“Aye,” Sin said at the same time Braden said, “Nay.”
Sin looked drolly at his brother as he sheathed his sword. “You honestly think they’ll just be off without retaliating in some way?”
“We got the better of them. Why should they return?”
Sin’s eyes flared with such intense emotion, that Maggie took an involuntary step back from it.
“Vengeance is a strong motivator, little brother,” he said flatly.
It was then she knew Sin harbored a deep hatred. Against whom she could only guess. But she pitied the poor soul who had evoked such an enemy as Sin, and in the back of her mind she couldn’t help but wonder what terrible fate Sin had heaped upon that person’s head.
She didn’t think for a minute that the person still lived. From what she had seen of Sin, he no doubt had taken the person’s life swiftly. And with relish.
Braden met his brother’s gaze with an almost imperceptible nod and some deep understanding passed between them. “You would know that better than I.”
Sin looked away. He rested his hand on his sword hilt and walked past her.
“I want my horse,” he muttered as headed off into the forest.
Braden watched his brother stalk off. He picked his pack up from the ground and started after Sin.
Maggie followed quietly as she looked back and forth between the brothers.
Braden could be as dangerous as Sin, but there was an aura of irrepressible humor and fun about Braden that drew her into his charisma. He took nothing from anyone, and yet he gave so much to those who knew him. Everyone in the clan, when they weren’t ready to kill him over a dalliance, liked the warrior.
In truth, she’d never heard a word against him unless it involved his lust.
If only she could understand what it was about men, and Braden in particular, that drove them from bed to bed. Was it ever possible for a single woman to satisfy a man? Even Anghus, as much as he had loved his wife, had slept with another woman while he was away in Ireland.
Over and over, she tried to think of one man who had never cheated on his woman. And to her dismay, she couldn’t think of any.
Surely, there must be one, somewhere?
As she pondered possible men, they walked on in silence. After a time, Sin started mumbling beneath his breath.
“What was that?” Braden asked.
“What?” Sin turned his head to look back at his brother.
“What did you just say?”
“I was again cursing your ill-bred Scotsmen and wishing myself home.”
Braden shook his head. “I swear you grumble more than an old man. Tell me, do you complain so around Henry?”
“Nay, I don’t have to. No one in England is stupid enough to try my patience.”
Braden laughed softly, then spoke to Maggie. “I wonder how many Englishmen are lying in their graves because they dared to look askance at him.”
Maggie agreed. “Your brother is a strange man.”
Braden laughed louder.
“What?” she asked, wondering what he found so amusing.
“I was just thinking how each of us has our own role in life. Lochlan is the sensible one. Ewan the serious one. Kieren was the passionate one. Sin the dangerous one, and I... I am the wicked one.”
His summation was perfect. “And you relish your role, don’t you?”
