Secret Longings of a Highlander

By S.R. Roddy

Like her new mistress, Ada is as strong and stubborn as a Highland lass could be. When enemies from the past threaten her son’s safety trouble ensues as she attempts to deal with the threat on her own.

Haunted by his past and the guilt he carries, Miles is forced to hide his feelings for years. Until the day he follows his lass into trouble. Fear forces him to realize that it’s long past time to show the vexing hellcat what she truly means to him.

Note: This novelette is not meant as a standalone story. It is a short, 10,000 word misadventure between two side characters in the MacKay Series. Miles and Ada’s tale takes place during the same time line as Book Three.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.R. Roddy
• Release date: Nov 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310469428

S.R. Roddy

Married with five children, three cats and one very large dog she lives happily in a small town north of Austin, Tx. She is an ordinary housewife who spends most of her day homeschooling her four teenage children. From a young age she discovered a deep love for books that has encouraged her vivid imagination and touched her romantic spirit. With the help and support of her family she spends her spare time writing with the desire to share her creativity with other avid readers like herself.

Book preview

Secret Longings

of a

Highlander

MacKay’s Book 3.5

S.R. Roddy

Copyright © 2015 S.R. Roddy

All Rights Reserved

www.srroddy.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission of the author except in the case of quotations used for critical articles or reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

Chapter 1

Doona do this, Miles begged.

He didn’t wish to be left behind on this excursion. Conn was in trouble and all available men would be needed.

I do nothing tae shame ye, Miles. Ye must ken the truth in that. 'Tis time ye stop hidin’. Yer place 'tis here, fulfilling a promise tae a dead mon, Ramsey declared.

But I—

She needs ye more than we do. Something isnae right an’ ye ken it, his friend offered, voice low.

Miles nodded his head once, then sighed in defeat. He knew his friend was correct, but the idea of shirking his duty to the clan did not sit well with him. Still, it was hard to ignore the changes in Ada. She was his best friend’s wife. He’d promised on the man’s death bed to care for her and his son, Aidan. That too was part of his duty was it not?

He thought back to his own concerns in the weeks past. How her eyes had become sunken. The dark circles that gave her face a bruised appearance. She seemed to age as he watched helplessly.

She is afraid, but willnae say why. I doona like the haunted look in her eyes that has replaced her laughter of only weeks ago, Miles agreed.

Just saying the words, admitting aloud what he’d only suspected, tied his gut into knots. Now that another had brought it to his attention, he could no longer brush it off as a worrisome notion.

I ken it. ‘Tis frustrating tae ken there is something wrong wi’ yer loved ones, an' nae be able tae help, Ramsey offered with a grin.

Miles grimaced at his friend’s words. He was unsure of his feelings for the lass. Well, that wasn’t exactly true, but he would not admit his confused mind to others. Even if they were a friend such as Ram.

I didna say I loved her, Miles denied, his face heated.

His gaze wandered to the far side of the courtyard avoiding direct eye contact with Ramsey. A dark red flush covered his face.

Ye didna have tae, Ramsey stated. We have been friends a long time. Besides, nae one here is blind, mon. Ye have been mooning after the woman fer years.

I—

There is nae use in denyin’ it, Ramsey interrupted. He placed a hand on Miles’ shoulder and gave a squeeze. Miles, 'tis time tae lay him tae rest. He has been dead going on four years now. Ye have both grieved enough.

Miles followed his friend’s departure with his gaze as Ramsey walked toward the barns. He