Page 54 of Never Marry a Highlander

Still smiling, he said, “Doona tell me ye are worried about me,leannan?”

“Of course, no’.”She sniffed, much to the amusement of Finn.“I just doona have the time to be sewing ye up again.”With those words and his laughter ringing in her ears, she left the room to return the supplies and then went in search of Helena to see about the day’s visits.

***

Even though Craig had not asked Lorena’s permission, he walked over to the table where the letter from Gunn had been left from the night before.He handed it to Robin.

With eyebrows raised, his brother took the missive from his hand and read.Then he turned it over to Finn.

“What do ye make of it, Craig?”Robin asked when Finn had returned the parchment to the table.

“I doona ken.We all ken that there was no love lost between Lorena and Gunn.He took his fists to her more than once and now this note,” he waved at the foolscap, “speaks to me of his attempt to manipulate my wife again.”

“What did Lorena have to say about it?”

Craig rubbed the back of his neck.“I’m afraid I was a tad curt with her when I found it and made it sound as though she was mayhap planning on doing some work here for her brother.”

“St.Bridget’s armpit, brother, have ye lost yer mind, or do ye intend to push yer wife away at every chance ye get?”Finn said.

Craig frowned.“What are ye talking about?”

“I was no’ given leave to speak of things yer wife may have confided in me.”

In a flash, Craig had his hands wrapped around Finn’s throat wincing at the pain that caused.“What sort of things has my wife confided in ye?”

Robin placed his hand on Craig’s shoulder.“Be at ease, brother.”

Finn rubbed his neck.“No’hing ye need to concern yerself about.What ye should be fashing about is how ye treat the lass.Praise her once in a while, give her credit for how well she’s adjusted to life here.”

“Are ye no’ remembering that I’ve been away for weeks?”

“But ye’re back now.“ Finn looked as though he wanted to say something else, but said, “I’m off to the lists.If ye want to get some practice in, Craig, come on down.I promise I’ll go easy on yer wee sore body.”He slammed the door just as Craig threw a book at him, which bounced off the door.

Craig stared at Robin for a minute.“I want to ask ye something.”

“Aye?”

“I would like to take Lorena with us when we go to Varrich.I think we could use some time together.”

Robin grinned, leaving Craig as annoyed as Finn had.“Now ye’re thinking like a married mon.”

Craig growled, which only made Robin laugh.“I’ll teach ye yet.Just watch me and ye’ll learn.”

“Well, can she go?”The more he thought about the idea, the more he liked it.He really dinna want to leave her behind again.Generally when the clan chief arranged a meeting, there were social activities for those who brought their female family members with them.

“Aye.‘Twould be a pleasure to see some happiness on Lorena’s face.She’s been working verra hard, ye ken.Helena said she has ne’er seen a lass try as hard as yer wife does.She deserves a reward, for certe.”

He was stunned at the amount of pleasure he felt with the idea of bringing Lorena along with him, as well as how happy it would make her.

“Are ye bringing Helena with ye to Varrich?”

Robin shook his head and opened the door.“Nay, she wearies too easily these days.The bairn tires her out.She tells me once she gets past this early part, her energy will return until the last three months when it will ebb again.”

Robin was only gone from his room for a few minutes when Lorena returned.“I must meet Helena back downstairs for our visits today.I just came for my apron.”

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her wee body, wincing slightly at the pull from his wound.

Lorena studied him.“What?Ye look strange.Are ye in too much pain to work on the lists.I told ye—"

“—I have a surprise for ye.”

She didn’t say anything but continued to stare at him.

“I asked Robin and he agreed that ye can come with us when we travel to Castle Varrich in three days for the gathering of the MacKay clan.”

To his amazement, stared at him with wide eyes, then burst into tears.

And here he’d thought ‘twas a good idea.