Page 6 of Healing the Highland Sinner
“Ellair,” he answered her unspoken question. “And what might yer name be, lass?”
“Me name is nae yer concern,” she replied sharply. “What is it yet want? Why have ye been followin’ us around like a lost puppy?”
He chuckled. “The name’s Ellair. And I’ve been followin’ ye around because truthfully, I’ve been tryin’ tae figure out how tae approach ye.”
“Approach me about what?”
“About a job,” he replied simply.
Rosalind cut her eyes to Ciar, who remained standing behind the stranger, his face hard and uneasy. He also looked wary and distrustful. But then, that seemed to be his default expression, so Rosalind tried to keep from reading too much into it.
“And why would ye come tae see me about a job then, eh?” she asked.
“Because I need the work and I heard ye pay well,” he replied. “Plus, ye need somebody with me skill with a blade.”
“Is that so?”
“Aye. ‘Tis so,” he said with a wink. “And maybe ye can use me other skills as well, eh?”
Ciar stepped forward, his face dark and twisted with anger. “I told ye tae watch yer filthy bleedin’ mouth. Ye need tae learn some respect.”
The man squared up and faced Ciar with a mischievous grin on his lips. That was new. Most men shrank from Ciar when he bore down on them. And for good reason. Not only was he a massive, hulking man. His skill with a blade was unrivaled. But this Ellair fellow was not intimidated in the least. Or at least, he put up a good show. His confidence was impressive and had Rosalind wondering if perhaps he was as skilled with a blade as he boasted.
She put a hand on Ciar’s broad chest. “’Tis fine. I dinnae think ye can teach this one respect if he’s nae learned it by now.”
“Apologies, me lady,” the man said with a slight but respectful bow. “I didnae mean tae give ye offense or offer any disrespect. Truly.”
“Ye should tell yer mouth that,” Ciar grumbled.
A grin flickered across Rosalind’s lips, but she hid it behind her hand until she got it under control. She cleared her throat and put on as sour of an expression as she could manage.
“Ye better learn tae control it or I’ll control it fer ye, boy.”
“Ye keep callin’ me boy,” Ellair said. “Ye realize we are probably the same age, eh?”
Ciar’s jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth and Rosalind feared he was going to attack the man. She put a hand on his broad chest and looked at him with an easy smile on her lips.
“Ciar,” Rosalind said. “Be easy.”
He stood his ground, glowering at Ellair for a moment before shifting his gaze to her then taking a step back, clearly displeased to do so. He had always been protective of her and Rosalind appreciated that about him. She knew she could always count on him to have her back. But sometimes he was too protective.
“Ciar is right, ye dae have quite the cheek on ye,” Rosalind said. “And one of these days, that cheek is goin’ tae get ye intae trouble ye may nae be able tae get out of.”
“Maybe. But I’m pretty capable of takin’ care of meself.”
“I’ve nay doubt,” Rosalind replied. “But I’m afraid we’ve got nay positions open on me crew, so I suggest ye sod off.”
“’Tis nae what I heard.”
“Then ye’ve heard wrong. Besides, ye wouldnae fit in with me crew.”
“Nay? And why is that?”
“For one thing, we work as a team. Me crew is one. And we’ve nay use fer people who think they ken better than us or try tae impress others by actin’ the fool,” she said. “And though ye may be amusin’ and perhaps even capable with a blade, ye strike me as the sort who daesnae work well with others. Hence, ye’re of nay use tae me.”
For the first time since she’d laid eyes on him, the man’s cocky grin slipped. He frowned and cleared his throat, and she could see his mind racing. Could see him trying to figure out some way to salvage this. He clearly needed the work. But could he be trusted? Rosalind wasn’t sure. And if she was unsure of somebody, she couldn’t afford to take him on.
Ciar cleared his throat to draw her attention then motioned for her to join him. She turned to the two men behind him.
