Fifty-eight.

"Please forgive me, Love?" Calum asked as he pulled Colt through to the large cream coloured kitchen at the back of the house.

Colt snapped annoyed, "Calum, stop," she said on an exhale as she dug in her heels and stopped moving. "Why didn't you tell me about this?" She demanded to know

"I was handling it," he stated, trying to shrug it off, like it didn't matter.

"Clearly." Colt scoffed, "And dragging me off, with some half assed explanation isn't good enough. What is going on? Damn it!"

Calum sighed, he felt incredibly frustrated, all he wanted was to get on with the rest of their evening. This was a circumstance he definitely hadn't planned for, which made him feel like a fool. Of course his Uncle would pull a stunt like this, it was probably why his mother was no where in sight.

"Look, Love, I have never had any intention of stepping into his Lairdship's shoes, and he bloody knows that." Calum stated, while pinching the bridge of his nose. "But, he was undoubtedly hoping that by ambushing us with a portion of the clan's people, he could force me to agree. People like to belong somewhere, or to something and the worry of no leadership would unsettle everyone. Colin hoped that he could force my hand by using you, in front of everyone so I couldn't refuse. He is a dirty bastard and I won't have him taking up anymore of our time."

Calum had hoped his response would be an end of the discussion. He was wrong.

"Firstly, I dont like people laying my life out for me, Calum! Secondly, none of what you have just said, is the point," Colt spoke, with an annoyed frown marring her features. "You are my mate, and I am yours! You should have told me this was going on!" Colt argued back, "Stop keeping me in the dark."

"Don't. Don't you bloody dare compare me to him! I have never tried to lay anything out for you! Or dictated what your choices are!" Calum shot back defensively, "Don't you dare compare me to that damn wolf!" He spat out enraged that she would think so low of him.

"I meant your Uncle, you morron! I wasn't even thinking of Elijah. That chip lies on your shoulders, and it has absolutely no relevance here, Calum!" Colt shouted back, making Calum wince.

"Fuck!" Calum roared, feeling even more like an idiot. He seen the tears welling in Colt's eyes, tears that he knew were from anger, but were still tears none the less, and he felt about two inches tall.

He reached out for her, speaking softly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

Colt stepped back out of his reach, "No. No you bloody well shouldn't have, Calum. I would never compare the two of you, because there is no comparison whatsoever. But, right now," Colt panted angrily, "That is neither here nor there! Why didn't you tell me about this? In fact why do you rarely tell me about anything that is going on? I shouldn't have to find things out from third parties, Calum."

"I.. I.. I just deal with things, Colt. I'm a wildcat, not a wolf. If I have a problem, I sort it out, that's my nature," Calum said at a loss, "And, I will work on my chipped appendages," he added with a smile, trying to break the tension, "I just, I love you, and I guess a part of me is worried how I would cope should I ever lose you, and he is a threat. He will always be a threat. He shares a bond with you, one that was there before ours, and I'm not going to pretend it doesn't bother me." He sighed, "But, I will work on it, Love."

"Just, just don't shut me out Calum," Colt sighed, her anger dissipating as quickly as it had arrived. "You aren't on your own anymore. We have to be a team, and I can't keep up my part if you keep me in the dark," Colt said, her voice softening and coming back to normal as she reached out for him, "And, Elijah isn't a threat to us, because my choice is you, it will always be you, Calum."

"I will try, Love. I promise," Calum spoke, taking Colt's hand and bringing it to his mouth, where he then kissed the inside of her wrist, causing her to automatically start purring. "Now, let's go before they try and ruin your night any further," He stated softly, as his arms found their was to her waist.

"Shouldn't we say goodbye?" Colt asked, knowing it was the polite thing to do, but looking like she wanted to go upstairs, about as much as she wanted to spend a candle lit evening with Angus Bruce, discussing golf.

"Nah, sod them," Calum smiled, pulling her forwards, as he stepped back towards a back door. "Let's go, Love," he added conspiratorially.

Colt laughed, as they made their escape and Calum led her outside to a large ornate courtyard. It was made of the same sandstone as everything else, only there was swathes of ivy climbing these walls, and a cobblestone yard at the bottom. Colt couldn't help it though, her eyes lit up at all the stable doors. It looked like the potential structure for a classic stable yard. Then she realised, that is exactly what it was, and the possibilities shone in her eyes, making Calum laugh loudly.

"Now, I suppose if he had led by showing you this place, and telling you to bring horses back to the estate, I would have been in trouble," he joked.

"I mean.... Maybe being chief wouldn't be so bad, Casanova, and I wouldn't need them all. You could keep a couple for you motorbike. Maybe start a collection?" Colt joked straight back. "Get more that one?"

Calum froze, "Wait a minute. There are twenty-eight stables here, and you're offering me two?" He feigned offense, "How many damn horses do you need? And for the record, that's what caused the chip in my other shoulder. Solaris." He teased her.

Colt nodded thoughtfully before smiling, "That's fair," she stated, "I'd be worried about that one too, he is very pretty, and fluffy." Before she twirled dramatically, "Oh, Calum, twenty-eight horses, could you imagine?" she smiled.

Colt's laugh turned into a shriek, as Calum lunged for her, throwing her up over his shoulder in one swift movement.

"Come on, before you spot the bloody greenhouses," he fake scolded her, as he strode out towards the vehicle sheds.

"Greenhouses, plural? As in more than one?" She asked, straining to see around, until she became completely distracted staring at Calum's behind and trying to get her hand down his kilt.

Before too long, Colt had been upturned with a giggle, and put down in front of a strange looking vehicle. It was green, had eight wheels, four on each side that were practically touching, bike handles in the front for steering and brakes, and a seating/storage like space behind where there was a large wicker basket sat waiting.

"What's this?" Colt asked perplexed.

"It's called an Argocat," Calum answered leading her round to the passenger side.

"It has a roll cage and no roof?" Colt smiled out, enjoying the feel of her hand in his.

Calum nodded, pulling her closer, "That's right." He said.

"Can I drive?" She asked excitedly, her hands resting around his waist.

"Do you know where we are going?" Calum countered, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.

"I'll let you navigate?" Colt suggested hopefully, pulling back slightly and trying to look as sweet as possible, making Calum laugh as she did so.

"Do you know how to drive it?" Calum smirked back, stepping towards her again to resume his spot, inhaling her scent as he took a moment to reconnect after their earlier argument.

Colt bit her lip in thought, "I'll get naked if you teach me," she offered, smiling as his grip briefly tightened.

Then Calum deflated with an exasperated laugh, "Woman, stop using sex to manipulate me," he tried and failed to scold her.

"Who said anything about sex? Hell, you really ought to get your mind out of the gutter," Colt said sternly, as she pulled away and sat onto the passenger seat, lifting her legs over the fixed side. "Maybe you've been spending too much time with Felix. We should probably watch that." She smirked, pretending to be thoughtful.

Calum leaned over, kissing her on the top of the head, "You are amazing, Colt," Calum laughed out.

Then he jogged around to the other side, getting in to drive them off, feeling like he was exactly where he ought to be at this moment in time.

*Author's Note: Feeling on top of the world to get this out so soon after the last. I.promised the proposal was coming up and it is, but the characters had some alternative ideas and have way layed me. But it is coming in the next two chapters at most... I think. I hope. As long as they behave... 😉🤣🤷‍♀️*