A Highland Wolf Christmas
Page 10

Everyone quickly put away their damp cold-weather gear and gathered in the great hall.
Guthrie started walking toward his usual seat when this many pack members ate together. Ian and Cearnach and their mates sat at the head table with Aunt Agnes, Lady Mae, and Shelley’s uncle Ethan. Guthrie had begun sitting at one of the lower tables. Duncan and his mate, Shelley, were likewise sitting at a lower table now, so that they could be together. One big, happy family.
Guthrie glanced around to see where Calla was and found that Logan was sitting next to her. He was chatting away to her—Guthrie figured about the dogs—but he also noticed that the seat on her other side was suspiciously vacant.
He talked to several others as they made their way to their tables. He headed to the spot where he normally sat, next to Duncan, but he realized the seat to his brother’s left had been taken. Oran, who normally sat nearer the door, was filling it now.
Guthrie shouldn’t have cared, but it was unsettling to be bumped from his seat once again. He hated to admit how at home he felt in a particular place, and then how uncomfortable when he had to move. He glanced around and noticed that nearly all the seats were taken on this side of the great hall. He didn’t want to be the last person seated, as Cook and her assistants were already bringing the trout served on toasted bread to the high table. He spied a spot but discounted it, realizing that one of the family’s pairs of twin girls was short a twin, and sure enough, she dashed by him to get to her saved seat.
Two seats were available by the drafty window. He glanced again at the one by Calla, expecting it to be filled. It wasn’t. Julia was watching him but quickly looked away, a wicked smile gracing her lips.
He’d been trying to let Calla have some space, but he’d been thwarted this time. He shook his head and strode toward the vacant chair before he ended up having to sit in one of the chilly window seats.
When he approached Calla, she looked grateful. He smiled. He supposed he’d saved her from Logan’s dog talk. Logan said to her, “Will you ride with me on the hayride tonight?”
“Um, I have an engagement tonight. A Highland reunion I’m in charge of,” Calla hastily said, sounding relieved that she had work to do.
“Ahh. Well, maybe another time.” Logan brushed his brown hair out of his eyes. “Why are you sitting over here?” he asked Guthrie, as if he’d just noticed that Guthrie had joined them.
“Oran stole my seat.” Guthrie thanked the lady who brought them their lunches.
“What did he do that for?” Logan asked and began eating his fish.
“Maybe he needed to talk to Duncan about something. I don’t know.” Guthrie suspected it was a conspiracy, yet he wondered why Oran hadn’t been trying to make more headway in getting to know the lass. Maybe he was concerned about the same thing—that her relationship with Baird had ended too recently to consider dating her.
Logan glanced around the room, then grinned. “You didn’t want the drafty chairs.” He pointed at the two nearest the window.
“Good guess.” Nobody wanted to sit there in wintertime.
Calla smiled and then began to eat her lunch.
“So, what reunion are you going to?” Guthrie asked. Ian hadn’t spoken about it to him yet, and he still didn’t know where it was.
She hesitated to say. He sat a little straighter, assuming that his clan didn’t get along with whoever these people were.
“Which clan?” he asked.
She frowned at Guthrie.
He set his fork down. “You can’t go alone, Calla, if that’s what you’re thinking. Not after the confrontation you had with Baird and his people last night.”
“You know, you sound just like Cearnach.”
Guthrie smiled a little at that. Usually, he looked up to Cearnach and appreciated his advice. Though he and his brothers all thought Cearnach had gone a little mad when he went to Calla’s wedding, knowing full well that Baird wouldn’t like it one wee bit.
Calla finally turned to her meal and said, “I’ve spoken to Ian about it. I don’t want him or anyone else to feel put out that they have to watch over me like I’m a child.”
Logan sat taller. “I can go with you instead of going on the hayride.”
Calla smiled at Logan and shook her head. “You have fun and let me know all about it tomorrow.”
He looked disappointed and glanced in Guthrie’s direction as if asking him to talk Ian into letting him go. What was it with him? First, Logan had been sweet-talking Elaine before she was Cearnach’s mate, and now he thought he had a chance with Calla? Calla belonged with the grown men.
Guthrie had every intention of speaking with Ian about Calla’s plans tonight, but not for Logan’s sake. “For your information,” Guthrie said, wishing to address her concern about his clan watching out for her, “we feel it an honor to look out for you. Not only that, but Ian got a call from your dad. You didn’t tell him you had an accident and further trouble with Baird, did you?”
She frowned at him. “I didn’t want to worry my parents. They didn’t have to know about it. They’re on vacation and needed this break. It doesn’t do any good to concern them when nothing truly bad happened.” This time she flashed her very heated green eyes at Guthrie.
He’d never seen her riled up in human form. He wanted to smile, but he curbed the urge. “Aye, they’re well aware of it now.”
“I suppose Ian will keep them informed of everything I do now, even if I don’t wish it.”