When Ella got up to chase after a butterfly, Margaret decided to use the opportunity to learn more about this Highlander who, at least for a short while, held their fate in his hands. Men always enjoyed talking about themselves, so it should not be difficult.
“I don’t know your name,” she said, thinking his clan name would give her a clue as to who he was and where he was taking her.
“Finlay,” he said. “Most people call me Finn.”
So much for that. She would have to try another tack.
“Ye seem like a good man, Finn,” she began, hoping flattery would help.
“Do I?” he asked with a gleam in his eye. “Women don’t usually tell me how good I am until after we’ve been to bed.”
She refrained from rolling her eyes. “What I mean is that ye don’t seem the sort to kidnap women, and ye made it clear ye didn’t want to. So why are you doing this?”
“’Tis a long tale, but it comes down to this,” he said. “I agreed to kidnap ye in exchange for lands of my own.”
She was surprised he did not gild his answer in a pretense of duty to his clan or some other high-minded justification. That saved her from having to gently probe until he revealed his true reason.
“So,” he said, giving her a devilish grin that made her stomach do a strange flip, “don’t go mistaking me for a good man.”
At least he was honest about it, which was better than most men.
“Ye make a fine porridge,” she said, as she scraped the last of it from her bowl. “You’re a man of many talents.”
He gave her that grin again and waggled his eyebrows.
“I know,” she said before he could speak, “most women tell ye thatafteryou’ve spent the night together.”
She did not know what made her say that out loud. William never took teasing well, but the Highlander responded by throwing his head back and laughing.
“Well, lass,” he said, “we did sleep together.”
Her cheeks went hot. She thought again of that dent in the blanket beside her and wondered how many more nights they would share that blanket.What would she do if he tried to seduce her? While she was contemplating that prospect, he took her bowl from her.
“I can clean up,” she said, and started to get up.
“Even after I kidnapped you and your daughter, ye cannot help being polite, can ye?” He gave her an amused smile. “Well, we kidnappers have our rules of courtesy as well, and I’ll not put ye to work.”
With quick efficiency, he washed their bowls in the stream and then returned to sit beside her.
“You’re good with Ella,” Margaret said as she watched the small girl try and miss catching the butterfly again. “Have ye children of your own?”
“Ach, no!” He gave a dry laugh. “At least I’ve succeeded in avoiding that.”
“But ye must want children one day,” she said.
“Nay.”
She was taken aback by the certainty of his tone. The men she knew considered it their duty to sire heirs and took pride in the number of their offspring as a reflection of their manhood.
“Why not?” she asked, turning to look at him. The question seemed a bit rude, but she was curious.
“I might turn out to be a father like my own,” he said. “I wouldn’t dothatto a child.”
“What is your father like?” she asked.
“Drunk and miserable,” he said with a laugh.
“Ye need not be like him.”