was quite likely using that genetically blessed visage of his to court any number of available MacLeod lasses. The MacLeods had been quite prolific in their ability to procreate members of the opposite sexâ¦unlike the past generation of McAuleys. And while Graham liked to think he had the loyalty of his people locked up tight, it would only take one lass whose head could be turned by that pretty face of Iainâs to ruin it all. Given the challenges the young people of Kinloch had finding someone on the island to date, much less marryâsomeone who wasnât already a relativeâaye, but he couldnât imagine it would be all that hard a task for the newly transplanted McAuley.
To Graham the idea that his fate and the future of his homeland lay in the hands of a complete stranger and a young, vulnerable woman was disturbing to say the least.
He purposely didnât contrast and compare how equally disturbing his specific mission was. After all, his goal was nothing if not purely motivated. He had no idea what Iain McAuleyâs goals or motives wereâsomething Shay and Roan were supposed to be digging into during his absence.
So, the very last thing he should be concerning himself with, was the trials and tribulations of the woman presently stalking about the prayer garden. Except if she was indeed the bride, then the ceremony certainly wasnât taking place at that particular moment, which bought him time to find Katie. Though it was doubtful he could have any meaningful conversation with her regarding his missionânot while crammed into a pew, shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, with other complete strangersâhe could possibly secure a moment of her time once the ceremony was completed.
Which it wouldnât beâ¦as long as the bride was out there muttering and swearing. So, he could either go and take advantage of the time stallâ¦or offer whatever assistance he could. Those were his options, which were rendered moot a moment later when he heard the first sniffle, followed by a stifled sob.
Bollocks .
Crying women were near the top of the list of things he would rather not deal with. But only a complete cad would leave a bride sobbing behind her own wedding chapelâeven if he didnât know her, or a single member of the wedding party personally. Or course, that didnât mean he had to be happy about it. Muttering under his breath about the utter ridiculousness of stupid clan laws, wild goose chases, not to mention crashing the wedding of complete strangers, he strode deliberately up the garden path. At the very least, he could find out what was going to happen next. Perhaps the wedding was to be called off. Then heâd have to find Katie and get her to listen to his proposition while possible chaos reigned supreme inside the church.
That would be soâ¦fittingâ¦given how ludicrous the whole excursion had been thus far.
He slowed as he came to the hedge where heâd seen the fluff of bridal gown. Exactly what he thought he was going to say, he had no earthly idea, but so what else was new? As it happened, a steadying breath and a straightening of the shoulders was as far as he got in figuring it out. As he stepped around the corner of the hedge, intent on announcing his presence and inquiring if he could be of any assistance, the bride came barreling around the opposite cornerâ¦and plowed directly into his chest.
âOoph!â she grunted as she went wheeling back again.
Graham instinctively reached for her to keep her from going over backwards as she tripped over the long train of her dress. He got a fistful of veil and satin, along with her slender arms, but managed to steady her without crushing the garmentâor herâcompletely. She was a wee thing. Though, compared with his somewhat overly tall and broad frame, most women were. Perhaps it was the voluminous dress and veil, but she was virtually lost amidst the yards of satin and