Page 21 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
Their father didn’t look at her brother but stared straight ahead. Sheona noticed he’d dressed up in his finest leine and plaid this eve, even trimmed his beard and combed his hair. Herfather had been a handsome man in his day. “Fine. I’ll find my own entertainment.”
Sheona wore her favorite gown, the dark blue one with green ribbons that matched the ones in her hair. She wore trews under her gown, though she made sure her sire never saw them. He’d forbidden her long ago to wear them, though she still snuck into them when she could.
Sloan wore his nicer plaid too. Eva was, of course, beautiful and wore a dark purple gown. The two together made a striking couple. “They’ll probably need you to check their brew, Da. I’m sure there will be many samples. You know Logan and Connor will have them and so will Drew, if he’s still here.”
“You’re right. And I brought my own wee sample for later.”
Sheona sighed with relief. Sloan always knew how to distract their father. After all that had happened with their brother Rinaldo, she had to give Sloan credit. Their father had always favored Rinaldo, but he’d turned out to be a lying, conniving man, and their father had disowned him before killing him with his own sword.
Sheona hated Rinaldo.
She’d always wished to ask Sloan if their father had ever apologized to him over favoring Rinaldo, but she never had the courage.
As they approached the gates, her father moved his horse ahead of theirs, announcing himself at the gate. “Chief Rankin. I’m coming in. I have a new cask of my brew for Logan Ramsay.”
Broc waved him inside, standing next to another guard who looked like him, but with lighter hair. “Hagen, help Lady Rankin down and take her horse for her.”
The place was busy, but the blond, blue-eyed guard came forward, leading her horse away from the crowd. “Here, I’ll take you over here, my lady. Then I’ll help you.”
“My thanks,” she replied, noticing that her father was already inside the keep and Sloan was helping Eva down while chatting with Derric over their earlier hunt.
“I don’t recognize you. Who are you related to?” she asked, surprised at her own boldness.
“I’m Hagen. First son to Connor and Sela Grant. Dyna is my sister. And you are Lady Rankin, but I didn’t hear your given name.”
“Sheona.”
“Married to?”
“Not married,” she said, amazed at her own shyness. “You?”
“Nay. I’m still looking.” He hooked her horse on a post, then helped her down, his hands slipping around her waist as he lifted her as though she weighed no more than a handful of beach sand.
She landed without the least bit of grace, and he grimaced. “Sorry, I’m a bit new at this. There aren’t many Grant lasses who would allow me to help them down. If I tried to help my sister, she’d put a boot in my teeth.” He wiggled one tooth and said, “She did once, but my tooth recovered.”
Sheona laughed, gripping his arm until she steadied herself on the uneven ground. Her gaze locked on his, and the blue in his eyes was so deep that it mesmerized her, the silver flecks dancing in the newly lit torchlights as darkness began to fall. “My thanks to you. You did a fine job, Hagen.”
“I hope to see you inside, Sheona Rankin.”
She smiled and said, “I would like that.”
Eva appeared at her side, “Greetings to you, Hagen. It looks to be a lovely gathering. The night is accommodating.”
Hagen said, “It is. At your service, ladies. Anything else I can do for you?”
Sheona shook her head and Eva said, “Not at the moment. Mayhap later.”
Sheona pushed her elbow into Eva’s side.
“Then I’ll take care of your horse. Enjoy the party!”
And Hagen was off.
Eva said, “Sheona, you like him?”
She shrugged. “I guess. As much as anyone, but I hardly know him. However, he is cute.”
“True. We’ll have to find him later. Come, your brother is hungry.”
