Page 11 of Highland Sky

“That’s no’ the half of it,” said Ciaran, letting out a deep sigh. “Och, I never should have said anythin’.” He waved his hand through the air. “Just forget all about it.”

“Nay. What do ye mean?” asked Nash. “If I’m goin’ to agree to marry the girl, I want to ken everythin’ about her.”

“Ye dinna want to ken what’s goin’ through that head of hers,” Ciaran said in a mere whisper.

“Like what? Tell us,” Nash persisted.

“Do ye promise to still marry her? Even if I tell ye?” asked the chieftain.

“I dinna like this,” mumbled Nash. “I dinna like this at all.”

“The betrothal is already set,” Aidan assured the chieftain. “If either of our clans back out now, it could be the cause of a battle, and neither of us wants that, I’m sure.”

“Tell me,” said Nash, feeling anxious and uncomfortable. He was liking this less and less every minute.

“I’m sorry to put ye boys in this position. When I made the alliance, I didna ken how spiteful Kellina felt toward the MacKeefes. After all, she was just a child when her parents died, and she really kens nothin’ about it.”

“And . . .” Nash waited, and would not let up until he had an answer.

“I’m ashamed to tell ye, but I feel I need to warn all three of ye. Watch yer backs.”

“From her?” North chuckled. “I dinna see the trouble.”

“She’s a lass, and we’re grown men,” said Aidan.

“A lassie is no threat to us,” agreed Nash.

“Dinna bet on it,” mumbled the chieftain. “Kellina helped fight the Sutherlands and even brought a few of them down. She has no qualms about killin’ a man if she feels he deserves it.”

“I see.” Nash ran a nervous hand over his head, smoothing back his hair. “So . . . ye’re sayin’ that I might be next on her list?”

“Och, I’m sure it’s nothin’. I mean, she never said it aloud, so mayhap I’m worryin’ for no reason. On the other hand, mayhap I’m no’. Ye see, I wouldna doubt that thoughts are runnin’ through her head about killin’ every MacKeefe for bein’ responsible for losin’ her parents.”

“Och, that’s just great.” Nash threw his hands in the air. “So, now, I no’ only have to marry the madwoman, but I’ve got to go up and repair roofs with her, too? How convenient.”

“I sure am glad I was told to help with the crops instead,” said North, looking up to the roof of one of the burned-out buildings. “It’s a long way down, Brathair. All I can say is, it’s a damned guid thing that ye are always so aware of what’s goin’ on around ye at all times.”

Aidan kissed his squirrel, and held it tightly when it tried to jump on Nash again. Nash jolted back and waved it away. Damn, if his brother and Aidan weren’t laughing at him under their breaths once again. “Keep that pesky squirrel away from me, Aidan, or I swear I’m goin’ to kill the damned thing.”

Aidan’s smile disappeared and his free hand went to the hilt of his sword. “No one threatens my squirrel, especially no’ a MacKeefe.”

“Calm down, Aidan,” North tried to ease the situation. “We both ken that yer squirrel is too fast to ever get caught by Nash anyway, so dinna worry.”

Nash looked over at Kellina. She happened to look up at him at the same time and an evil grin spread across her face. A shiver ran through him. He didn’t like this lass, and the last thing he wanted was to make her his wife. His life was getting worse at every passing minute. This was going to be the worst punishment of all . . . if he even lived to tell about it later.

*

“Is that theMacKeefe ye have to marry?” asked Kellina’s sister, Caitlin, smiling at Nash as she brushed a lock of dark hair behind her ear. She and her brother had dark hair, but Kellina’s locks were as golden as the sun.

“Quit lookin’ at him like that!” spat Kellina. “He’s a bluidy MacKeefe, a murderer. Dinna forget the MacKeefes are the ones who killed our parents.”

“Are ye sure?” asked her brother, Jamie, overhearing them and running over to join them. “I like the MacKeefes. Aidan has a squirrel, and I hear his friend, Onyx, has a wildcat as a pet. I want one, too.”

“Dinna admire people like them.” She glanced over at the three MacKeefes and narrowed her eyes. “I’m goin’ to kill them all, startin’ with the one I have to marry. Then I willna have to marry him anymore.”

“Kill them?” gasped Caitlin. “Nay, Kellina. What are ye sayin’? That would only turn our clans against each other and start a battle. Sister, please, dinna ever talk that way.” Caitlin’s eyes filled with tears. “We will all die next time, and I dinna want to die.”

“I’m tellin’ Uncle Ciaran.” Jamie started to leave, but Kellina’s hand clasped around his arm tightly and she spoke lowly into his ear.

“Ye do that, and I’ll make sure Uncle kens it was ye who left the gate open, losin’ many of our sheep before the Sutherlands ever arrived.”

“That was an accident,” said Jamie.

“Was it? Or were ye too lazy to check it in the first place, too eager to go swimmin’ in the loch with yer friends?”

“I willna say anythin’.” He shook out of her hold and ran off in the other direction.

“Kellina, ye’re no’ really goin’ to kill yer betrothed are ye?” asked Caitlin. “Ye are so lucky to have a handsome man like Nash MacKeefe to marry ye and be a faither to yer children.”

“Blethers! Dinna say such things. I dinna want to marry, and I never want to have children.”

“How can ye be serious?” asked Caitlin. “Family is important. I want many children someday.”

“I have all the family I want or need. I have ye and Jamie, and Uncle, too.”

“Just dinna harm him,” said Caitlin, her eyes still fastened to Nash. “If ye really dinna want him, I might ask Uncle if I can marry him instead to keep the alliance.” She turned and left Kellina standing there alone. Kellina didn’t want either of them marrying a MacKeefe. Then again, she realized she couldn’t really kill them in cold blood either. That would make her no better than the MacKeefes who killed her parents. She let out a deep sigh, not knowing what to do.

Mayhap, the sooner they got up on the roof, the faster Nash might have an accident and die on his own, without her help.