Page 75 of Highland Steel

“Ranulph,” cried Rona, running to the man and falling to her knees crying. However, she was the only one who seemed to care that Drummond had died.

“We willna hold it against ye or the MacKeefes,” said Tamhas, stepping forward, to pick up his sword from the ground. “That is, if ye dinna hold it against the Drummonds that Ranulph went back on his word and tried to kill ye.”

“We want peace, no’ war,” said Storm from atop his horse.

“I am the chieftain now that Ranulph is dead,” said Tamhas, bending down and taking the badge off Drummond’s shoulder. “Come, Rona. Ye will be mine now.”

Rona stood up and wiped away her tears and held on to Tamhas’ arm.

“I’d like to see an alliance between our clans from this day on,” said Logan.

“I agree,” said Storm. “Will ye do it, Tamhas?”

“The last alliance we had that included a weddin’ didna seem to work,” said Tamhas, looking over at Ailsa holding her baby to her chest. “I’m sorry, lass, for everythin’ Ranulph put ye through. I was no’ in agreement with him and I should have done somethin’ about it.”

Ailsa nodded but didn’t say a word.

“I am also sorry to hear about the death of yer mathair, Rhoswen, and that our clan members killed yer faither. That wasna supposed to happen,” Tamhas continued.

“Thank you,” said Rhoswen with a nod. “My father would be happy to know that Ranulph Drummond is finally dead.”

“Then how about a truce?” asked Logan. “The MacKeefes and the Drummonds agree to stop fightin’.”

“I agree,” said Storm.

Tamhas looked at his clan and several nodded. “We agree,” said Tamhas, clasping hands with Logan.

“Guid,” said Logan. “Now, let’s get the hell out of here and go back to the MacKeefe camp where we belong.” He put his arm around Rhoswen and headed for the gate.

Chapter 24

Two days later, Logan stepped from the waters of Loch Linnhe, naked as usual. He climbed atop a rock and raised his face to the sun. His wolf, Jack, lay under a tree, watching the surroundings intently.

Today, Logan would marry Rhoswen, the woman of his dreams. He’d come to the loch early to bathe and find a moment of peace to still his mind before the ceremony.

The dead from the battle with the Drummonds had been buried and things at the MacKeefe camp were getting back to normal. While they hadn’t lost but a few men, Logan wanted to make sure proper respect was paid and the men’s deaths mourned before he went about celebrating the happy event of his wedding.

Life was about to change drastically for Logan. Now he, just like Ethan and Hawke, would be married and have a wife. Hopefully someday, Logan would also have a family. Ethan and Hawke had already seemed to adapt to being parents, but Logan worried that he wouldn’t do a good job.

He’d been a warrior his entire life, and only had to care for himself. Fighting had been all that mattered. But after he’d almost lost Rhoswen, he realized how precious life really is. The girl had lost almost everything lately. He needed to be there for her, and he always would. He decided he would take time to learn how to be a good husband and, hopefully someday, a good father as well. After seeing what happened with Rhoswen’s father, he wasn’t sure she was even going to want children. The man she’d trusted had almost been the demise of her entire family. Logan felt lucky to have parents and siblings. And now that Storm granted permission for Rhoswen and her siblings to live with the MacKeefes, he wanted to make sure she knew his family was also hers.

“There ye are, ye ugly buzzard,” came Ethan’s voice from behind him. “No one wants to see this, now get dressed.”

Logan opened one eye to see Ethan, Hawke, and Caleb on horses all heading in his direction. Trapper led the way.

“What does a man need to do to get a little peace and quiet?” grumbled Logan, closing his eye again.

“Get up,” said Hawke. “Yer weddin’ is about to take place and ye arena even there.

“I hope ye’re no’ thinkin’ about leavin’ Rhoswen at the altar the way Alana did to me . . . the first time,” Ethan added the latter part since everything had worked out between them in the end.

“Dinna fash yerself. I’d never do that,” said Logan, sitting up and pulling his leine over his head.

“I dinna think yer new wife is goin’ to approve of ye always struttin’ around showin’ off yer bare doup,” said Caleb with a chuckle.

“She’s no’ my wife yet,” Logan reminded him. “And on the contrary, I think Rhoswen rather enjoys seein’ my bare doup, thank ye.”

“Slink found somethin’ ye lost,” said Caleb, reachin’ down and digging into the travel bag attached to the horse. His pine marten poked his head out, saw the sun, and slipped back down inside, waiting for nighttime when it normally came to life.