"Aye," the women around her concurred.

Agnes stepped forward from the crowd to confront Braden and Lochlan. "My bruises healed in only four days," she said, brushing her hand down her smooth cheek. "But my heart still aches for my youngest boy who died three years back under a MacDouglas sword. There will always be a hole there, aching for him."

Lochlan eyed them all. "You're not changing anything," he said firmly.

"Aren't we?" Maggie asked. "You men can't be killing and raiding the MacDouglas while you're coming here to negotiate with us. Nor can you wage war on empty stomachs."

Again the women agreed with her.

Braden opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Maggie heard another loud shout, only this one was a cry of joy.

"Braden, my wee bairn! You're home."

The group parted as Braden's mother, Aisleen, rushed toward them.

Maggie noticed the look of hatred on the Englishman's face as he saw the tiny brunette for the first time.

Never in her life had she seen so much malice directed at a single person. Frowning, she watched as the Englishman drifted back into the crowd to where Aisleen couldn't see him.

Braden drew his mother into a tight hug. "Ah, Mother, but it's good to see you."

"And you," she breathed, cupping his face in her hands and squeezing it tight an instant before she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "You've no idea how much I've worried over you. I was just this minute in the chapel saying prayers for your well-being."

"I'm sure he needs all the prayers he can get," Maggie muttered uncharitably beneath her breath.

"Now, don't be that way, Maggie," Aisleen chastised her. "This be my boy you're talking about and a fine, bonny man he is."

Bonny, Maggie couldn't argue, but fine...

Well, she couldn't really argue that either. He could, of course, be a little more steadfast and a lot less of a womanizer. Anyone would agree with that.

"Well," Maggie relented, "it was nice of him to help poor Bridget. But as you can see, he's no longer needed, so-"

"Mother," Braden said, interrupting her, "I was thinking that what you women need is a guardian."

Maggie's jaw dropped. Surely he wasn't suggesting what she thought he was.

"A guardian?" his mother asked in wide-eyed innocence.

"Aye," he said, glancing meaningfully to Maggie. "Lochlan told me that Bridget makes the sixth woman who has been attacked. I was thinking that perhaps I should stay here and help ensure no other woman is harmed until a settlement is reached."

Oh, he did, did he? Maggie couldn't believe what a fool he took her for!

"I just bet you do," Maggie snapped. "Tell me, am I the only one present who thinks this sounds a little too much like hiring a wolf to guard the flock?"

"Nay," Aisleen disagreed. "It sounds like a fine idea. We be needing a man on our side, and if Ewan will also agree to help... well, how can Lochlan argue with that?"

They all turned to look at Lochlan.

"I could definitely argue with it," he said, "but by the looks of all of you I'd be wasting my breath. If Braden wants to be a traitor, so be it. At least I won't have to listen to him whine over my cooking and the lack of feminine company."

"Nay," Maggie spoke up. "We can't allow them to stay here. What would Father Bede say?"

"I think it's a n.o.ble idea," the priest said as he joined them. "I can't protect any of you, but with Braden here, perhaps the others will think twice before harming anyone else. I think the Lord has sent Braden to us."

'Twas more like the devil sent him to make mischief, but Maggie didn't dare contradict the priest.

"See?" Braden said to her. "I have divine sanction."

"I seriously doubt that," Maggie said before she could stop herself. "But since I seem to be the only one here who can see through you, I have no choice save to yield."

Maggie took a step toward him and lowered her voice. "Know this, Braden MacAllister, I recognize you for what you are, and if you do anything to break the oath we swore to each other about not serving a man's needs until peace reigns, I swear I'll-"

"You'll what?" Braden taunted with those gleaming dimples. "Boil me in oil?"

Oh, but he was truly a demon, to be sure. A bright-eyed handsome one who had been sent to make her life miserable. "I'm not as helpless as you think."

"That I am quite sure of."

Maggie rolled her eyes in exasperation. She looked past Braden to where his mother stood. "For all our sakes, Aisleen, watch your son while I tend Bridget. And remember, he gets no food prepared by our hands. Let him scrounge like the others as best he can."

"As you say, Maggie, but is it truly fair to make him suffer when he's only here to help us?"

Maggie didn't miss the sheepish look on Braden's face. That removed any doubt she had as to his motivations. His mother might be blind to the man, but she was not.

"Fair or not, he's to get no food from us." Maggie looked about at the women who were still ogling Braden. "Nor anything else," she said pointedly.

The women beat a hasty retreat.

Braden arched his brow as Maggie walked away. She was truly something else. What she was, he couldn't say in polite company, but never before had he met a woman quite like her.

She wasn't the raving beauty men spent their lives fawning over. Her looks were more earthly fey. Her deep russet hair had defied her efforts to secure it into a braid and little wisps of it curled becomingly all around her face. A thousand freckles covered her pale skin like nutmeg sprinkled over cream, and her eyes...

The deep amber color burned with her fiery spirit. Indeed, he could still see her launching her tiny frame at the lumbering Fergus. Little did she know that a blow from him could have d.a.m.n near broken her fragile neck.

And for some reason that didn't bear thinking on, Braden didn't like the thought of her being hurt.

"I'll go get you some food," his mother whispered to him, before she vanished with the other women.

Once the women had all gone, Lochlan mouthed the words "Two days," before leaving as well.

Sin rejoined him, then leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Your quarter hour is up and instead of the women coming out, you seem to be staying in."

Braden grinned. "She was a little more challenging than I thought."

"A little?" Sin snorted. "Face it, Braden, that little piece of baggage has you pegged."

Braden laughed at the truth of it. Aye, she did. She had known when he was playing her and she had called him on it. Never before had a woman done that. Even when they knew he was playing with them, they played back.

But not Maggie.

Not that he minded. He loved a merry chase. It made victory even sweeter.

Ultimately, he would reign victorious. Of that he had no doubt.

"By the way," Ewan said as he fell in by Braden's side, "what were you saying earlier about charming the wench? I don't think yelling at her in front of the others was particularly charming."

"I dinna yell at her."

"Aye, you did," Sin interjected. "You d.a.m.n near took her head with your words."

Realizing there was no use in fighting both of them, Braden sighed. "Very well, I shall endeavor to treat her more kindly when next we meet."

"Yea," Sin said with a pointed look. "You do that."

At the moment, Braden felt like a man trapped in a bramble bush with thorns p.r.i.c.kling him all about. "I shall," he said between gritted teeth.

Aye, he'd treat her more kindly all right. And when he had her feasting from his hand, they would all owe him much.

"Did you see the way Braden was looking at you?" Pegeen asked a short time later as she and Maggie left the dormitory room where they had deposited Bridget.

"Aye," Maggie said. "Like a cat eyeing a mouse it wants to torture."

Pegeen gave an undignified snort. "Hardly. The man is enamored of you."

"The man is enamored of anything female."

Anything, that is, except me.

"Maggie," Pegeen chided, "what has gotten into you? 'Tis not like you to be so uncharitable toward anyone."

Maggie paused in the narrow corridor. Her friend was right. All her life, Maggie had been kind to anyone she met. Even her brothers had been impressed with her ability to settle squabbles and maintain a level head.

But Braden had always fl.u.s.tered her. Every time he came near, her heart pounded, her hands shook, and her senses reeled. He alone knocked her off keel and sent her careening out of control.

And all the while, he treated her kindly, but kept her at a respectful distance. Never once had he looked at her and actually seen her as a woman.

All these years she had yearned for some acknowledgment from him. Some sign that she wasn't invisible.

But no sign had ever come. Ever.

Sighing, Maggie spoke. "Pegeen, have you ever wanted something so badly that you ached to the core of your very soul for it?"

Pegeen furrowed her brow in thought. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

Maggie leaned against the wall, her thoughts churning. Long ago, she had given her heart to a man who didn't know she existed. She had watched him grow from a callow youth into a rogue to be reckoned with. Every time she had heard tales of Braden's exploits, her heart had broken a bit more. For with every conquest he made, she knew it took him further away from her.

After a time, she'd come to realize that nothing she did would draw Braden's attention. Not the tarts or pastries she had made especially for him on the days she knew he would be coming to her home. Not even the rich perfume Anghus had brought her years ago from his only journey to Ireland. Sweet, wonderful perfume she had worn for Braden's notice.

Well, he had noticedthat , all right. He'd sneezed until his eyes watered.

But in the end, she'd been forced to admit her love was completely and utterly unrequited.

To her, Braden was everything. He was the moon, the sun, the very air she breathed. And now he was back, spouting kind words and touching her with those wondrous hands of his. Kissing her hand in a way no unmarried woman of virtue should allow, and yet she'd been powerless to stop him.

For her, it was a dream come true.

But for him, it was a means to an end.

No matter how much she might want to pretend otherwise, she knew the truth of it. To him, she was merely another conquest to be added to the others. Or worse, an obstacle for him to remove so that his brother could continue the feud.

He only saw her today because his brother had made him see her. She held no delusions of the basic fact.

However, Maggie was not a trifle to be forgo ten. She was an intelligent, capable woman who refused to be used by any man. She would notlet him past her defenses, and she would not fail he mission.

Looking at Pegeen, she promised herself the she would never, ever fall victim to her treacherous body.

Her feelings could be controlled. The must be!

"I have known Braden since I was but two winters old," she said quietly, "and never once in a this time has he ever given me so much as glance. Don't you find it odd that all of a sudden he's interested?"

"Nay," Pegeen answered. "You are very pretty."

Maggie scoffed. "Is that why men fail to court me?"

"Men fail to court you because you have six brothers. Have you not seen the looks they cast at any man who comes near you?"

Maggie thought about it. Her brothers were bit overbearing. She was the youngest of sever and her brothers had always watched over he like tyrants over treasure.

Still, it didn't change anything.

"Braden is only after one thing," Maggie insisted.

Pegeen crossed her arms over her chest. "And that is?"

"To get us back into our homes."

"Is that not what we want as well?" Pegeen asked.

"Aye, to be sure. But we want to go backafter they have settled this feud. If Braden has his way, we'll go back and the bloodshed will continue."

Pegeen shook her head. "Surely he wouldn't be so cruel."

"You honestly think not?"

"But his mother...?"

"She sees him through the loving eyes of a doting mother. She is blind to his motives."