Page 32 of Never Fall for a Highlander

St.Lucy’s nose, he wasn’t going to be able to stand this visit if the laird kept up his continuous babbling about the lass.The very lass who had not made an appearance so far.Either she was hiding in her room or had managed to escape the keep and her brother’s incessant badgering.

He wished he could escape.

“Now that we have the border problem solved, ‘tis time to have a serious talk about an alliance between our clans.”This grossly unwanted statement came from Johen.

Robin raised his hand to stop the man.“I doona agree that the border problem is solved.I have raped women, a burnt bothy and terrified bairns.”He looked at The Gunn.“Ye say yer men had no’thing to do with it, but if we’re to believe that this was a band of criminals, I have no reason to assume that when we were attacked all the men of the group were killed.”

“How many did ye say dropped from the trees on ye?”Knox Gunn asked.

“Twenty, maybe a few more.We killed all of them, but as my brother said, there is no proof that there is not another dozen,” Finn said.

“What I propose is a joining of warriors from our two clans to run these men down and be rid of them.”As he spoke, Robin’s eye was caught by Helena reaching the bottom of the stairs and starting across the great hall, carrying her medicant basket.

“Do ye need an escort, lass?”Robin asked as she grew closer.Here was his escape.

Before she even answered Knox Gunn jumped up.“I will be glad to escort Miss Ross.”He turned to Helena who had reached the group of men by that time.

“I’m off to visit a young lass I treated yesterday for a cough and fever.I’ve also received word that another bairn not too far from her bothy is feeling unwell, too.”

Robin stood.“There is no need for ye to escort the lass.I can ride with her as her guard.”

Ignoring his words, Knox turned from the group at the table and began to speak to Helena.Robin tensed and the muscles in his neck tightened.He had to tamp down the urge to flatten the man.He was grinding his teeth to the point where he felt he would never again be able to chew his food.

He looked down as Craig tugged on his hand.“Let him go with her, Robin.Ye ken ‘tis for the best.We’ve already spoken about this.Ye canno’ keep up this attraction which will lead to nowhere and could possibly break the lass’s heart.As much as ye’d like to, ye canno’ give the lass what she deserves.”

Robin watched as Knox bantered with Helena, her smiling back.They turned from the group and headed to the door.

He glanced down at his brother, the compassion in his eyes infuriating him even more.“And think ye Gunn can give her what she deserves?Did ye forget the mon is next in line for his da’s lairdship?”

“Do ye see The Gunn objecting?Ye have yer council to consider.”

“Bollocks!The devil can take the Council!‘Tis time to cut them loose.I needed them when I was younger, but their advice is no longer welcomed.And, The Gunn is too busy attempting to foist his sister on me to pay attention to what his son is doing.”

“She certainly is a bonnie lass,” Craig said.“The council would approve; yer duty would be done and ye’d be left with a lass to warm yer bed each night.”

Robin fisted his hands on the table.“ A wife is more than a tup in bed.From what I’ve seen Lady Lenora is a shrew, does what she wants and ignores what her laird says.I guarantee the lass would be hard to handle.”

“Are ye afraid ye canno’ handle a lass?”Finn, obviously listening to their conversation, asked.

Craig glanced in the direction of the council members who were giving Robin’s behavior a great deal of attention.

His brother bent forward and spoke softly.“’Tis time to put this to rest.Keep yer rod in yer trews and forget the lass.”

His temper had reached the breaking point and Robin swung at his brother, knocking him to the ground.Rubbing his hand, he stormed away from the table, but by the time he reached the front of the keep, Knox and Helena were in the stables, and he was helping her onto a horse.

Feeling like a fool, he walked around the bailey for a while, taking deep breaths.As much as he hated to admit it, Craig was right.He had to remove Helena from his mind and no more kisses.She would return soon to Dornoch and he’d need not see her ever again.

Once he returned to the great hall, it had thankfully appeared that the discussion had moved on without him.He took his seat, nodding at Craig who offered a curt nod in return.

He had barely settle into his seat when The Gunn said, “Well, look who’s joined us.”

Lady Lenora stopped as she reached the bottom of the staircase.Straightening her shoulders, and raising her chin, she moved directly in front of her brother, a scowl on her face.“Ye ordered me to join ye, brother?”

* * * *

Helena walked with Knox Gunn from the keep to the stables.She wasn’t comfortable with his escort.He seemed like a nice man, but she got the feeling he was interested in her.She was having enough trouble trying to control her attraction to the laird without adding another man to the problem.

“So ye are the clan healer, then?”Knox asked her once they had mounted their horses and were on their way.He had tied her medicant basket to his horse and so far he had been pleasant, and helpful.