Page 4 of Highland Flame

Chapter Two

“Well, what is my sentence?” asked Cam the next morning, having spent an exciting night with one of the castle’s serving girls out in the barn. He smiled at her across the room and winked. Her cheeks blushed and she turned away, heading back to the kitchen.

“Ye are naught but a lustful cur,” spat Old Callum MacKeefe, waving his hands in the air like he was crazed. Callum was the oldest man in all of Scotland, although he didn’t act like it. Cam had broken some of the man’s silly tavern rules when he acted a little too lustful with one of the wenches in the Horn and Hoof Tavern in Glasgow. Then again, Cam liked the lassies and always had one or two hanging on his arms. “Yer sentence is . . .”

“Grandda,” shouted Storm MacKeefe, calling the old man over. Storm sat atop his dais chair, as one of the two chieftains of Clan MacKeefe. His father, Ian MacKeefe, sat beside him, as the second ruler. The MacKeefes were a Highland clan, but also gained holdings in the Lowlands when they seized Hermitage Castle from the English years ago. Now they divided their time between living at the castle, and at their Highland camp near Oban. “New happenin’s have occurred and we need to discuss matters first,” Storm told him.

“All right,” grumbled Callum, stomping his newly booted feet across the floor as he made his way over to the others. The boots had been constructed as part of Gavin MacKeefe’s punishment for breaking Callum’s tavern rules as well. The Horn and Hoof was owned and operated by the old man. Callum was the only man alive who knew how to brew the potent, coveted Mountain Magic whisky. It brought in the main income for the MacKeefes.

“What’s goin’ on, I wonder?” whispered Nash, Cam’s good friend.

“Look!” North, Nash’s brother, pointed across the great hall. “Ladies Wren and Clarista are talkin’ with Keithen, the tavern owner from town.”

North and Nash were twins, but not exactly identical in looks. While they both had long brown hair, North was taller and had more chiseled features than his brother. He was also more serious than the happy-go-lucky Nash. North’s eyes were silver while Nash’s were hazel.

Lady Clarista was Ian MacKeefe’s English wife, and Storm’s mother. Lady Wren was English as well, and married to Storm.

“Here comes Gavin,” said Cam, seeing their friend whose wedding they’d attended yesterday, as he headed across the hall toward him. Gavin was a big man who looked gruff but had a soft heart with the lassies. His long, black hair lifted slightly around his shoulders as he walked through the hall.

Gavin’s new wife, Davita, the cordwainer’s daughter, stayed by the women in a huddle. Cam saw a pretty woman with them, but he didn’t know who she was.

“Gavin, what’s all the commotion about?” asked North.

“It seems the chandler from town died last night,” Gavin filled them in. “His widow, who happens to be Keithen’s sister, is here.”

“Why? What for?” asked Cam, not understanding any of this.

“I’m no’ sure, but I think we’re about to find out.” Gavin nodded at their clan’s rulers as Storm looked up at them and waved them over to join him.

“Come on,” said Gavin, leading the way with the other men right behind him.

“Chieftain, Cam is ready to hear his punishment now,” said Gavin.

“Thanks, but I can speak for myself,” growled Cam.

“Cam, it has been decided that yer punishment will be to act as an escort to Widow Yvaine from the village,” Storm announced. He nodded towards the other end of the great hall where the women and Keithen were watching. “Yvaine and Keithen, please approach the dais.”

The pretty woman who looked to be in her early twenties slowly walked over to Storm, being escorted by her brother.

“Och, I accept,” Cam answered quickly, liking what he saw. The girl was bonnie indeed! She had long, brown hair tied back, and big, brown eyes that he could easily get lost in. She was tall for a woman, and had some delectable curves to her body. Cam was already picturing wrapping his arms around her and tasting her bow-shaped mouth.

“God’s teeth, quit smilin’,” Gavin warned Cam in a low voice. “The lass has just lost her husband.”

“Aye. Right.” Cam cleared his throat and his smile disappeared. “I’m so sorry for the loss of yer husband, lass,” he told her. “How did he die?”

The woman clung to her brother and hid her face against his shoulder. Cam could hear her crying.

“Guid job, ye fool,” Nash leaned over and whispered to Cam.

“Ye always ken what to say to the lassies,” remarked North sarcastically.

All three of Cam’s friends were scowling at him now.

“I didna mean to be insensitive.” Cam looked over to the widow and tried to apologize. “I was just curious, and didna mean to upset ye.”

“Her husband tripped and fell, hittin’ his head,” Keithen spoke for the girl. “My sister is very upset and we’d rather no’ hear it mentioned again.”

“Aye. Of course,” said Cam, thinking the whole situation odd. Why was the girl leaving her home at a time like this? Still, he decided just to remain quiet and try to figure it all out later.