Happy Monday, Medieval Monday! Our theme this week is betrayal.
A young girl’s secret a promise to her dying mother to keep her clan intact,
leads to intrigue and even betrayal. Today’s excerpt is from Lane McFarland’s Heather. Enjoy!
A young girl’s secret a promise to her dying mother to keep her clan intact,
leads to intrigue and even betrayal. Today’s excerpt is from Lane McFarland’s Heather. Enjoy!
Excerpt from Heather
Alec’s chest constricted. How long
had it been since he last saw her? Three years? Would she remember him? Would
she remember his kiss?
had it been since he last saw her? Three years? Would she remember him? Would
she remember his kiss?
The maid rubbed her mistress’
cheek, and Heather wiped the same spot with a cloth. When the servant nodded,
Heather hurried toward him.
cheek, and Heather wiped the same spot with a cloth. When the servant nodded,
Heather hurried toward him.
Did she stuff a black scarf in her
sleeve? His eyes narrowed.
sleeve? His eyes narrowed.
“Laird Campbell, welcome to
MacDougall Castle.” She extended a hand. “Yer timing could not have been
better.”
MacDougall Castle.” She extended a hand. “Yer timing could not have been
better.”
“Mistress MacDougall.” He bent and
placed a kiss on her knuckles. Calluses covered her once soft palm. He
straightened and studied her blue eyes. “Why so formal?”
placed a kiss on her knuckles. Calluses covered her once soft palm. He
straightened and studied her blue eyes. “Why so formal?”
“It’s been years since we last met.
I’m afraid that young lass ye knew grew up.”
I’m afraid that young lass ye knew grew up.”
The gorgeous azure depths of her
eyes mesmerized him. “Aye, she grew into a beautiful woman.”
eyes mesmerized him. “Aye, she grew into a beautiful woman.”
A flush spread over her cheeks and
she withdrew her hand. “I understand we’ve ye to thank for our lives.”
she withdrew her hand. “I understand we’ve ye to thank for our lives.”
“One of yer da’s men—a young lad—is
who ye should thank. He saved Laird MacDougall from certain death.”
who ye should thank. He saved Laird MacDougall from certain death.”
Something akin to caution flittered
across her eyes. Had he not been watching closely, he would’ve missed it.
across her eyes. Had he not been watching closely, he would’ve missed it.
She crossed her arms over her
waist. “My da’s fortunate to have many good men defending the castle.” Her eyes
widened, and she reached out. “Ye’re hurt. Forgive me, I didn’t notice.”
waist. “My da’s fortunate to have many good men defending the castle.” Her eyes
widened, and she reached out. “Ye’re hurt. Forgive me, I didn’t notice.”
Alec caught her hand and rubbed her
skin with the pad of his thumb. “’Tis nothing to worry over.”
skin with the pad of his thumb. “’Tis nothing to worry over.”
“If ye’ll permit me, I’ll tend ye
and yer men so ye can be on yer way. I’m sure ye’re anxious to return home.”
and yer men so ye can be on yer way. I’m sure ye’re anxious to return home.”
Was she eager to be rid of him?
He hesitated. “We are ready to be
home, but we’ll repair yer keep first.”
home, but we’ll repair yer keep first.”
Her back stiffened. When she smiled,
it didn’t quite reach her lovely eyes. “Thank ye. If ye will excuse me, I need
to see to Da.”
it didn’t quite reach her lovely eyes. “Thank ye. If ye will excuse me, I need
to see to Da.”
“I understand.”
Heather slipped past him. Her hips
swayed as she stepped around a lass carrying blankets and hurried through the
hall to her father.
swayed as she stepped around a lass carrying blankets and hurried through the
hall to her father.
Alec exhaled and raked a hand
through his hair. He was needed out-of-doors. Rubbing the stinging cut on his
chest, he marched past the injured. As he strode down the grey steps and into
the bailey, his thoughts turned to the slender lad with the black scarf.
through his hair. He was needed out-of-doors. Rubbing the stinging cut on his
chest, he marched past the injured. As he strode down the grey steps and into
the bailey, his thoughts turned to the slender lad with the black scarf.
Why did he
feel something was amiss? Why was the lad spirited away? And why did Heather
make light of his fighting?
feel something was amiss? Why was the lad spirited away? And why did Heather
make light of his fighting?
Back Cover Copy from Heather
Bent on overcoming the belief he’s failed his
aging father, Laird Alec Campbell concentrates on proving his worth to his
people. He provides for them and leads men into battle, vowing never again to
disappoint his clan or lose his heart.
aging father, Laird Alec Campbell concentrates on proving his worth to his
people. He provides for them and leads men into battle, vowing never again to
disappoint his clan or lose his heart.
Bound by a promise to her dying mother, Heather
MacDougall secretly leads rebel warriors in her quest to keep her clan intact
and hold off those who plot to overtake her father’s land. She fights to keep
her secrets safe, while resisting the lure of the handsome young laird who
challenges her defenses.
MacDougall secretly leads rebel warriors in her quest to keep her clan intact
and hold off those who plot to overtake her father’s land. She fights to keep
her secrets safe, while resisting the lure of the handsome young laird who
challenges her defenses.
They can’t deny their passionate attraction, but
can their love survive their secrets?
can their love survive their secrets?
Buy Link for Heather: Amazon
Thank you for having me, Ruth! I really appreciate it.
It's my pleasure, Lane. Have a great day!