A Highland Knight to Remember (Highland Dynasty Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Duncan he was worthy to marry his sister.
    “Then why are you looking at me as if I’ve got the ague?” Gyllis was too perceptive. But that’s another thing he liked about her. Not only beautiful, she was sharp as a hawk and quick with her tongue.
    He resisted his urge to grasp her hand and pull her into his arms. Instead, he nervously wrapped her kerchief around his pointer finger. “I’ve a fair bit on my mind.”
    She looked at the cloth and then her gaze trailed sidewise. “Would you…um….prefer not to carry my kerchief?”
    Damn his hesitation—he’d offended her. He took a step in and cupped her cheek. “I am honored to carry it.”
    She turned up her face and pursed her lips, eyelids fluttering closed.
    Sean couldn’t help but take note of all the people mulling about. Bless it, I cannot kiss her here . The resulting scandal would be unmitigated. It would ruin her for certain and send Duncan and the Campbells after him like a pack of wild dogs. Sean clasped her slender fingers and drew them to his lips, giving her a quick peck. Forget the heather. The scent of her skin smelled fresher than a pool of fragrant water lilies. He closed his eyes and inhaled again, until she slid her fingers from his grasp.
    With a look of bewilderment she cradled her hand and stared at it, as if she were no longer willing to look at his face. “I’m told the piping and drumming competition will be during the feast this eve.”
    “Aye? That should liven things up.”
    “Gyllis.” Helen came from around the stable’s corner. “Mother is looking for you. We must take our places for the race.”
    She grinned at Sean—though her smile had a twist, as he might have confused her with his reluctance to kiss her lips. “You’d best go, else you’ll miss the start.”
    He held up the kerchief. “I’d better. And thank you—this will bring me luck, I am certain.”
    Sean watched her disappear around the stable wall while clenching his jaw. He either needed to have a somber discussion with her brother, or rein himself in. And given his present state of affairs, he should do the latter. MacDougalls didn’t marry Campbells, not since the time of Robert the Bruce when the MacDougalls had lost over half of their holdings—some of which were unfairly dispatched to the Campbell Clan. Many a man loyal to his father still harbored deep resentment for the Campbells.
    The ram’s horn sounded, announcing the race would soon begin. Sean shook his head and headed off. He hadn’t come to the games to make merry with Gyllis. He’d come to earn the respect of his countrymen—to win these games and ensure MacDougall continued to be a feared name throughout the Highlands.
    Nearly fifty contestants formed a queue at the edge of Loch Etive whilst Lorn’s clerk launched into a proclamation of the rules. “There will be no backstabbing and no weapons of any kind…”
    Sean chuckled to himself. A Highland race wasn’t without its share of backstabbers. It didn’t surprise him to see Alan MacCoul halfway down the line leering at him like a venomed snake.
    Duncan trotted up beside Sean. “I nearly missed it.”
    Sean arched an eyebrow. “Is anything amiss? ’Tis not like you to be late to a contest of any sort.”
    “A missive came from the king.”
    “Aye? What did it say?”
    Duncan patted his doublet. “Dunno—haven’t opened it yet. If I had, I would have missed the start. Besides, a missive can wait a bit even if it is from his grace.”
    “Remind me to tell the king you said that the next time we’re at court.”
    Duncan smirked. “Should such a foul rumor come my way, I would deny it emphatically.”
    The clerk finished his oration and the ram’s horn sounded. Sprinting, Sean sped ahead to ensure he positioned himself at the front of the pack. And in an eight-mile race, he’d keep pace behind the leader until the very end.
    Duncan had the same idea and bloody MacCoul wasn’t far behind. Sean wouldn’t concern himself