Kilts and Kisses by Victoria Roberts Page A

marriage. The choice with the muddy water means marriage in dishonor. And if she chooses the one with no water, she’ll ne’er be wed. Should we stay and find out Sorcha’s fate?”
    Ceana grabbed her sister by the arm. “Come. If Sorcha thinks basins will tell her the future, so be it. But neither ye nor I should be witness to this madness any longer. Let’s find out what Uncle John wanted to speak with us about.”

    “W hat the hell have ye done?” Luthais ran his fingers through his hair as he paced in front of his father, who sat behind the wooden desk in his study. “I told ye that I met Laird Gunn’s daughter. I told ye that I wanted more time. God’s teeth! I wanted to see if she’d be suitable as my wife. I wanted to woo her, and ye didnae even give me the chance.”
    His father chuckled. “Woo her? There’s plenty of time for that later...after ye’re wed.”
    “Lest ye forget, that choice was to be my own!”
    “Luthais, I told ye that I was proud to see ye considering this matter with the importance ye should, but ye know making an alliance with the Gunns would be in the best interest of the clan, and sooner rather than later. The more I thought about your words, the clearer they became. Your marriage would bring with it powerful allies. The MacKays and Gunns would be a force to be reckoned with. I couldnae let ye foul up our...er, your future.” He sat down and rested his arm on the desk.
    “And there lies the truth to it all, Father.”
    “I understand ye may be cross at me for—”
    “Cross doesnae even begin to describe how I feel. Ye want me to make decisions for the clan, but how can I do that when ye make them for me at every turn?”
    His father stiffened in the chair. “Ye are my son. Ye will learn there are things in life that ye must do even when ye donna want to do them. I must travel to Edinburgh every year, and ye know that isnae something I favor.”
    “Ye go to Edinburgh because the king orders all the Highland lairds to attend court. I take my vows seriously, Father. Once I say them, there will be nay turning back. The choice was to be mine. The last I needed was my sire forcing me to the altar and choosing my bride. I am a man. Ye need to stop interfering in my life and worry about your own.”
    His father’s mouth twitched with amusement. “And the last time I didnae interfere I believe there was a sheep and rope involved.”
    Luthais rose to his feet in exasperation. “Is that all ye see? I will nae apologize for thinking that other issues have greater importance than sheep stealing and tupping. I want to know what ye said in the missive.”
    “I merely told Laird Gunn that if his daughter hasnae chosen a suitor, my son wishes to be among them for consideration. And of course I mentioned that if ye took her to wife, the MacKays and Gunns would become powerful allies.”
    Luthais couldn’t help himself when a growl escaped him. “So ye sealed my fate by a missive. Did ye ever think this would’ve been better had I approached Laird Gunn himself when I was ready and asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage?” When his father didn’t respond, Luthais spoke for him. “Of course nae.”
    “While we wait for Laird Gunn’s response, why donna ye spend your time wooing the lass? That is what ye wanted, eh?”
    “Donna make light of what ye did. I disagree with everything about this.”
    His father rose and walked around the desk. “Aye, but ye will do what is expected of ye. Ye are a MacKay. I’d be proud for ye to take my place one day as laird.”
    “And one day I promise ye that I will. But when will ye realize that we are two different men? We will nae see things the same way, and to think that we could is foolish. Ye are my father, but if ye do anything like that again, I swear that ye may nae live to see the morrow.”
    Luthais walked to the stables, placing as much distance between himself and his sire as he possibly could. He loved his father, he truly