Page 37 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“Robin,” he said.

She shook her head and walked off.He couldn’t resist watching the sway of her hips as she headed to her first patient.

“Robin!”Finn was closer.“Put yer eyes back in yer head and yer rod back in yer trews.”

He slapped his brother on the back of the head and strode to the keep.

The council members sat along the dais.Robin took a seat; Finn grabbed the stool next to him.Across the way Craig studied him, a questioning look on his face.

Johen pushed a document across the table in front of Robin.

“What is this?”

“Read it,” Malcolm said and nodded to the parchment.

A sense of dread came over him as he picked up the document and began to read.Instead of exploding immediately, he continued to the end just to make certain there were no signatures on the Betrothal Agreement.

His eyes narrowed and he pushed it away.“This means no’thing.I dinna sign it.”

Duncan spoke up.“As yer council we advise ye sign it and get the wedding date set.”

“Nay.”

“We have been patient with ye, Laird, but the time has come to put aside yer Ross leman and take a wife, get some heirs on her,” Johen said.

The explosion finally came.Robin stood, trying very hard to control himself.He leaned across the table and got close to Johen’s face.“Doona e’er refer to Miss Ross as my leman.She is no’ and ne’er will be.She is a maiden from the Sutherland clan and unless ye’re are prepared for war, ye best no’ mention that out loud again.”

Taking a deep breath, he continued.“If ye were no’ an old mon and no’ one of my da’s friends I would beat ye and toss ye into the dungeon.”

Finn grabbed Robin’s arm and pulled him back to his seat.

What scared Robin more than anything was how close he really was to taking his fists to the mon.Indeed, the entire council if he had to.

He looked from man to man.“Keep this in mind.This is the last time I will say it.Ye are the council.Ye give advice.I am the Laird.I make the decisions.”He pointed to the paper.“Ye might as well tear that up.And while I have all of ye here, be warned that it is my intention to ask Miss Ross for her hand in marriage.”

All three members of the council shouted at once, each member attempting to be heard over the other.Robin stood, turned and left the hall.

“Robin!”

Finn and Craig strode up to him.“Do ye think ‘twas wise to tell the council ye intend to marry the lass?”Finn asked.

“I haven’t e’en spoken to Helena about it yet, but they pushed me too far.I willna have anyone saying such things about one of our guests.”He ran his fingers through his hair.“I need time on the lists before I go back in there and start swinging my sword at the three of them.”

He turned to leave and Craig grabbed his arm.“What they dinna get to tell ye was there is a competition in three days.”

Robin narrowed his eyes.“What?”

“Before The Gunn left he said he would be holding a competition on his lands for a few of the clans.”

“In three days?They just left.”

Finn shrugged his shoulders.

Robin turned to head back to the dais, but Craig blocked him.”I think ‘tis best if ye do as ye said and head to the list and swing a few swords.A competition is a good idea.It’s been a while.”

His side still aching, he headed to the list.Hopefully his anger wouldn’t rip everything out again.

Chapter seventeen