Page 107 of The Highlander's Irish Bride

The bustling preparations had yielded another benefit, that of keeping Jeannie busy and away from the vicar.

In fact, everyone at Lochnagar had been working from dawn until well after dusk, including Grant. In his case, however, he was busy hunting villains. When he returned home in the evening, he usually disappeared into the study with Graeme and Angus.

Kathleen had barely seen him, and the fact that she found that annoying was ... well, annoying.

Sabrina linked arms with her. “I see the archery match is winding up. I’m still rooting for our Grant. If he loses to Captain Brown, I’ll be most disappointed.”

“And I’ll be out a bob.”

“Ah, so you did bet on Grant.”

“Yes, and if you tell anyone, I’ll have to murder you.”

“But I have to tell Graeme,” Sabrina replied in an innocent tone. “I never keep secrets from him.”

Kathleen cast her a jaundiced look. “Do you prefer poisoning, or shall I simply push you off a nearby cliff?”

Her cousin laughed.

They crunched across the gravel drive toward the small crowd watching the archers. Kathleen repressed a sigh when she saw that Jeannie had abandoned cricket in favor of sidling up to the vicar. Her sister was talking a mile a minute as she gazed adoringly up at David. As usual, he regarded her with a slightly befuddled but kind smile.

Kathleen found it mind-boggling that he somehow could not see the obvious problem. It was soon coming to the point where she’d flat out have to tell him. And wouldn’t that be a jolly conversation, especially if it prompted the vicar into making an amorous declaration of his own.

Grant’s last arrow thudded into the bull’s-eye, off center by an inch or so. Still, it was an excellent shot and the onlookers cheered with enthusiasm. It wasn’t surprising that he was the favorite. Grant carried himself with a quiet confidence that naturally generated respect, and he treated everyone with equal courtesy.

He was more than a brawny, handsome Highlander. More than a successful businessman. Grant Kendrick was a goodman, down to the depths of his bones. No wonder she found herself falling in love with him.

Kathleen’s brain stuttered on that thought and a roaring filled her ears. She had to shake her head to ease the startling clamor and refocus her scattered wits.

“Good shot, old man,” Captain Brown said with phony bonhomie. “You’ve left me in quite the pickle. Don’t know how I’m going to improve onthatperformance.”

Grant simply gave him a nod, though Kathleen sensed him mentally rolling his eyes.

“Give ’im what-for, Captain,” Jennie Robertson shouted from the edge of the crowd. “We’re in yer corner.”

“Here, here,” added David. “Not that I mean any disrespect to you, Mr. Kendrick,” he hastily added, casting Grant an apologetic smile.

“No apologies necessary,” Grant replied. “After all, blood is thicker than water.”

A smattering of applause and a few cheers greeted the captain as he took his place at the mark. He acknowledged them with a flourishing bow, casting an especially wide smile at Jeannie and David. Kathleen frowned to see her sister applauding so enthusiastically. When Captain Brown winked at her, she gave him a dimpled smile in return.

“Well, that’s a surprise,” Sabrina commented.

“Not a pleasant one,” Kathleen grimly replied. “If that man goes near Jeannie, Iwillactually murder him. What sort of idiot flirts with a sixteen-year-old girl?”

“What’s amiss, lassies?” Grant said as he joined them. “Yer lookin’ a wee bit fashed, ye ken.”

Just for a moment, Kathleen allowed herself to be distracted by how very fine he looked at close quarters. His plain linen shirt showcased his broad shoulders and chest, and his kilt emphasized his lean hips and long legs. It was impossible to be physically unmoved by the sight of Grant Kendrick in a kilt. She even found herself rendered speechless, which was not a helpful sensation.

“We’re worried that David’s brother is flirting with Jeannie,” Sabrina quietly said.

Her words and the sudden scowl on Grant’s face unstuck Kathleen’s tongue.

“We’re probably overreacting,” she said. “After all, Jeannie has been following the vicar around like a puppy since we arrived. It’s hard to believe she would throw him over so easily.”

“I hope not,” Sabrina said. “David is harmless, but his brother is . . .” She trailed off with a slight grimace.

“Untrustworthy?” Kathleen finished.

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