“Paddraig MacRae has a legal agreement with me. I was to wed his daughter and in exchange MacRae agreed to give me a portion of his land that abuts mine. He has betrayed me trust and instead allowed her to handfast with San Francisco here.” He pointed to Zeke. The MacKenzie men all glanced his way.Cormac seemed as if he was doing his best not to chuckle and instead coughed into his hand.
“Dinnae ye think ye should take this up with MacRae?” Robert asked.
“I’ve tried, but the man willnae listen. He has even sent his men reiving on me property. He’s stolen two dozen of me finest cows.”
“I’m afraid I cannae be of any assistance to ye, Munro,” Robert said. “I believe Zeke is legally wed to Brenna.”
“I would be satisfied if ye turned her over to me, so that I could use her as a bargaining tool to get me property back and to retrieve the land he promised me.”
“Munro, yer an idjit if ye believe I’d side with ye on this. This is a matter best taken up with Paddraig MacRae.” It was obvious Robert was done discussing the matter. “If ye and yer men care to join us for the evening meal, yer welcome to, but that is all I can offer ye.”
***
Helene stood out of sight in the passageway just outside the great hall. She’d heard all she needed to here. Carefully lifting her skirts, she ran up the stairs and then to Ashley’s room where Brenna was now awaiting news.
“’Tis bad,” Helene said, closing the door behind her. “Laird Munro is insisting that Robert turn ye over to him so he can get what is rightfully his.” The look of horror on Brenna’s face gave Helene pause. “Dinnae fear. Robert has told him he willnae do it. He’s told Munro to solve his differences with yer father.”
“Don’t worry, Brenna. As long as you’re here at Breaghacraig, no harm will come to you. The men will see to it,” Ashley assured her.
“I dinnae wish to start a war,” Brenna worried her lower lip.
“Robert has invited them to stay for the evening meal and then be on their way. They’ll stay the night and be gone in the morning. Rest assured, the men will keep close watch on them until they’ve gone.”
“I can’t stay up here in Ashley’s room,” Brenna said.
“Helene, you should take her home with you,” Ashley said.
“I cannae leave now. I must help prepare for the meal. When Zeke arrives, I’ll have him come up to get you. He’ll see that you get home safely.”
Brenna relaxed a bit on hearing this news. She always felt safer when Zeke was near.
Chapter 19
The evening meal was shrouded with tension, but the MacKenzie clan did their best to keep the mood of their guests at least one rung below breaking out into a brawl.
“I ken the lass is here, Robert,” Nevil said. “Ye’d be doing me a great service by simply handing her over to me. I would be forever indebted to ye.”
“It would nae be in me best interest to do so,” Robert said. “Paddraig MacRae is a strong ally and I’ll nae ruin our alliance. Forget about the lass and go to MacRae with your complaint.”
Helene listened carefully as she served the family and their guests at the main table. Zeke spirited Brenna back home to keep her out of harm’s way, so on that count Helene could relax a bit, but she was worried about Dougall. Robert spread his men out around the room to keep the peace, so he was sitting right in the midst of Munro’s men. From the look of them they were enjoying their meal and there was no need for worry. That could change at Nevil Munro’s discretion.
“Ye cannae possibly side with him on this one. The wedding was about to take place when this Laird San Francisco arrived and Paddraig thought he would get a better deal with him for his daughter. Have ye ever heard of this San Francisco?”
“Aye. I have.”
“I know he’s here now, so his wife cannae be far. What do ye ken of the man?”
“I dinnae ken much. He’s here because his sister is here. He’s been practicing with me men and he’s quite a good swordsman. I dinnae believe I’d give him reason for a fight if I were ye.”
“I’ve seen the man fight. He could be beaten,” Nevil said. His arrogance apparently knew no bounds.
“I dinnae want any trouble while yer here, Nevil. Keep that in mind. Ye dinnae want to make an enemy of the MacKenzie clan.”
“Aye. Of course not.” Nevil continued enjoying his meal. “Perhaps yer right. I’ll pay a visit to Paddraig. I will have that land and I will get me cows back.”
Helene finished serving and left the table. She stood in the doorway to the hall and waited for Dougall to look her way. When he did she waved him over.
“He says he’s going to call on yer Da. Says he wants some land and the cows that were reived the night ye rescued Brenna.”
