Page 31 of Never Fall for a Highlander

St.Vincent’s toenail, he hoped he didn’t need to keep an eye on the man.Not only didn’t they allow striking a woman, their serving lasses and maids were not up for grabs.If the lasses wished to warm a bed, ‘twas their choice, but never would he allow a guest to push one of them into his bed.

Since they decided to speak of the issues between the clans on the morrow, the rest of the time before the Gunns asked to retire was spent with the chieftain regaling the many fine and numerous quality traits of his sister.Lady Lenora, on the other hand, did everything to ignore her brother except yawning out loud.

“Would ye like to have one of the maids direct ye to yer bedchamber?”Craig asked the woman.

She stood so abruptly she almost knocked over the stool she was sitting on.“Aye, thank ye, Mr.Mackay.I would appreciate that.”

“I will be back directly with someone to assist ye.”With that his already smitten brother strode from the great hall in search of a maid.

* * * *

Helena left the little lass finally asleep.She’d given her a potion to help her breathing and to ease her coughing.Tiredly, she climbed onto her horse.Her two escorts rode alongside her as they returned to the brooch.

“It appears the Gunns have arrived,” Mason, one of her guards said.

Now that it had been mentioned, Helena noticed the various campfires outside the walls.“The men don’t sleep inside?”She asked.

“Nay.There isna room for them all in the great hall since so many of our clan folks sleep there.Most times the warriors are happier sleeping outside,” Carson added.

She would be happy to just check in with Jena, and hopefully wee Arthur would be asleep and then she could go to her own bedchamber and fall into a exhausted sleep.

Robin, Craig, and Finn all sat in the great hall, along with about a dozen men she didn’t recognize.She made her way passed them, heading for the stairs.

“And who do we have here?”A mon she didn’t recognize, but wearing the Gunn plaid stepped in front of her, blocking her way.He was a handsome man, tall, with dark red hair and twinkling blue eyes.

She assumed he was one of the Gunns, so being respectful was the best thing she could do.“Good eve, my name is Miss Helena Ross.”

He grinned.“Indeed.And why is a Ross at the Mackay brooch?”

From the corner of her eye she saw Robin tense at the man’s remarks.Still wishing to be polite, she said, “I am sister to one of the Mackay wives.I am here visiting her.”

He smiled, spread his legs apart and rested his hand on his sword.“I must be sure to make time to visit with ye, lass.”

“Knox, leave the lass alone and get ov’er here.”A man who looked like an older model of the one in front of her shouted.

“I’m coming, Da.Just having a bit of conversation with the bonnie lass.”He dipped his head.“I hope to see more of ye while we’re here, Miss Ross.

Uncomfortable at being the center of attention with so many men, she returned his smile and backed up.He let her pass and she hurried away from the group.

To her relief Arthur was sound asleep as was Jena.Blair sat in the corner of the room doing some type of leather work.“It appears they are both worn out,” Helena said.

“Aye.Jena dosna realize how important it is for her to give herself time to recover.”Blair studied his wife, the look on his face almost bringing tears to Helena’s eyes.How she would love to have a man look at her like that.Mayhaps one day, but right now she just needed her bed.

“Well, good eve, Blair.”

He nodded and she closed the door, following the path to her room.As she undressed, washed and brushed her hair, she thought of the man who had stopped her in the great hall.He was most likely the Gunn’s son.He was certainly a fine looking man, but he certainly dinna raise the same kind of fluttering in her middle that Robin did when they spoke.

She climbed into bed and laid on her back, studying the canopy over her head.If she didn’t want to return to Dornoch with a broken heart, she must stay strong with her decision to avoid Robin as much as she could.

With the Gunns visiting, he would be busy and she could go about her day without having to worry about them being alone together again.

She sighed and turned over, hugging her pillow.But ‘twas such a fine kiss!

Chapter fourteen

“And even though she is a widow, the lass still comes with coin, from her dead husband and myself.”Robin groaned as the Gunn laird continued.He had spent all his time while eating the noon meal once more pushing Lady Lenora at him.

Robin was ready to knock the man to the floor and declare war against the Gunn clan.The man’s harangue ‘twould not be so terrible if the Clan Council had not decided to join them for the meal and encouraged The Gunn in his praises.