Chapter 1
Gavin Mac Brodie was certain there was something amiss with Seana’s whiskie.
Somehow, the woman had managed to snare the very last man in the Highlands Gavin would have thought might ever wed.
During his brother’s seven and twenty years, he had bedded more women than the entire Brodie clan had fingers to count on.
But even more amazing was the simple fact that Colin was drunk with joy over the end of his promiscuity.
His eyes followed his new wife wherever she went, mooning over her in a way that Gavin found quite embarrassing.
Good thing he wasn’t a drinker, because he sure as hell didn’t need a woman to lead him about by his nose.
Everywhere he looked there was yet a new bride—the MacKinnon laird with his new English missus, Gavin’s brother Leith and Alison MacLean, his sister Meghan and Piers de Montgomerie.
And now Montgomerie’s cousin Elizabet and Broc Ceannfhionn—another fellow Gavin would never have imagined susceptible to the wiles of women.
Having reached his limit over so much mooning, he was compelled to seek solace in the forest where Seana had once made her home with her father.
Her potstill was still there, a stone’s throw away, because she had refused to move it, despite his brother’s persistence.
Seana claimed the spot held special magik necessary to a good brew.
So she came every day to check the whiskie.
But that didn’t matter to Gavin; he could handle Seana well enough—even if he thought her bent toward the mystical was a bunch of malarkey.
He’d had enough of fair folk stories to last a lifetime.
Like Seana, his Grandminny Fia had been keen to the old ways.
She too had lived close to nature, loving the forest and dragging his sister Meggie out with her every opportunity.
Together they had brewed concoctions of meadowsweet, bloodroot and heather and sometimes shoved them down his and his brothers’ throats when they were ill.
That was all well and good, but as far as Gavin was concerned, things like the will-o’-the-wisps were naught more than bugs.
The still folk were little more than legends and the banshee were simply tales auld women told to make the wee ones behave.
All these women and their folklore… it was, indeed, enough to drive a man to drink, though dipping into Seana’s witch’s brew wouldn’t get his house built any faster and he was bound and determined to get out of the lovebirds’ ways, even if he broke his back with the labor.
Once the house was completed, he was certain no one would stop him from leaving, but he couldn’t take the chance that they might try.
He didn’t want to continue living with his brothers, and certainly didn’t care to hear the sounds of their lovemaking echoing through the halls all night long.
Lying alone in his bed, there was nothing more disturbing.
No, it was past time to build his own home, one in which he was the master—and he was going to do it right here.
This was No Mon’s Land—craggy country in the shadow of Chreagach Mhor, the ancient seat of the MacKinnon laird.
The land below the bluff was dotted with cairns—rugged stone mounds that stood like proud sentries guarding the landscape.
Gavin had placed his homestead carefully so as not to disturb the olden tombs, for no matter what a man believed, it never boded well to disturb the souls of the dead.
Nay, but the area had stones aplenty, so Gavin was simply careful not to snatch a single one from the surrounding mounds.
Now, after weeks of working on the house when he could, the walls were finished, and soon he would raise the roof.
He sat down upon a fallen log, a little breathless, and contemplated the potential of his new life.
He didn’t know what he was seeking, but somehow he knew he would find it right here.
He sat, resting a bit, examining the walls, inspecting his week-old mortar for cracks.
Aye, this would make a fine home indeed—not far from any clan should he decide he needed company. And in the distance, the loch sparkled like a brilliant blue gem beneath the sunlight. He lifted up the flagon at his feet, drinking deeply of the well water he’d brought.
That would be his next step, to dig his well, but for that he would enlist the help of his brothers, and his sister’s husband if Piers was so inclined.
He had visions of a garden in his mind, where he would plant cabbage and peas and kale as well as whatever grains his new sister-in-law needed for her brew.
He’d made a deal with Seana and she’d given him this land where’d she’d lived with her father.
It wasn’t precisely hers to give. Still, Gavin believed it was good to deal honestly with every living soul and in Seana’s heart, this was her home.
In return, Gavin would grow the grains she needed for her brew and together they would supply the neighboring clans with good whiskie.
Aye, it was a very good plan.
A very good plan, indeed.
He took another swig from the flagon.
The scent of heather filled his nostrils.
The afternoon was balmy as far as Highland summers went, the air still and sweet, but with the waning of summer, the night would bring a bitter chill. When the time came, he would need blankets aplenty… and he had his dog Brownie for company—if only he could keep the bluidy cats away.
He spotted yet another pair of yellow eyes at the edge of the forest—the fourth feline to grace his presence today. The woods were teeming with them.
His grandminny would have had him believe they were the fair folk incarnate, changeable as they were. But all he saw was a bunch of bluidy cats crouched in the shade of the trees.
Sweat poured down the side of his face as he gauged the sun’s position in the sky.
There was no more than an hour or so left before the sweltering heat gave way to a cooling breeze.
If he kept going, he would miss the evening meal again, but he would rather use the twilight to work.
The sooner he completed the dwelling, the sooner he could enjoy his blissful silence.
An orange calico caught his eye—gave him a grin—or so it seemed—and then darted away. Gavin stood, swiping his forearm across his temple, screwing his face at the animal, when suddenly a gust of wind cast dust into his eyes and he yelped in surprise.
“Damn bluidy hell!” he cursed, dropping the flagon and rubbing his fingers into his closed lids.
“Ye’ll not be earning any favors with that foul tongue!” a female voice declared, not far away.
Gavin hurriedly wiped the dirt from his eyes and reopened them.
He spotted the woman standing where the calico had been and he blinked at the sight of her.
His tongue tied.
He knew damned well near everybody in these parts but he had never seen the lass before in all his days.
Where she had come from was anybody’s guess, but she sure as hell didn’t look like anyone he knew.
She was petite, stood no taller than his chest and her hair was red as fire, her eyes as green as the purest emeralds.
And she was painted.
And naked.
It was the naked part that got his tongue.
Seeming as though she had nary a care in the world, she sauntered forward, unfazed by her lack of dress. Her hands went to those luscious hips. “What are ye doing?” she demanded, as though she had a right to know.
Gavin narrowed his eyes at her, his hands going to his own hips, unaccustomed to being held to task by strange naked women. “What right have you to ask?”
She gave him a look that was full of indignation, never cowering from his gaze. “By the right of MacAlpin!” she declared.
Crazy wench.
Who went about minding the affairs of others invoking the name of dead kings?
Gavin averted his gaze, unable to keep his eyes above her shoulders. Though painted with beautiful blue markings, her breasts were bare nevertheless. “Are ye lost, perchance?”
“Nay,” she countered, “Though seems to me you are!”
“Nay, lass, I know these lands like I know the back of my hands.”
“Not so well as that, I think!” She stomped her foot gently, causing her breasts to jiggle a little and Gavin realized that he was staring yet again.
She pointed to her painted breasts—the very place he was trying so hard to keep his eyes away from. “Even I know hallowed land when I see it! Are ye not afeared of invoking spirits?”
Och, but Gavin couldn’t think straight while she stood there looking like that, and her nearness was making him woozy. She continued to scowl at him, and Gavin had no idea how bloody long he held his breath until he found himself suddenly with a gob full of dirt.