Page 60 of The Highland Heir

Chapter Twenty-One

Kieran’s anger eventually faded as he madehis way to the place where the Sinclair army was making camp.Finding Teague amongst the men, Kieran let out a sigh, prepared tohear the man’s words before he spoke them.

“The laird wishes to see ye.”

“Of course, he does.” Kieran checked histemper to make certain it was safe before he trudged off to findhis father. The laird was standing on a rise, overseeing the workbelow, his white-blond hair flowing out behind him like a Norsegod.

Having heard Kieran approach, he turned toset his icy blue glare on him.

“Was that outburst necessary?” he asked.

“Wasn’t a matter of whether it was necessaryor not,” Kieran answered, his earlier anger with the man flaringback to life.

This conversation would not be a passive one.Though Kieran didn’t think he was in danger of injuring the leaderof his clan, he was in no mood to bow down to the man who hadruined his life.

“You will marry the MacKenzie lass,” he saidand waited, as if expecting Kieran to argue, though he never had inthe past. Perhaps the laird felt the change in Kieran as well.

When Kieran didn’t answer, Rolfe continued.“Unless she is already with child. We’ll not raise a Campbell muttas one of us. But once we have ensured she is not carrying, youwill wed.”

Kieran kept his gaze on the field below, notseeing any of the activity. When the silence continued, Kierandecided it would fall to him to break it.

“I know my duty. I am prepared to do it.”Even if it was at the greatest cost. His soul. “Though I wouldpoint out the lass must be in love to have taken so great arisk.”

Kieran found himself rather impressed thatshe seemed stronger than he was to fight for something shewanted.

“It is of no matter.”

Kieran sniffed and shook his head. What werethe feelings of his potential bride when the Sinclair laird wantedsomething? But it wasn’t just her that had taken this greatrisk.

“The Campbell clan has refused to give herup, choosing her happiness regardless of war.”

“It won’t come to war. We need only make ashow of force so they will see we will not bend. No one takes fromthe Sinclairs. You’ll never be a good laird if ye don’t understandthat.”

Kieran couldn’t help the bark of laughterthat escaped his throat.

“I would think a good laird would seethe men at his back and decide rightly if this fight was worththeir lives. I would think a good laird would ask his sonwhat he wanted, to at least feign a thought for his happinessdespite the duty that’s been heaped upon his shoulders from themoment of his first breath. Ye, father, are not a goodlaird. You are a bitter shell of a man who feels only pain, and assuch chooses to inflict pain on others so he might not feel soutterly alone. Ye are not a good laird. Ye are pathetic.”

He had never seen his father so shaken withsurprise. The shock lasted but a moment before the familiar glaresettled in once more.

“I’ll not have the likes of you talk to me inthat way.”

“The likes of me?” It was Kieran’s turn to besurprised, but he shouldn’t have been. “You mean born from mymother, of which I had no choice. I didn’t wish to be brought intothis world. I certainly don’t mean to be a constant reminder ofyour loss and the fact that your beloved son is dead, leaving youwith me. I don’t mean to hurt you, so could you please stoppunishing me for existing?”

By the end of his statement, he was shoutingand his hand was shaking with the strength it took not to pull thesword from the sheath across his back.

Rather than risk losing control, Kieranturned and walked away without bothering to be dismissed.

He ran into Teague along the path down to thefield.

The war chief stood there with his bulgingarms crossed.

Kieran waited for him to lay into him aboutrespect for the laird, but instead Teague gave a nod of what Kieranthought was approval and let him pass without comment.

Rather than continue up the craggy pathtoward the laird, Teague turned to walk down with him.

“I’m proud of ye for standing your groundwith your father. It has been a long time coming.”

Kieran let out a breath and shrugged. He wassuddenly exhausted.