Page 14 of Don't Give A Damn About My Plaid Reputation
Could she just…tag along?
In a thoughtful daze, she turned to her pipes.
The Highland Piping Competition was held at the end of the Highland Games. The MacBains were attending the Highland Games so Kester could marry his betrothed. His men were strong and capable, and Robena would feel safe traveling with them….
Why couldn’t she just sneak away and travel with them to the Games? She could enter the competition—oh! Mayhap asRobbieOliphant! She could cut her hair—the length had always given her headaches, anyhow!—and dress as a lad, and she’d be able to compete!
Breathing heavily, she stumbled against the table, a huge grin on her face.
It could work.
Itwouldwork.
It all sounded rather wonderful, if one left out the phrase “so Kester could marry his betrothed.”
Could she travel across the Highlands with him, knowing he was going to marry another woman at the end of their journey?
Well…aye. He’s made his decision quite clear. He’s kenned all along he couldnae be with ye because he was to marry this beautiful, talented Murray lass.
So ‘twould be difficult, but the rewards were impressive. She’d be able to attend the Gamesandthe Competition.
If she had her sisters tell Da that Kester was escorting her—did Da ken Kester was betrothed to someone else? If no’, he’d assume the laird meant to marryher.
Curse her traitorous liver for giving a flip of joy at the idea.
Nay, down, liver. I’m no’ marrying that arse. He kissed me, kenning full well there was nae future for us!
But…there could be a future forherif she was brave enough to reach out and grab it.
Almost hesitantly, her finger trailed along the pipes’ bladder. Could she do it?
Tonight, after the celebrations for Wynda and Pherson’s wedding died down, she could cut her hair. Nae one would look for her, especially if she had Nicola to cover for her. She could cut her hair and dress as a lad and sneak out afore dawn. She could meet up with the MacBains on their way to the Games and they’d assume she was one of the warriors her father had sent.
Well, mayhap not awarrior.
A finger tapped at her lips in one of Wynda’s favorite gestures. She coulddo this.
A mustache might help.
A grin spilt her lips, and for the first time since she’d realized Kester was pulling away from her, her heart felt lighter with excitement.
He might have broken her future, but to hell with him! He could—mayhap without even realizing it!—help her build anewfuture!
Aye, she had a new plan. And by St. Kelsi, itwouldwork.
To the Games!
Chapter 3
The MacBains were an unusuallystoic lot the morning they set off from Oliphant Castle, and it had everything to do with the amount of ale they’d consumed the night before. Pudge was the only one of the lot who looked in his usual spirits—whereusual spirits, in his case, meant scowling—and that was only because Kester had never seen anyone who could drink as much as the grizzled veteran could and still remain upright.
Aye, his men had over-indulged the night before and were paying the price this morning. But who could blame them? The Oliphants knew how to throw a party when one of their own married…and his men had come to enjoy the hospitality of the clan.
There’d been grumbles when Kester announced they were leaving, especially when the men learned where they were headed and why. They’d miss the Oliphants.
Almost as much as Kester would.
This morning, the sun seemed too bright and their horse’s steps too jarring. The land was beautiful, aye, but he doubted any of them were actually appreciating it.
