Page 3 of Highland Sky

Onyx raised up his palms, and his two-toned eyes traveled from Callum over to the others as he answered. “Nay, I left Tawpie back in England with my wife, honest I did.” Onyx turned and hightailed it out of there, making Storm chuckle.

“Da, do ye want to tell the boys who is next for his punishment?” Storm asked Ian.

“Punishment?” Ian looked confused.

“Aye, their sentences,” explained Storm, looking over at the others. “So they dinna have to be outcasts anymore.”

Ian’s face flushed and he seemed embarrassed. “Och, it’s Cam’s turn,” he said.

“Mine? I just finished my sentence,” Cam replied.

“I – I meant Gavin.”

“Nay. I was the first to finish mine,” said Gavin. “It’s either North’s or Nash’s turn next.”

“I’ve got a headache and need to lie down. Carry on without me.” Ian turned to go, rubbing his leg as he walked.

“I was just goin’ up to check on a room so Avianca can take a nap. I’ll come with ye,” said Cam, getting a nod of approval from Storm.

“Aye. I think I’ll tag along, too.” Gavin went with them to ensure Ian made it back upstairs without falling over, or forgetting where he was going.

“That’s sad,” remarked Nash, shaking his head, watching them go.

“It’s goin’ to be sadder when my da finds out that he can no longer serve as a chieftain of the clan,” Storm told them.

“He’s no’ goin’ to take it lightly.” North shook his head, watching his friends help the man up the stairs. Once a powerful, ruthless Highland warrior, now chieftain, Ian MacKeefe was a sad story, to be sure.

“Dinna worry about him,” said Callum in his high, crackly voice. “My Mountain Magic will fix him right up, but it’ll just take some time to do it.”

“I’ve got Reid,” said Aidan, coming back to join them with his squirrel cradled in his arms. Aidan was a strong man with a wide chest and long blond hair. It was almost funny to see him care so much about a little squirrel that he’d saved after the thing fell out of its nest as a baby. “What did I miss?”

“They were about to tell us who’s goin’ to be punished next,” stated North.

“It’s Nash’s turn,” Storm answered.

“Yes!” Nash made a fist of victory while North groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.

“Why couldna it be me? I am tired of waitin’,” North complained.

“What do I have to do?” asked Nash anxiously. “I’m in a hurry to get this over with as quickly as possible.”

“What did ye do to deserve a punishment?” asked Aidan, curiously.

“He set the roof of the tavern on fire, and almost burned the place down . . . among other things,” Callum answered for him.

“I put the fire out,” boasted Nash. “I saved the tavern.”

“Nay, that was me,” said North. And Gavin and Cam.”

“That’s no’ how I remember it.” Nash didn’t want to be the blame for this. Not when they were all involved.

“It doesna matter,” said Storm, standing up. “Nash, yer punishment will be to go to the MacKenzie Clan and help them repair the roofs of their buildin’s.”

“What?” Nash made a face. This was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard in his life. “What do ye mean?” he asked, thinking he’d heard Storm wrong.

“The MacKenzies were attacked by the Sutherlands a few days ago, and their camp was demolished,” said Callum.

“No’ actually demolished, but there were some deaths as well as a lot of damage done,” said Storm. “I told them I’d send ye to help them.”