The Stubborn Scots

Chapter 1

This is my first attempt at a Historical Romances, so please be kind. I realize I will not be historically correct at times, I everything I will be writing is based on what I've read.So enjoy!

******

Chapter 1

Aileen McKenna laughed at her father as he regaled them with the events of the day. Her father Angus McKenna was the Laird of Castle McKenna, she was his third child having two brothers before her and a sister after. The oldest Liam was the warlord and the one who will become laird when Angus passes. The second oldest Aidan goes to court more than Angus. In fact he was gone now seducing lasses. The youngest child Iona was barely of age, she followed Aidan around when ever he was home.

A servant approached her father handed him a note and left quickly. Angus read the note and gave it to Liam tears brimming in his eyes. Aileen looked back at her father,whose eyes were glazed ove. She looked at Liam and he had saddened face on.

"Papa what is it?" She asked her brows knit close together. Angus looked at her pain etched onto his face.

"Darling, your mother has taken ill." He said in a soft whisper choking up. Her mother Moira had been over at her sister's home helping her with the new baby. Her eyes drew tears. It was only moments later when they fell. The few quite tears morphed into large hiccuping sobs. Liam ran over to her to comfort her along with Iona . They helped her up and to her room.

"I want to see her." She said in quaking voice. Liam looked at her and shook his head. Aileen threw her chin up.

"I will go see her Liam." She said defiantly. The tears had stopped the only thing in her eyes was a rebellious spark. Liam looked down at her being at least a head taller than her. He recognized the looked just silently laughed, running his hands through his hair.

"You can go, but not without guards and you are not leaving tomorrow or tonight." He said sternly. She humphed at him and called her maid. She told her to start a bath and to help her pack for her trip. The maid nodded and quickly went to fulfil the request. Aileen shooed Liam out. The maid returned with the water. She poured it into the tub and left after leaving the jasmine oil for her.

She stepped delicately into the tub after removing her dress and and chemise. The melted into the warm water. She closed my eyes and dreamt.

A lean yet strong face, dark curly hair framed it. Moss green eyes with flecks of gold danced in the sun. His strong calloused hands held my small dainty one. A rich baritone laugh flooded my senses. The baritone voice whispered in a soft lilting brogue into my ear.

Her eyes opened just as the man's words drifted through her head. Her maid stood over her.

"Come, Aileen. You must get out now." Her voice filtered through her head. Aileen nodded as she rose from the tub. she wrapped a towel around her body She stepped out of the tub. As her maid helped her with her nightgown she thought about the ruggedly handsome, mysterious man. Her maid left Aileen to sleep.

Aileen laid in bed still trying to decipher the words he whispered to her.

Aileen awoke quickly, sitting up straight. She looked out the large bay window and saw soft pinks, yellows and purple spreading across the horizon. She knew the rest of the house wouldn't be up so she scrambled to her chest. Aileen toook out many of the things her maid had packed leaving only a few gowns and her essentials. She dragged the bag down to the kitchen and took some food to last her a four day ride to the Campbells. Aileen ran to the stables and saddled up a chestnut gelding with a little white star on his forehead. She sung into the saddle after feeding her horse Audrey and and began to ride.

***

Tannar McDonald rode with his small party. He started to see small brown figure coming up the hill. He held his hand up stopping his party. As the figure cam closer he made out the plaid the woman wore.

"Mckenna." Tannar growled in a low voice. The horse and woman came closer til the woman stopped a few yards in front of them, gawking at their plaids. He heard a muffled McDonald come from the lass's mouth.

Tannar took in the lass' chestnut hair with honey running through it, her whiskey eyes and her peaches and cream skin. Her whiskey eyes gazed up at him defiantly. Tannar loosened his mouth into a small grin.

"A McKenna lads!" He said to his men. "Now why would Angus allow a McKenna lass on McDonald land?" He asked ignoring the McKenna altogether. His men guffawed and leered at the lass.

He heard a small growl from the McKenna. Tannar turn his head toward her with a fake innocence.

"Yes McKenna? Is there something I can do to help you." He said with fake curiousity. Her whiskey eyes became a burnt carmel in her anger. Tannar was fascinated with her eyes. A another growl came and something whooshed by his head. He turned his head towards the direction of the object and saw a a sharp dagger rooted firmly into a tree a few yards away. His head whiped back to her where he saw a haughty expression on her face with the carmel boiling in her eyes. A large string of curses flew from his lips towards her and his own stupidity.

"You better you damn glad that you are a lass." He snarled bringing his horse close to her. He saw her straighten.

"You better get you and your horse away from me." She said icely. Tannar looked down at her.

"Why would I do that lass?" He asked just as cold. She looked up at him with a heated stare.

"You know what lass, since you are on my land and you seem reluctant to get off, I just may have to take you to the castle." He said, grabbing her reins before she could gallop off. He quickly took some rope and tied her wrist together. She started thrashing at me.

"Let me go you bastard!" She shouted.Tannar covered her mouth with his hand.

"Will you shut up lass." He growled. She continued to fight Tannar kicking him and the horse. The horse neighed and took off in a canter down the hill past his men. He cursed and took off after her. A high pitch scream percied his eardrum. He pushed his stallion hard until he came upon her. She laid face down in the grass softly groaning in pain.

"Damn you lass." He said under his breath while picking her up. He got on his horse and put her in front of him. He rode back to his men.

"Go collect her horse, down the hill." He said curtly. They nodded and went to do his bidding.

"Go back to the castle when you get it." He called after them. He rode Windfire back to the castle. He called the maid from the bailey. Many gathered around him.

"Get a room aired and bring Meg to the room when aired." He said briskly. Servants rushed to do so. He walked up the stair following the servants. When the room was aired he quickly set her on the bed where Meg rushed to her side scowling at Tannar.

"What did ye do to the lass." She said as she tended to her wounds.

"Meg! Why would I hurt a lass?!" He ask like an offended child. She hmphed disbeliving and shooed him away. He gave an exasperated sigh and left the room when his mother came to him in a flurry of worry.

"Oh! Oh Tannar! Boy did you get hurt?" She asked while checking him over for bruises. Tannar laughed at her.

"Mama I'm fine. The only one hurt was the McKenna lass." He said still laughing.

"Tannar dont you dare laugh at your mother. I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it." She said sternly with her hands on her hips.

"Good, now take me to the girl and tell me everything." She said already making her way down the hall. Tannar sighed,caughted up with her and proceeded to tell her the story.

********

Please tell me how you liked it. Please be kind though as I said this is my first attempt at writing this kind of story.

-Kathryn