Page 22 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
Sheona said, “Sloan, you don’t have to stick next to me all night. I’ll make my way around the hall. I know many who I can chat with.”
“Fair enough. If you change your mind, we won’t be far.”
Sheona made her way inside, looking at all the people, hoping to see someone to chat with. The hall looked magnificent with autumn colors everywhere. Red and purple flowers decorated the tables, and boughs with orange and red leaves hung over the hearth. The first thing she did was move over to the hearth to greet Meg, who was chatting with Merryn. But as soon as she turned, she nearly ran into someone.
A man with Shealee on his shoulders nearly knocked her down, but she was caught by another man who came up from behind her. “Paden, do be careful. You nearly knocked this beautiful lass on her sweet … I mean, knocked her down.”
Shealee giggled as Paden lifted her, then swung her like he was about to settle her in a tall tree before he set her on the ground. “Go see Mama. I must apologize for my rudeness, lassie.”
Sheona said, “Nay, it was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy looking to see who was here.”
The other person came from behind, his hands still at her waist, and said, “I saved you from my cousin. He’ll knock anyone down. I’m Jowell and this is Paden.” He dropped his hands as he moved to one side, knocking his cousin out of the way.
Sheona stared at the two men, her gaze going from one handsome face to the other. What did they feed the lads on Grant land? “And which Grants do you belong to? I’m trying to learn all the names, but there are many of you.”
Jowell laughed. “I’m Alaric’s brother. Jamie and Gracie are our parents. And this is Paden, brother to Broc, whose parents are Kyla Grant and Finlay MacNicol.”
And the two then had their fun with her.
Jowell said, “I’m the best-looking. We often argue between the three of us—me, Hagen, or Paden.”
Paden offered, “I’m the one with the bit of red in my hair, like my sire. That makes me unique and thus the most handsome.”
Jowell glared at his cousin before he spoke. “But I look almost exactly like Alaric, and our mother Gracie was known as the most beautiful lass in all the land. And my hair is much lighter than Alaric’s, more like my mother’s golden-white hair.”
Hagen came up from behind them. “Do not listen to them, Sheona. I’m the best-looking. My mother Sela had the reputation as the queen of Inverness because of her beauty. And my sire, well, everyone knows he looks just like our grandfather, Alex Grant.”
“Is Alex grandfather to all of you?” she asked.
“Aye,” the three barked in unison.
She giggled, watching the young lads try to outdo each other.
“He did like me best.”
“I was his favorite. Surely you all know that.”
“Is that why he always came to me first?”
Sheona was thoroughly entertained by their banter.
“And he thought me the best swordsman.”
“Nay, I was the best back then. Connor is my sire, after all.”
“But Grandda said my swing was most like his.”
What Sheona enjoyed most was that there was no ill will in the banter. It was all done for fun and, if she were to guess, mostly for her entertainment.
Jowell finally turned to her. “Sheona, are you betrothed or married?”
“Nay, she’s not. But she’s already spoken for because I’m going to take her for a stroll in a few moments,” Hagen said. “I already asked her.”
“If you’re taking her in afewmoments, then I’m taking her inonemoment,” Jowell declared.
“They’re always trying to outdo each other. I’ll let them argue it between them.” Paden held out his arm. “Then that means we can go right now.”
She stared from one face to the next, not knowing what to do, so she said, “I promised Hagen first, I think.”
