His Lass Wears Tartan Read Free

stirred a lump of sugar into her cup and leaned closer. “So which of you is going to put my curiosity to rest? I’m waiting.”
    “Seems Rogue met up with your Bruce MacKenzie this morning.” Rogue thumped her head on the table.
Here we go, I’ll never hear the end of it.

“She practically knocked him into the mud, never watching where she’s going. Thank goodness it was Bruce and not the father of the bride, child.”
    Putney sat straight up, the edges of her lips in a grin. Rogue noticed Robbie put a hand on her arm as if to stop her from leaping over the table from the side of her view. “Saints preserve us, ya did indeed finally introduce yourself, lassie?”
    “I dinna mean to run into him, Auntie. I dinna expect to find anyone out there at that time of day.” Her voice was muffled against the top of the table. She suddenly felt like a wee fish in a bowl, with everyone staring into her life.
    “It was rather romantic, Putney.” Baillie put her arm around the back of Rogue, her voice more dramatic. “He grabbed ahold of her by the arms to keep her from ending up in the mud, and their eyes locked for moments.” She leaned closer to the cook. “He looked quite smitten with our girl, I must say.”
    “It wasn’t mutual,” she told the table. Gorgeous hunk or not, his words about looking the part of a lady still stung, but she wasn’t going to explain what had happened to this meddling group around her.
    Clapping her hands together, Putney almost giggled. “I knew ya would like the dear boy. He’s handsome and smart as they come. He spent the last few years in the big cities until the death of his da brought him back. Sure and I’ll bet he’s sown his wild oats and is ready to settle down.”
    “Woman, don’t go shoving the wee lass into just any pair of arms you take a liking to. She’s old enough to find a
jo
on her own, she is.” Robbie slapped his hand on the table top, cutting her off. “
Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye!
”
    Rogue popped up from the vibration of the table. “Thank ye, dear Robbie. At least someone has sense in this group. These foolish hens will marry me off tomorrow if they have their way. Do I look like I’m desperate to say ‘I do’?”
    “Hey, no fair, translate, please. What did Robbie just say? Was that Gaelic? Remember, there’s an American at the table.”
    Putney sniffed and looked away from Robbie. “It means what’s meant to happen will happen.”
    “Robbie, that works for most things, but we’re talking young love. Sometimes you have to push them into the deep end of the pool. You have to admit, she hasn’t batted an eyelash at any of the celebrities or young, single men passing through here, and there have been some jaw-dropping ones. Maybe not the brightest lightbulbs in the package, but some were grand.” Baillie stared at Rogue. “You’re polite to the male population, but your heart is entrenched in the stable. It’s all about the wild beast, Dougal.”
    “And ya’ll not find yourself warm at night with just that creature to snuggle with.” The women were getting warmed up on the subject.
    “I think this is where I’ll say goodnight and lock myself in my room until you all come to your senses.” Rogue shoved her chair away from the table. “Don’t be wagging your tongues about me after I’m gone, either. I am quite happy in my life without a man.” She smiled and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “G’nite.” She swished around the table and wrapped her arms around Putney’s neck. “I ken ya heart’s in the right place. He is rather good looking, I’ll give ya that. Maybe I won’t close and lock the barn door yet.”
    • • •
    Putney picked up the empty cup and saucer in front of her. “Guess these dishes can wait until morning. I think I’ll follow the lass’s idea and turn in myself.”
    Baillie helped her take the tea things to the counter. “We’ve got one more breakfast for the guests and then nothing on the books, so