had actually alluded to her in the game in which they were engaged, she could hardly say she didn’t want to be the prize.

And maybe she wasn’t. Judging from the way both Niall and Owen tried to stay a step ahead of each other, they probably wouldn’t even notice if she stepped back and let them continue on jostling one another for position.

She tried it. Three steps later they both stopped, turning about as precisely as soldiers in a drill.

Niall frowned. “Why did ye stop?”

“Are you all right?” Owen asked.

“I… ’Tis a bit crowded walking three across,” Annie replied.

Owen nodded. “MacDonald can go ahead to his own office since I need to meet Mr. Haines.”

Niall gave him a steely look. “I told Annie’s mother I would escort her.”

He was bringing her mother into this? Annie was about to tell him that was nonsense, but then remembered her mother’s words to be more kind and bit back the retort. “There really is nae need, gentlemen. No one has accosted me or even come near.”

Niall and Owen each put a hand on their swords’ hilts.

“’Tis because they ken to respect the MacDonalds,” Niall said.

“And to fear the MacLeans,” Owen added.

Annie sighed. She hadn’t intended to encourage the rivalry. “’Tis a safe walk. Nae a person has even looked at me this morn.”

That much was true. Everyone that had been on the sidewalk had given startled looks to two highly-armed Highlanders and given all three of them a wide berth.

“Ye doona need strange men looking at ye,” Niall stated.

“Indeed, although it is difficult for a man to ignore a beautiful woman,” Owen said smoothly, “but that is why I am here to keep you safe.”

Niall glowered at him. “’Tis why I am here.”

Annie looked heavenward. She couldn’t stop herself. If she didn’t put a stop to whatever silly game they were playing, they’d probably end up in fisticuffs or worse, given the assortment of weapons they each carried. “Gentlemen. May we continue? I doona want to be late for work.”

Owen adjusted his sword belt and stepped to her side. “Of course. I should have thought of that.”

Niall adjusted his belt too as he stepped to Annie’s other side. “Aye, I should have thought of that too, lass.”

“Very well,” Annie answered and picked up her pace. It was only two more blocks to the warehouse. Surely they could make it.

****

“Excellent!” Mr. Haines said when, after they managed to arrive intact with no one wounded a short time later, Annie explained that Owen was interested in renting space. “I am sure we can find a spot. I will leave it to Kingsley, since I have a meeting this morning.”

Kingsley unfolded a layout of the warehouse and spread it on the counter after Mr. Haines left. “We will need to keep the kelp bales in a dry spot. Which location is best, Miss Ferguson?”

Finally. A man was treating her as an adult and not a dimwitted bairn.

John was asking for her actual opinion on something and not just assuming he knew the answer.

She smiled at him and moved toward the counter.

Then she realized that both Niall and Owen had moved with her.

She was tempted to look at her waist to see if they had woven a rope around it to stay attached.

“I think I am capable of handling this,” she said, her jaw so tight she hoped she didn’t crack a tooth.

“I want to make sure the spot is dry,” Owen said, “since I could lose substantial money if the kelp rots.”

He was right, drat it. “Of course.” Annie sidled to the left to give him more room to look and bumped into Niall. He didn’t budge when she glowered at him.

“I need to make sure I didn’t overlook any areas when I checked out the warehouse the other day,” he said.

“I’m sure ye missed nothing,” she replied and then realized that her skirts were still brushing his thigh. He glanced down at their closeness and she stepped quickly back, feeling her face warm. It heated even more when he grinned at her. “’Tis true I doona miss much, lass.”

“Miss Ferguson?” Kingsley sounded slightly annoyed at her delay.

He wasn’t more annoyed than Annie was. “Here,” she said and pointed to an area along the inside wall adjacent to the office. “It is the farthest from the outside doors and should keep the wind out as well as the rain.”

“Good choice,” Kingsley said.

“Thank ye.” At least someone thought her capable of making right decisions.

Kingsley folded the layout of the warehouse and tucked it under the counter, watching as Niall and Owen finally left. Then he gave Annie a curious look. “Do you really feel the need for bodyguards?”

“Nae!” The word came out a bit louder than she intended and Annie lowered her voice. “I have tried to tell them so, but they doona listen.”

“They should. You seem to be quite an intelligent woman.”

Aha! At least one man had sense. “Thank ye.”

“No need to thank me for what is obvious,” Kingsley replied. “But why do you think they hound you so? Especially MacDonald?”

Annie gave a frustrated sigh. “He just wants to make sure nothing goes wrong with my job.”

Kingsley gave her a sharp glance. “Like what?”

“My safety here, for one thing.”

“Well, he can put that fear to rest. As foreman, I will make sure the workers all know their place. You will not be accosted.”

Annie nodded. “I told him as much.” She remembered that Niall had muttered something in Gaelic.

“I know MacDonald is handling the books for Henderson Shipping temporarily.” Kingsley paused and then frowned. “Does he think you are not capable of keeping the ledgers here?”

“I doona ken about that.”

“Another fear to put to rest. I am here to help you, Miss Ferguson.”

“’Tis kind of ye,” Annie said.

“Just a part of my responsibilities. In fact…” Kingsley looked thoughtful. “…it might be a good idea if we went over the accounts together until you become more familiar with the accounting system.”

“I will have to check with Mr. Haines about that.”

“Absolutely, if you think you must,” Kingsley answered, “but he did hire you to be the manager.” He shrugged and lifted his palms upward. “He might consider it a weakness if you feel you have to ask his permission to do something that is simply a part of your job.”

Annie drew her brows together. “I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

“Do give it some thought. Two people checking the accounts cannot hurt.” Kingsley smiled at her. “After all, you do not want Mr. Haines to rethink his decision on hiring you because of simple arithmetic errors that could easily be avoided with a second set of eyes.”

She definitely did not want that to happen. “I realize Mr. Haines has taken a risk in hiring a woman, but I will nae let him down.”

“Forgive me. I did not mean to imply you would. Mr. Haines doesn’t even need to know that I did any checking.” Kingsley smiled again. “I am only here to assist you, Miss Ferguson, not to undermine your authority. Trust me, please.”

How she wished Niall—and even Owen—had been present to hear that statement. Maybe then they’d stop treating her like someone incapable of making decisions. Annie nodded slowly. “In that case, I will accept your help, Mr. Kingsley.”