Scarlet did not understand how she was dragged to sit with the women while her father, Ian and others went out to hunt. She was to be out there getting a head start on hunting so she would not lose this year.

She was lucky to have Elijah, Leonard, and now Ian out with the men so they should gather points for her.

"Scarlet, you do not look like you want to be here. Something or someone on your mind?" Penelope asked, winking at Rue who smiled.

"I want to hunt," Scarlet said, disappointing everyone at the table as they wanted to hear about Ian.

"Unless it is with a bow and an arrow, I don’t see why you are so excited to hunt. Where did we go wrong with this one, Samara?" Rue questioned as Scarlet should love swords more than guns.

Samara sipped her tea and then answered, "It must have something to do with the men we have picked. Your son and my father-in-law have always taken her hunting with them."

"Right," Rue realised. "I see now the mistake that I made but it is too late to change that, isn’t it? Are we going to ignore that our lovely Scarlet here took a break with Ian and did not when we asked her to? I am a little offended yet excited. Do you have anything to share with us?"

"Frances," Scarlet turned to the granddaughter of Penelope. "How is your tea? Ian does it best, doesn’t he?"

"I agree that the tea is lovely but I am guilty of wanting to know more about Ian," Frances replied, trying to hide her smile behind her cup. "Will you share with us if I tell you my exciting news?"

"No," Scarlet responded.

Samara tapped Scarlet’s hand. "We would love to hear your news."

"I am moving to Lockwood. I have been welcomed to work on expanding the library in the palace. It is about time that this side of the Castros return to the palace even if it is to do simple work such as messing around with books," said Frances.

"It is not simple work since the libraries were a mess the last time that I went there. You have travelled quite far with your parents so I am certain you will have many good books to add there. I only wish you luck with Luke but well done," Scarlet said, thrilled to have more family close by.

Scarlet would love to see her great-aunt and her husband back in the palace. These two scared Luke more than his grandparents did.

Scarlet occupied herself with the lunch on the table but after not hearing anyone speak, she looked up to find that they were waiting for her to speak. Scarlet sighed. "I am in a serious relationship with Ian but it is not to the point of having anything to share with you. Please do not put any pressure on me."

"We are not putting any pressure on you, Scarlet. When I invited Ian to be here with us, you were not happy then but today you fought with your grandfather to have Ian’s room right next to your room. What we want to know is, do you think he is the one?" Samara asked.

"Mother, you know that I would have stuffed him somewhere so he couldn’t join me if I didn’t think he was special. Now before all of you get excited, could you please find out where they have taken him? I want him to return in one piece," Scarlet said, looking down at the woods where the men went.

"They will only tease him, Scarlet. Though it isn’t good that we sent them off with weapons while they questioned him. Perhaps we should take a stroll while the weather is nice," Samara proposed, standing up first to lead the way.

Scarlet was quick to join her mother. Not only did she want to save Ian but she wanted to catch up on her points.

The other women joined as they were curious about what the men were doing.

Away from the women, Ian was contemplating whether to shoot Ryan right in his mouth for being a pain in the ass. Ian only had room in his life for two pain in the ass and those spots were filled.

Ryan couldn’t help mentioning how close he had become to Victor in such a short time. It wasn’t working to get Ian upset as he liked there being someone who could distract Victor.

"Are you alright? He is only doing this to bother you," Victor whispered.

"I am aware and please don’t point your gun toward me. Who thought it would be a good idea to put a gun in your hand and a sword at your side? Give it here," Ian said, holding out his hand for Victor’s gun. He wouldn’t trust Victor to hold a rock.

Victor gladly did as Ian wanted but the gun was taken from his hand by Ryan before he could give it to Ian.

"A spear is better suited for you. Don’t give away your weapons. He can take care of himself," Ryan said, pulling Victor to his side. "Jealous?" He teased Ian.

Ryan made a bet with Victor that he could get Ian to show his protective side.

"No. I am excited since tall fools seem to be in season and one is close for me to shoot and then drag back to show off to Scarlet. Don’t complain to me when he doesn’t throw that spear right and it ends up in your head," Ian said and then walked faster to catch up to Leonard.

"Ian, are you satisfied with the room picked out for you? Would you prefer to sleep elsewhere?" Ryan asked loud enough for Leonard to hear at the front of the group.

"I will shoot you," Ian warned Ryan.

"Go on. The kingdom will have you to blame for a war starting," Ryan replied.

"No one should be upset with their rooms. Unless you are married, don’t expect to share a room with anyone," Tyrion spoke up, looking back at Ian. "Must we walk so far? Why didn’t we leave the young ones to go hunting?"

"I am reminded why my father didn’t think you were suited for Penelope. You are lazy," Elijah said, throwing his gun over his shoulder to show that he could put up with this little walk. "I can feel you cursing my name. All I did was speak the truth."

"So, you’re taking Ian on a hunt just like your father did to me? Run," Tyrion advised Ian. "Take Scarlet’s hand and run far away from them like I did."

"I will not have him take my granddaughter to the ends of the kingdom like you did with my sister. We didn’t invite all of you out here for a hunt. We wanted to speak to Ian alone and came after us," Elijah said, stopping to face Tyrion.

Tyrion leaned on a small tree. "My wife told me to come along. Was I to say no? And I want to question him as well. Can I ask?"

"No!" Elijah replied. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"For heaven’s sake. Ian," Leonard said, stepping up to be the one to ask Ian. He should be the one doing the most questioning since it concerned his daughter. "What are your intentions with my daughter right now? We’ve got guns."

"A lot of land to hide you," Tyrion added.

"And plenty of handsome fellows nearby to distract her with," said Elijah.

Ian couldn’t pinpoint how it went from the men arguing with each other to now threatening him as a group. "I plan to marry her," he answered.