Page 53 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
“Do ye…” He squinted across the table at his companions. “Do ye have any threes?”
“Nay!” Barclay declared happily. “Go fish!”
Fook. Scowling, Drum scooped up a card from the pile in the middle of the table. “What does this have to do with fishing?”
“I dinnae ken,” Payton rumbled with a shrug. “Do ye have any threes?”
Cursing, Drum tossed his old friend a card. “This game is easier if ye dinnae cheat.”
“Cheat? I dinnae cheat!”
Barclay came to Payton’s defense, of course. “’Tis no’ cheating for him to pay attention. Now it’s my turn, and ifIask for three, ‘tis because I’m cheating.”
Drum squinted. “Areye cheating?”
“Aye! Do ye have any threes?”
Drum slammed his palms down onto the table, ready to launch himself at his friend, but Craig’s rumbling laughter stopped him.
When everyone looked at the giant, he tossed down his cards, showing the numbers, and reached for his flagon. “I dinnae understand why we would care about cups, swords, coins, and clubs when we’reamong friends. We have plenty to eat and drink, andthisis the only cup that matters.”
As Payton and Barclay slowly relaxed, Drum realized his friend was right. “’Tis a dumb game,” he grumbled, reaching for his cup. “Whose idea was it, anyhow?”
“My wife learned it from a friend of hers at court,” Barclay announced, tipping his mug. “And dinnae insult my wife.”
“Far be it,” Drum muttered. “I could’ve told ye the pair of ye would end up playing card games.”
Barclay pretended to scowl. “As I recall,yetold me to stay away from her, because missions with women always end puirly.”
“Aye, he told me the same thing,” agreed Craig, “and I married her!”
“He never warned me away from Flora,” Payton rumbled, “but only because he didnae have a chance. How about that? The man spends a decade telling us to be wary of working with women…and we all end up married to women we met on our missions.”
Barclay snickered. “No’ only that, but Drum’s found a way to replace us…with a woman!”
“Aye, Drum, howisyer new partner?” taunted Payton. “I mean, yer wife.”
He knew they were teasing him, getting back after years of having to listen to his harping…er…advice. So, Drum just shook his head, wearing a wry smile. “She’s doing well, as ye ken. She’s on guard duty tonight with the Queen.”
Of course, he’d told his oldest friends—hismen—about Brigit’s role. He didn’t spillallthe Queen’s secrets, but he was proud of the work his wife did forthe monarch. The work theybothdid for Their Majesties.
And now that his friends had brought their wives and families to Scone to celebrate his recent marriage, Drum had to admit, it felt…goodto have everyone together. As if…they were his brothers. His family.
“I’m glad ye’re here,” he announced abruptly, holding up his ale.
Payton clinked his flagon against it. “Here, as in Scone?”
“Orhere, as in at this table, attempting a lads’ night out after the marriage?” Barclay asked, a sparkle in his eyes, as he tipped his mug up as well.
“Orhere,” Craig announced, his ale joining the bunch, “as inaliveandwellandluckybastards?”
Drum felt his lips curling as he met the eyes of each of his friends. “Aye,” he drawled.
“Wait, which one—?” Craig began, but the laughter drowned him out.
Chuckling, Drum tipped his head back to swallow his ale.
The men were relaxing once more in their chairs, teasing one another about married life, when a knock at the door heralded Lawrence’s entrance. He shuffled in, carrying a tray.
