“Because we live here and I thought he might like to see it.”
Fraser’s eyes were dark and menacing. “You might live here. He is visiting. At least he’d best be.”
Sin scoffed as if amused by Fraser’s words. “Let me guess. If I don’t leave soon, you’ll make me wish I had gone home. Or better yet, you’ll make me wish I’d never been born or some other worthless cliche meant to frighten me.”
Fraser opened his mouth to speak.
Sin spoke before he had a chance to. “I know already that you don’t want me here. You’ve no use for me or my kind. You don’t even want to be bothered having to see me in your midst.” Sin cut a hostile glare to the group of men that made several of them take a step back. “Fine then. Hand me The Raider and I shall gladly go.”
“The only thing we’ll be handing you is your head.”
“Ooo,” Sin breathed. “Very scary. Have you ever thought of making up children’s tales? You might actually succeed in frightening a two-year-old.”
Fraser gave Sin a disgusted glare. “I really don’t like you.”
“The feeling is quite mutual.”
Fraser took a step toward Sin, who didn’t move at all. Callie held her breath, waiting for them to fight. The two of them reminded her of rams about to lock horns and she had no idea how to diffuse this situation.
Not that Fraser would even let her. The man really had no sense to be pushing her husband, and she had to admire Sin’s control. Any other man who possessed half of Sin’s fighting skills would already have Fraser on the ground whimpering.
When Fraser spoke next, his tone was disrespectful and cold. “You think you can come in here and tell us how to live. Look down your English noses at us.” He looked to Callie. “Take our women while we do nothing. Well you have another think coming.”
Sin’s smiled was evil. “I’m sure I do.”
Fraser swung at him.
Sin ducked, caught Fraser’s arm and held Fraser in place with a fierce grip. “Listen to me,” Sin said in perfect, flawless Gaelic. “I will speak slowly so that you can understand me. I have no wish to embarrass you in front of your friends and family by hurting you. So go home and take your men with you.”
He released Fraser.
Fraser staggered back as he raked a malevolent glare over Sin’s body. “You and I are going to have this out.”
Sin cast a frustrated look to Callie. “How mad at me would you be if I hit him really hard? Just once.”
She glowed at the realization that his respect for her was the only thing that had kept him from pulverizing Fraser. Whether he admitted it out loud or not, her husband did have feelings for her. In that moment, she could kiss him.
“‘Tis Fun Day,” she said simply. “So, if it will give you pleasure, I might be swayed to forgive you.”
Sin smiled at that.
Until a scream rent the air.
Women and men started grabbing at children and running for cover. Callie froze as she saw a crazed bull running down the village street attacking anything and everything that got in its way.
Before she could move again, Sin grabbed her up in his arms and tossed her to the low hanging roof of a nearby cottage. She scrambled up the roof, making room for him to join her.
He didn’t.
Fraser grabbed Morna and did the same with her, then ran for a little boy who’d fallen in the street. He reached the boy just seconds before the bull and managed to get him to a rooftop, but before Fraser could get out of the way, the bull caught him about the leg and gored him.
Callie cringed at the way the bull attacked. There was no hope for poor Fraser. He was dead.
Or so she thought until she saw Sin seize a huge wooden laundry swatter and plaid kirtle where one of the women had dropped her laundry. While the bull toyed with Fraser, Sin smacked the bull across his flanks and clucked his tongue at the beast.
The bull whirled around and eyed him angrily.
“That’s it.” Sin taunted the animal. He wrapped the kirtle around the swatter to make a banner of sorts that would entice the beast. “Run after the idiot who has no sword.”
