Highlander Fergus is a scarred, embattled, embittered soldier. He’s suffered greatly in his life, and has resorted to living a solitary and silent life. As the captain of Laird Carrick’s guard, he’s been given the duty of collecting the tithe. No big task, one would think. Until he runs into a lass who for some strange reason has become the village elder. A lass who stands up to him and suffers fools lightly. A stubborn lass who refuses to accept help. By damn, he’ll see to it she lets him help her and her people. At any cost.