Gregor, the more serious of the two, quirked his brow at his friend. “You are not fooling me. You’re jealous you don’t have a lassie of your own. I know how you are with lasses.”
Gavin snorted, staring up at the swirling gray clouds overhead, the wind picking up in intensity. “Mayhap, but none of the lasses in our clan interest me.”
“Then who would?”
“Hmmm. A lass who’s lean and strong, a fighter.”
Gregor laughed. “You’ve just described your mother.”
Gavin tugged on the reins of his horse, charging toward his cousin. “I’ll kick your arse if I ever hear you say that again. I do not want someone like my mother. Damn you for suggesting it.”
Gregor set his horse to galloping and shouted over his shoulder, “Your words, not mine.” His laughter could be heard over the horses’ hooves.
As they raced along—a usual pastime for them—Gavin cursed under his breath. He had to admit Gregor was right about something, although he certainly did not wish to find a lass like his mother. Hellfire, nay, his mother gave him enough trouble. But he was interested in finding a lass of his own. He slowed his horse and Gregor, who’d easily kept pace, did the same. Once they caught their breath, he asked, “Do you not find it odd that all our cousins have married of late? Braden, Roddy, Daniel. They all married within a few moons of one another, and none of them had a large clan wedding.”
“’Tis unusual, aye, but it does not make me feel I must marry. Why does it bother you so?”
“Because we’ve lost most of our band. Who will go with us to seek out the kidnappers now? I wish to find all those bastards.”
“You raise a good point. I’m sure Maggie and Will have thought of some way for us to be of assistance. We just have to wait for their return from Edinburgh. Mayhap they’ve learned more from our king.” Gregor turned his horse around and headed back toward the keep, their patrol finished.
Gavin spurred ahead of his cousin. “I’m not interested in waiting.”
***
Logan Ramsay always made a boisterous entrance, so when the door of the keep banged open loudly enough for the sound to echo off the rafters, Gavin knew his sire had arrived before he even looked.
He bolted off the bench where he and Gregor had been munching their late meal. “Papa. Gregor and I wish to speak with you.”
His sire nodded to Gregor before shifting his gaze back to Gavin, “What is it?”
“We wish to head northeast to ferret out the other kidnappers in the Channel of Dubh. We plan to leave on the morrow.”
His sire snorted, which was not a promising sign. “Nay, you’re not, and stop blaming Gregor for your ideas. I know you’re the one who wishes to go. I’ll say it again in case you did not hear me the first time. Nay.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t know the northeast, and none of your cousins are available to travel with you. What more do you need to know?”
“I’ll take guards with me.”
“Nay. End of story. You’ll wait until your sister comes home.” His sire spun on his heel and headed toward the kitchens, a loud bang punctuating his departure.
Gregor shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not surprised he didn’t go along with it. You don’t know where you’re going. Your sire hates it when we jump into plans without being prepared.”
Gavin’s gaze narrowed as he stared after the departing figure of his sire. “I could learn. My sister isn’t the only one capable of rooting out information.”
“Mayhap not, but you can’t deny she’s good at it. Promise me you’ll wait until Maggie and Will return. They’re supposed to arrive any day.”
Gavin thought for a moment then said, “I’ll give them a few days. If they’re not back by then, I’m leaving, whether you wish to go with me or not.” He stared at his hands for a few moments and said, “Something bad is happening in the northeast. That part of the Channel of Dubh is the worst.”
Gregor dropped the bone he was chewing on. “How the hell do you know that?”
“I don’t know, but I do. ’Tis worse than any of the others.” He sighed. “You’ll see.”
He hadn’t intended it to sound like a promise.
THE END
Dear readers,
Thank you for reading Daniel’s story. I enjoyed their tale because they are such a fun couple.
As many historical romance and fiction authors do, when I began my research, I found the Legend of the Lee Penny. It is a tale about a red amulet, triangular in shape (heart-shaped) that was brought back from the Crusades in 1330 by Sir Symon Locard. It is mounted on a coin, and if you search the internet, you’ll find the story of the Lee Penny and its medicinal qualities.
There is no mention of the coin before 1330, when it was given to Sir Symon Locard, who dubbed it the Lee Penny. So I created my own version of where it could have originated and how it became lost.
My version is completely fictional, just another creation of my mind. I like to think that if it were lost this way, it would eventually find its way back to its original owners.
Next up in the Band of Cousins is Gavin’s story.
Happy reading!
As always, reviews would be greatly appreciated. Sign up for my newsletter on my website at www.keiramontclair.com. I send newsletters out with each new release.
Another way to receive notices about my new releases is to follow me on BookBub. Click on the tab in the upper right-hand side of my profile page. You can also write a review on this platform.
Keira Montclair
www.keiramontclair.com
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NOVELS BY KEIRA MONTCLAIR
THE BAND OF COUSINS
HIGHLAND VENGEANCE
HIGHLAND ABDUCTION
HIGHLAND RETRIBUTION
HIGHLAND LIES
HIGHLAND FORTITUDE
THE CLAN GRANT SERIES
#1-RESCUED BY A HIGHLANDER-Alex and Maddie
#2-HEALING A HIGHLANDER’S HEART-Brenna and Quade
#3-LOVE LETTERS FROM LARGS-Brodie and Celestina
#4-JOURNEY TO THE HIGHLANDS-Robbie and Caralyn
#5-HIGHLAND SPARKS-Logan and Gwyneth
#6-MY DESPERATE HIGHLANDER-Micheil and Diana
#7-THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE HIGHLANDS-Jennie and Aedan
#8- HIGHLAND HARMONY-Avelina and Drew
THE HIGHLAND CLAN
LOKI-Book One
TORRIAN-Book Two
LILY-Book Three
JAKE-Book Four
ASHLYN-Book Five
MOLLY-Book Six
JAMIE AND GRACIE- Book Seven
SORCHA-Book Eight
KYLA-Book Nine
BETHIA-Book Ten
LOKI’S CHRISTMAS STORY-Book Eleven
THE SOULMATE CHRONICLES
#1-TRUSTING A HIGHLANDER
THE SUMMERHILL SERIES- CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
#1-ONE SUMMERHILL DAY
#2-A FRESH START FOR TWO
#3-THREE REASONS TO LOVE
STAND-ALONE NOVEL
FALLING FOR THE CHIEFTAIN-Book Three in Enchanted Falls Trilogy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keira Montclair is the pen name of an author who lives in Florida with her husband. She loves to write fast-paced, emotional romance, especially with children as secondary characters in her stories.
She has worked as a registered nurse in pediatrics and recovery room nursing. Teaching is another of her loves, and she has taught both high school mathematics and practical nursing.
Now she loves to spend her time writing, but there isn’t enough time to write everything she wants! Her Highlander Clan Grant series, comprising of eight standalone novels, is a reader favorite. Her third series, The Highland Clan, set twenty years after the Clan Grant series, focuses on the Grant/Ramsay descendants. She also has a contemporary series set in The Finger Lakes of Western New York and a paranormal historical ser
ies, The Soulmate Chronicles.
Her latest series, The Band of Cousins, stems from The Highland Clan but is a stand-alone series.
Contact her through her website, www.keiramontclair.com.
Copyright © 2018 Keira Montclair
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Highland Fortitude (The Band of Cousins Book 5) Page 20
