Page 84 of In Search of a Husband
Archie laughed, slapping his hand onto Finn’s shoulder. “She left for a reason, Finn. Dinna think she wishes even to breathe the air ye do.”
“Dinna I know it.”
Gabriel studied McQuarrie holding court. He didn’t like that one bit. Nor did he like Finn pining after his sister when it had gonehorribly wrong the first time. And he didn’t like how far Kate was away from him.
Might as well have been across the glen.
“Marry Katie, will ye?” Archie snapped. “Ye walk around with love stuck on yer face, and it makes my stomach sour.”
Finn only groaned.
“It’s no’ Katie,” Gabriel mumbled. He wasn’t nearly in such a wicked mood this morning, remembering the smile on her face as he flirted and tossed her over his shoulder. But the day was long, and it would prove a longer night at the inn, where some local musicians had agreed to a ceilidh. He had spent a lot of the day so far talking to clan members he hadn’t seen in years, answering their questions about Tavish or assisting with any of the games or dancing planned.
And he hadn’t spent nearly any of the day with Kate.
He wished to show her why he considered Scotland, not Paris, his home.
When he was younger, Gabriel looked forward to the Harvest Festival. It had always been a smaller celebration than the Games but fun, nevertheless. He would run wild over this glen with the rest of the boys and cheer on those participating in the stone put and hammer toss.
The year he had turned twelve, he had practiced the stone put outside Dunsmuir, convinced he’d be allowed to join in on the fun. Except, the stone slipped and went through one of his mother’s favorite stained-glass windows in the dining room, and he had been forbidden to attend.
When Tavish had returned later that evening, he had spun a grand tale about winning the stone put, teasing Gabriel all the way. Gabriel had launched himself at his brother, outraged and betrayed, punching him in the eye until old Mr. Malcolm was forced to separate the two boys.
“It’s no’ Katie,” Archie mimicked. “I dinna ken what the matter is with ye both. But I spy a lot of young lasses here.” He brushed back the curly red hair atop his head, flashing a bright grin at a passing group of young women. “And I plan to have fun.”
“Go on then.” Finn shoved his cousin toward the retreating group of women, but Archie paled, digging his heels into the soft, rich earth.
“Hmm, where’s that Wallace confidence now?” Gabriel teased.
“Ye’re one to talk when ye canna even…”
Archie’s voice trailed off as Duncan laughed and slapped his meaty hand over Gavin Dunmore’s shoulder. Dunmore, near forty, had been mates with Tavish, too. And for a time, he had helped run whisky after Gabriel left Scotland.
The man’s intentions were usually as good as the color of his short, cropped hair—raven black. Which accounted for the whisky that had gone missing, thanks to his so-called help.
Tavish and Finn hadn’t noticed him stealing for almost a year before Archie had quite literally stumbled upon him undercutting the pair.
“I dinna like this.” Gabriel clenched his fists, watching.
Finn muttered under his breath.
“What?” Gabriel asked.
“I dinna think we should challenge him,” Finn said, stealing another glance at Elsie. “He’ll ruin us for good.”
Ruin wasn’t an option. And Gabriel wasn’t about to let McQuarrie intimidate him so the man could get his way and make more profits. The whisky business was fierce, but the demand wasn’t limited. There was room for the both of them to operate how they wished.
“Archie, keep an eye on him, aye? Tell me who he’s talkin’ to today.”
“Where are ye going?” Archie asked.
“I’ll give ye one guess,” Finn said. “Ye ken, maybe focus on McQuarrie today, and keep yer head on straight…”
Gabriel had had the same thought.
Momentarily.
That was before he had thrown Kate over his shoulder earlier that morning and decided he’d marry her.
