Too Scot to Hold (The Hots for Scots #8) - Caroline Lee Page 0,3

consent to getting ye drunk instead of helping Merewyn and yer wife bring said bairn into the world? Ye think I’d waste all my medical training just to comfort ye?”

“Ye wouldnae?” Kiergan’s false frown didn’t last long, and he shrugged. “Ye might be the only one who can help my Kat, since Merewyn is likely to pop long before her and will be nursing her own bairn by the time mine arrives.”

Pop? Graham’s lips twitched, having never heard that description before. “That’s why I’m here, brother.”

Kiergan’s hand tightened on his shoulder, then dropped. “I willnae say I havenae missed ye these months. I ken ye claimed ye had business and patients in St. Andrews, but ‘tis pleased I am ye’ve wrapped all that up to return home.” Before Graham could work out how to respond to that, his brother hurried on, adding, “I suspect ye’ve been away for so long because of Davina, but with her return, mayhap the two of ye will find a way to be together.”

Graham’s gaze was drawn back to the western horizon. Was there movement in that direction? The spring snow was finally starting to melt, so ‘twas hard to imagine the roads were aught but mud, but ‘twas impossible to deny there were travelers on their way to Oliphant Castle.

Was it the MacKinnons finally arriving?

“Ye ken how much ye all mean to me?” he murmured to his brother but didn’t allow him the chance to answer before he continued, “I’ve had a family my whole life, but no’…a family. Ye have welcomed me with open arms, and I’ve been blessed to find ye.”

Beside him, Kiergan grunted. “Why do I hear a ‘but’ in there?”

Unable to resist the jibe, Graham solemnly said, “If ye hear butts, I think the medical solution is to get yer head out of yer arse.”

“Oh, hah. Hah.” When Graham glanced at his brother, Kiergan rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “What I should’ve said is, why does it sound as if ye’re ready to hie off to St. Andrews again, ye great clot-heid?”

Suppressing his sigh, Graham turned back to the distant travelers. “Because I am considering it.” It all depended on what happened in the next few fortnights. “I love ye all, but this place will always remind me of her. If I cannae be with Davina—if she doesnae want me—I would rather be someplace I can make a real difference without such painful memories.”

Last summer, he’d hidden in the secret passages and awaited word of the MacKinnons’ arrival, desperate for the chance to see his Vina. They’d fallen in love months before when he’d visited Mull to tend to a patient’s elderly uncle, but her grandfather had refused Graham entrance to MacKinnon land when he’d learned of their feelings for one another. As far as Angus MacKinnon was concerned, the man who married his granddaughter would be the next MacKinnon laird, and a MacVanish bastard wasn’t worthy of the title.

Apparently, an Oliphant bastard wasnae worthy enough either, although he’d been happy to betroth her to Kiergan when he had the chance.

In the distance, the dust cloud resolved into a mounted party, and Graham dropped his hands to the stone before him, squinting to make out the banners.

His brother sighed, likely understanding Graham’s dilemma and being kind enough not to try to talk him out of it.

“Does she ken ye’ll be here?’

He grunted a negative in response to Kiergan’s question. “She hasnae responded to any of my letters. ‘Til ye wrote to tell me she and her grandfather would be joining ye for Katlyn’s confinement, I had nae idea how she fared. She could already be married to another man by now,” he finished in a whisper.

“Nay, brother.” Kiergan’s tone bordered on pitying. “Katlyn would’ve kenned such news and would tell us all. Davina is still unmarried and no’ betrothed either.”

Which meant she just didn’t want to speak to him.

Fabulous.

The approaching riders were wearing MacKinnon colors and surrounded a fancy carriage.

Beside him, Kiergan leaned his elbows on the stone wall. “True story. I stood up here last summer, watching this same scene. Da had only just told me the MacKinnon was bringing his granddaughter to marry me, and I was livid. I came up here to get a glimpse of her, and when she stepped out of that carriage, I thought she was the most beautiful creature God had made.”

She was. She is.

“But ‘twas her sister who met my eyes, who made me lose my breath,” Kiergan continued ruefully. “It took me