Page 33 of A Virgin for the Highland Beast
“Dinnae see what’s got ye so troubled about it,” Archie stated as he leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. “She’s very pretty. I wouldnae mind her company if ye dinnae.”
“Mind yer tongue,” Hunter growled. “That’s me future wife.”
“So, that’s what’s got ye bothered,” Archie said with a chuckle. “I figured ye’d be mullin’ that over. Although, I still cannae figure out why ye decided to get married so soon. Thought ye’d want to drag it out as long as possible.”
“Ye ken as well as I do the council wouldnae take so kindly to that,” Hunter said.
Archie shook his head as he pulled in a deep breath. “Aye, the council. Pompous, arrogant arses if ye ask me. They really dinnae have a clue about matters of the heart, now, do they?” he stated.
His words rang true with Hunter. Although having a council was beneficial for the clan, having them nitpick everything he did was growing tiresome.
“The sooner I wed, the sooner I can get them off me back,” Hunter stated plainly, hoping his words masked his true feelings.
“But why the taller one? If I were ye, I’d want the youngest. She’ll be easier to adapt to life here, I’d say.”
“I’ve made me choice,” Hunter stated as he glowered at Archie.
Recognizing the sign of an impending storm brewing within Hunter, Archie quickly changed the subject.
“How about a game of chess? That should get yer mind off tomorrow.”
Hunter wasn’t in the mood for chess—he wanted Emma’s company—but since he refused to give in to his desires for her, he nodded his head.
“Set it up.”
Hunter shifted in his chair as Archie rose and collected the board from the back cabinet. It had seemed like ages since Hunter had played, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to beat Archie, but if it got Emma off his mind, he’d give it a shot.
“Ye ken, ye look like a burnin’ man. What’s troublin’ ye?” Archie asked as he made the first move, bringing his pawn out.
“Nothin’,” Hunter lied as he mirrored Archie’s move.
“Ye ken what’s got me bothered,” Archie continued as he moved his knight. “The sudden appearance of the lassies. Why, out of all the places they could have gone, did they come here?”
“I dinnae think they had a map of the land and just fled,” Hunter stated as he shifted another pawn.
Although it was only two moves in, Hunter’s head wasn’t in the game at all, and Archie wasn’t making it any easier to calm the restlessness driving Hunter to the brink of madness.
“Well, it’s just odd that they come in from the storm and beg for sanctuary.”
“What would have ye done? Sent them away in the storm? Thrown them in the dungeons? Besides, it doesnae matter. I’ve given Emma me word that nay harm will come to her or her sisters while they’re here. I expect me men to uphold that promise.”
“But do we even ken what kind of danger they might bring upon us?” Archie asked, his face a mask of concern. “Upon our home, our clan?”
Hunter glared at him and shook his head. There was no doubt that there were unanswered questions as to what brought Emma to him, but Hunter didn’t care. He’d face them head-on if it meant he got to keep her.
“Maybe I’m overreacting… but the fact is, we ken nothing about them. And now ye’re about to marry one of them.”
Hunter stared at the chess board as if Archie’s warning washed over him like water on a duck’s back. He leaned forward and moved his bishop, trying to focus on the game and not on the warning resonating in Archie’s words.
“By wedding one of them, I’ll ensure their safety and stave off a war. Any threat from the outside will be neutralized. As for the reasons they’ve come here, let them keep their secrets, as I will keep mine.”
“Fair enough,” Archie said, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “But why do I get the feelin’ there’s more to their sudden arrival that’s eatin’ away at ye?”
Hunter took a deep breath, his mind flashing back to Emma. “I heard the girls talking about love.”
“Love? That’s what’s keepin’ ye awake? Ha. I should have kenned. Of course, it would boil down to that silly notion,” Archie said with a chuckle. “I swear that’s all lassies ever wonder about. They live by their hearts and nae their heads. It’s a rare gem to find a lass who has both qualities.”
“But is love worth fighting for? Say the trouble Emma and her sisters bring here is more than what the clan can handle,” Hunter said, looking at Archie for some sort of reassurance.
