Page 51 of Never Kiss a Highlander

Finn continued to come at him and struck him on the leg, now leaving the man bleeding from two cuts. Finn had to fight himself to keep from killing the man, but Archie’s injuries kept him from continuing effectively and within minutes, Finn had him flat on his back. He brought the tip of his sword to Archie’s throat.

“If I dinna believe killing ye would interfere with whatever deal yer da and The Mackay worked out, ye would have been dead already.”

“What’s yer problem, Mackay? Ye got the lass as yer wife.”

“Aye.My wife. And ye had the nerve to punch her in her back while holding her captive on yer horse. Doona think this is over. Were I to see ye again with my sword handy, ye will be dead.”

With those words, Finn turned, dressed himself and headed to the keep.

He couldn’t leave this place soon enough.

Within minutes, he knocked on The Mackay’s bedchamber door. “Aye.”

Finn entered. The man was still in bed. “Are ye ill, my laird?”

“Aye. Sick in my heart.”

Finn drew up a chair. “Do ye wish to talk?”

“Nay. I canno’ right now.” He turned to Finn. “How is my daughter? Is she recovering? I’d like to leave here as soon as possible.”

“She is recovered enough to leave tomorrow. The Sinclair has offered the use of a cart to bring her home in.”

The laird nodded. “Aye, ‘twill be good to be home again.” He remained silent for a minute. “When we get back to Castle Varrich, I will be turning over all the Clan Chief duties to ye.”

Although Finn wasn’t that surprised at the laird’s words, he wasn’t quite sure he was ready.

Almost as if he read his mind, the laird said, “Ye’re ready, Finn. I already spoke with the council and they agreed. We will have a loyalty swearing event upon our return.”

He pushed away the feeling of panic. Aye, he could do this. He always knew that. It was just that the assumption of the laird’s duties came sooner then he’d expected.

The next morning, he bundled Alison up and carried her to the cart. The men were already on their horses, ready to go. Finn would like to never lay eyes on this place again.

Once she was settled, he reached down and kiss her lips. “We will be home soon, love. Just let that draught the healer gave ye do its work and take a nice sleep.”

The trip was long and Finn knew the men didn’t like traveling at such a slow pace, but Alison came first. She wanted to go home, and going home she was.

Upon their return, as promised, there was a loyalty swearing event where the men of Castle Varrich knelt before Finn and swore their allegiance to Finn Mackay, the new Clan Chief of the Mackay clan.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Six weeks had passed since the day Finn had taken over the lairdship for Clan Mackay. There were some difficult moments, but the person he turned to most of the time to discuss problems was Alison. She was smart, fair, honest, and hard when she needed to be.

He had no problem sharing control, and Alison said more than once that, not only did she love him, she knew in her heart he would never abandon her.

The laird had sent James with a hundred warriors to Castle Sinclair Grinigoe to bring the agreed upon amount of coin and the deed for the land they’d agreed upon. Nothing further was said about it.

He'd just stripped off all his clothes and climbed into the bed, exhausted as usual. Alison rolled to her side, propping her head up with her raised-up hand. “Are ye too tired tonight, my laird?”

He grinned and pulled her close. “Nay, ne’er too tired for my wife.” He took her in a very possessive kiss, thanking God every day that they’d misbehaved in the stables and were forced to marry.

She pulled back and drew circles on his chest, tugging at the short hairs. “Before we start, there is something I wish to tell ye.”

“Aye?”

She grinned. “Ye’re going to be a da in about six months.”

He shook his head and gave her a soft smile. “I thought my life could no’ be any more perfect.”