Page 64 of Don't Give A Damn About My Plaid Reputation
“See, Da? I cannae marry him!”
Her father ignored both of their arguments. “Yewillmarry the MacBain, Elspeth! As yer laird and father, I’m telling ye ye’ll marry the man I choose, and nae one else.”
The lassie froze, a look of fury on her face fading to one of determination.
“Fine,” she snarled.
Kester suspected something amiss, and had already lowered his arms to be ready, when the girl gathered up her skirts, whirled about, and ran for the cliff.
She went over before any of them could reach for her.
Her father’s bellowed, “Elspeth!” almost drowned out the sound of the splash, far below.
Kester was moving toward the cliff face when a blur in Oliphant plaid streaked past him. He didn’t have time to react before Robena—because of course ‘twas Robena—tucked her legs, straightened her arms, and dove off the cliff after the girl.
He skidded to a stop at the edge, peering incredulously at the double splashes far below.
Murray thundered to a halt beside him. “Elspeth!” he bellowed at the loch, as if that would help, his gaze frantic.
Almost as frantic as Kester’s own. Why wasn’t she coming up for air? Had she hurt herself?
“How deep is it down there?” he snapped at Murray.
“Deep enough,” the older man snapped right back, leaning as far as he dared over the ledge. “I dinnae see them. They should’ve landed aright. Do ye think yer lad will be able to save her?”
“I doubt it,” Kester muttered, kicking off his boots and dropping his sword belt to the ground. “She cannae swim.”
As he went over the edge of the cliff, bracing himself for the splash, he heard Laird Ian Murray bellow, “She?”
Idiot. Robena’s no’ even wearing her mustache.
Chapter 10
As the waterclosed over her head, an idle thought flitted through Robena’s mind.
Ye’ve done some dumb shite in yer life, but this is undoubtedly the dumbest.
Right.
Because she couldn’t swim.
But really, how hard could it be? Mayhap she just couldn’t swim because she hadn’tappliedherself well enough.
Well, if there’s any time to apply yerself, ‘tis now.
This conversation happened in a moment, between the first icy touch of the loch and the realization ‘twas too late in the day to rely on any help from the sun, in terms of seeing farther than an arms-reach.Shite.
Did ye really just jump off a cliff to save a lassie, and have nae idea how tofindher? Idiot.
Well, really, she just had to be logical about this. Robena had noted the location of Elspeth’s splash and she knew she’d landed practically in the same place. So, unless the girl had hit the water and started swimming away, she should be right around….
Since time had apparently decided to slow down a bit, Robena used this period to kick about randomly with her boots.
Sure enough, one of her feet connected solidly with something below her, and a stream of bubbles whooshed past her, as if expelled from a mouth of a lassie who’d just been booted in the head.
Huzzah!But also,oh dearbecause it meant Elspeth now had less air than planned.
How much air does a wee girl need if she’s planning on killing herself to avoid marrying Kester?
