AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The old fellow rubbed his hands with anticipation. “So, what’s the plan, lads? I’m guessin’ we’ll be wantin’ to look for the gang’s bolthole. Start squeezin’ the villagers for information. There’s got to be someone around here who knows somethin’.”
“There is no plan,” Graeme tartly replied. “Especially not one that involves you barking at the locals like a mad dog. They’re already rattled enough.”
“I’ll be as gentle as a lamb, and subtle as a snake. They’ll never even know I’m squeezin’ them.”
“You’re as subtle as a rampaging bull,” Grant said. “And you’re not to go poking about the countryside looking for trouble, either.”
Their grandfather scoffed. “I neverlookfor trouble.”
“And yet you always manage to find it.”
“But ye need my help, so ye’ll have time to be courtin’ the fair colleen. Ye have to up yer game, or else that poncy vicar will be cuttin’ ye out.”
Grant sighed. “It never stops, does it?”
Graeme adopted a mock-thoughtful expression. “Brown is just the sort of pretty fellow the ladies swoon over. Half the girls in the village are mad about him, not that our good vicar ever notices.”
Angus pulled out his pipe and tobacco pouch. “He noticed a certain lass today.”
“He did seem quite taken with Kathleen.” Graeme pointed at Grant. “As Grandda said, you’d best look lively, or our clerical friend will cut you off at the pass.”
Grant scowled at his brother. “You’re just as ridiculous as Angus.”
“I seem to remember a certain brother—my twin, in fact—who did his best to push me directly into the path of a certain Lady Sabrina.”
“You needed Sabrina. I don’t need anyone.”
Graeme and Angus exchanged a look.
“Besides,” Grant felt compelled to add, “I’m not here to run after pretty girls—”
“So youdothink she’s pretty,” Graeme cut in.
“Of course I think she’s pretty. What difference does that make?”
“Ye dinna want to be courtin’ a girl ye don’t have a fancy for,” Angus patiently explained. “Much less marry her.”
“This conversation is completely deranged,” Grant said. “And I’m not marrying anyone.”
Angus heaved a sigh. “I dinna ken why yer so dead-set against marriage. Look at how much good it’s done for yon laddie.”
“True enough, Grandda,” Graeme said. “I even got a knighthood out of it.”
“No one will be handing out knighthoods to marry Kathleen Calvert,” Grant acidly replied. “Although they probably should, given the trouble she gets up to.”
Angus beamed at him. “That’s why she needs ye, lad. To keep her out of trouble.”
Grant resisted the impulse to start shouting. “Let me explain something clearly. I am staying to help my brother track down a gang of thieves. Since my time is valuable, I will do everything I can to expedite the process. Again, that means no time to court ladies.”
Angus now heaved a dramatic sigh. “To my way of thinkin’ there’s nothin’ sadder than an old bachelor, ye ken.”
“I amnotold. And this is—”
“You know Sabrina thinks very highly of Kathleen,” Graeme interjected. “And from what I’ve seen, she’s a verra bonny lass.”
Grant put his glass down. “Let me make something else perfectly clear. Aside from the fact that I do not have the time for this, Kathleen Calvert has no interest in me. None.” He formed his thumb and forefinger into an oval. “Zero. There is literallyno pointto this discussion.”
“That’s only because ye won’t put yer back into it,” Angus countered. “Not like the old days, when ye used to have the lassies swarmin’ all around ye like flies on a side of overripe beef.”
