“Are you going to challenge Richard to a duel for my hand, mayhap?”
“No, I’ll get Angus to do it.”
That surprised a laugh out of her. “You’re being ridiculous now.”
“I’m trying,” he said. “Now, perhaps you can enlighten me as to the nature of our expedition.”
“I’m taking you to the chapel. It’s just up ahead.”
“There wouldn’t happen to be a parson about, would there? That would be convenient.”
Charlie rounded on him and pointed a finger at his nose. “Kade Kendrick, you will cease being nonsensical this instant. This is serious business, ye ken.Veryserious.”
He tried to look contrite. “Sorry, love. I promise to behave from now on.”
She blushed at his endearment. “You will absolutelynotbehave, from what I can see. And to think everyone calls you the good Kendrick.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Give me a chance, and I’ll show you just how good I can be.”
“Lord, you’re worse than your grandfather.”
“But surely that would defy all the laws of nature.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hopeless.”
“Aye, that.”
Kade couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun. In fact, he felt bloody euphoric. And it was all down to the adorable lass looking askance at him.
“You do realize,” she said, “that ifwedon’t find that blasted brooch before someone else does, I could end up riveted to the wrong man.”
“Well, then, we’d best find it first.”
She led the way past a small clearing overgrown with larkspur, heather, and wild grasses. A dozen old gravestones and a few Celtic crosses languished in the grass, some leaning sideways and covered with lichen. It was a picturesque, peaceful scene.
“This is one of the older sections,” Charlie said. “Stewarts, for the most part. The MacDonalds are on the other side of the island.”
“So, we’re looking at your father’s noble ancestors.”
“He’s not very sentimental about them, so he rarely visits. He told Mamma that if she buried him out on this dreary island, he’d come back and haunt her.”
“I can’t say as I would relish the thought of eternity spent out here, either.”
“Goodness, your grandfather would be horrified by such an attitude.”
“Too true. Angus believes I’ve forgotten how to be a Highlander. ‘Citified’ is the term he recently used to describe me.”
She glanced up at him. “And have you forgotten?”
“No. I love the Highlands and I greatly respect family and clan traditions. But that doesn’t mean I can’t also appreciate other ways of life or seek to expand my horizons. I don’t have to give up one to have the other.”
“Don’t you find it difficult, sometimes?”
“On occasion, yes. But with a little effort, it works, if one desires it hard enough.”
“Huh,” she said again, more to herself than to him.
Kade held his peace. He was certain now that she’d developed strong feelings for him. Yet did she love him enough to leave her beloved Highlands and her life here behind?
