Read Online The Highlander's Stolen heart (Macinnes Sisters Trilogy) by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page A

a good portion of their winter food if she had not been attentive. More hunting had been done and more meat preserved. Her clan had done well this past winter and before leaving, she had reminded them that the ground needed preparing for planting. She had also instructed Maura, the woman who shared the duty of caring for her father with her, in how to prepare the potion she gave him in case he should require more while she was gone.
    His illness had seemed to come on so suddenly and he had grown weaker before her and her sisters’ eyes. His illness had been a deciding factor in his decision to see, at least, one of his daughters wed. This way if anything should happen to him, there would be a strong warrior to become laird of the Macinnes clan.
    Patience had hoped that their father would have seen how valuable a laird she would make, but their da had had other ideas. If only the three of them had been left to decide their own futures, they would, at this moment, be home safe.
    It was an hour, perhaps more, when the small troop of men was suddenly brought to a halt. Emma tried peering past the broad-shouldered warriors that sat attentive to their surroundings, but could see nothing. She did not hesitate. She wound her way around the warriors. None stopped her. None paid her heed, but then it was not uncommon for men to ignore her.
    “What is it?” she asked anxiously as she approached Rogan.
    He turned to her and his stomach clenched at the worry in her eyes, but he did not hold the truth from her. “The tracks divide again, but which way your sister travels is not clear.”
    Emma felt as if someone gripped her heart and squeezed tight, and she shut her eyes against the pain. She could not lose both her sisters. She could not. When she opened her eyes, she was stunned to see that her hand was firmly gripping Rogan’s forearm and while it was not proper for her to touch him with such familiarity, it mattered not to her. Holding onto him, feeling the strength of his taut muscles gave her some sense of hope, so she refused to let go.
    His hand hurried to cover hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. A strange sensation rippled through her, a shiver yet not a shiver, for she felt no chill. Whatever it was made her feel cared for and protected, as if she was loved.
    The strange reaction to his touch had her gripping his arm more tightly, as if she never wanted to let go of him.
    Patience’s voice suddenly echoed in her head. Keep your wits about you or all will be lost.
    A reprimand and a lesson all in one, and it almost brought a smile to Emma’s face. She focused her thoughts on Patience. She was skilled in so many areas. What would she have done?
    It came to her in an instant. “Patience divided her men so that whoever followed had to divide their men as well.”
    Rogan nodded as he spoke. “It would weaken both forces.”
    “It would also enable her to search a wider area.”
    “Then it matters not which trail we follow since no doubt your sister gave orders for her men to eventually meet in one place.”
    Relief flooded her and she eased her hand off him, though she thought she felt reluctance on his part to let her go. Again, a fanciful thought she had no right thinking.
    The skies grew heavy with storm clouds as they continued traveling and thunder rolled in the distance. Emma could not help but think that the heavens warned them of proceeding any further. Or were dark forces threatening their journey?
    “What troubles you?”
    Emma turned to Rogan, riding beside her on his horse. “I cannot decide if the heavens warn or dark forces threaten.”
    It was strange how often her concerns mirrored his own, though he dared not tell her that. Or was it that he did not want to admit that they often thought more alike than not?
    “Ominous weather brings gloom along with it,” he said.
    “I suppose, though being attacked by warriors that materialize and vanish like ghosts does not help.”
    “They are not ghosts. They