Page 3 of The Highland Heir

He searched each face until he came to theperson he was looking for. Just seeing her made his fingers relax.Her happy smile and warm brown eyes eased him as no othercould.

“Ellie, I need your help.”

Chapter Two

Ellisay Ross jumped along with the otherwomen when the door to the kitchen slammed against the wall. Kieranstood there, taking up most of the opening, his face white and hislight green eyes wide.

“What has happened?” Marnie, the cook,asked.

“Is it a siege?” Joan worried.

“Nay.” Kieran raised one of his large handsto set them at ease. “Everything is fine. I just need to speak toEllie, if ye can spare her a minute or two.”

Ella wasn’t worried there was a raid, but sheknew his claim that everything was fine was not true. Something waswrong with her best friend. Kieran was beyond upset.

Being friends since they were old enough towalk meant she knew him better than anyone, and right then shecould tell he was as frantic as a wounded animal.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she hurriedaway and followed him outside, where he leaned over, pulling indeep breaths of warm July air.

If Ella was forced to guess, she’d say thishad to do with the laird. For only the laird could upset Kieran inthis manner. The laird never found an end to the list of grievanceshe held against his son for doing nothing more than existing.

Rolfe Sinclair was a fair laird to his clan,but didn’t often extend that same courtesy to his second-bornson.

Kieran was too old to cry as he had whenthey’d been younger, but she could tell it was serious all thesame.

“What has happened?” she asked, reaching outto rest her hand on the hard muscle of his shoulder.

He remained in his position, bent at thewaist with his hands braced on his knees, breathing as if he’d justrun a great distance.

“I’m to be married,” he managed while heavingin gusts of air.

She gasped and gripped his shoulderharder.

“How soon?” she asked.

Kieran shrugged. “I’m not sure. Why should hetell me? I’m only the groom. They’re in his study signing thebetrothal agreement right now.”

“So soon?” She shook her head, knowing asshe’d said it that it was not so soon. Kieran was twenty summers.His father could have married him off as early as ten and four.

“Aye. I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve known myfate for many years. I just thought there would be more time. And Ithought I would at least meet the lass I was to marry.”

Ella nodded. “Who is she?”

“The Mackenzie’s daughter.”

Ella nodded again, though she’d never set hergaze on the Mackenzie laird or his daughter. She didn’t know ifthis was good news or not. But she knew why Kieran would beupset.

To marry a complete stranger would beunsettling to say the least. For Kieran—someone who had been torndown constantly by a father who could barely stand to look at him,let alone care for him as a father should—he was uneasy withstrangers.

And now he would be taking one to wife.

“It might not be so bad. She might bebeautiful. She could be witty and smart, and mayhap the three of uswill be great friends,” she said, trying to sound encouraging.

Over the many years they had been friends,she’d spent a great deal of time encouraging Kieran so he’d notbelieve the cruel things his father said.

Her hand rubbed a circle on his back as shedid whenever he was upset. She briefly wondered why she’d nevernoticed the way the muscles in his back pulled and twisted. Thestrength shifting under his skin was not unlike that of ahorse.

She pulled her hand back when it felt as ifthe heat from his skin might burn her.