Page 32 of Highland Sky

Chapter Ten

“Idinna understand why ye are even botherin’ to fix this marriage bed when we both ken that ye dinna need it,” said North, pulling one of the ropes tightly and tying a knot, preparing it to hold up the mattress.

“Shhh,” said Nash, glancing over to Aidan who was fixing a fire in the infirmary, right near the hole in the eaves where the smoke would be able to escape. “I dinna want Aidan to ken that Kellina and I never consummated the marriage. He’ll go back and tell the rest of the clan.”

Nash used a hammer and nails to straighten the spindle of the box bed that held up the curtain.

“Brathair, ye need to bed the wench, and ye need to do it quickly,” North warned him. “If word gets out, it might cause a battle between our clans. If I must remind ye, the reason ye were betrothed to Kellina in the first place was to form an alliance to keep that from happenin’.”

“I ken all that!” Nash spotted Aidan’s squirrel atop the box bed, and waved his hand in the air. “Shoo. Get out of here, ye dirty rodent.”

“Call my pet a rodent again, and ye’ll have to answer to me,” came Aidan’s warning from across the room. He kept his head down, making the fire. Nash hoped that Aidan hadn’t heard his conversation with his brother.

“Sorry about that, Reid,” said Nash loudly, calling the squirrel by name so Aidan was sure to hear him. Aidan was very protective over his pet. “Notice how he never complained that I called the squirrel dirty?” Nash said in not much more than a whisper to his brother.

“He may be dirty, but it’s because he doesna like the rain,” Aidan called back, once again, not looking up at all.

“Damn, he’s got guid ears,” mumbled North, his hands stilling as he eyed Aidan across the room. “Do ye think . . . he heard us?”

“It doesna matter.” Nash lifted up the mattress and North helped him to put it atop the bed ropes. “I have decided to take yer advice, Brathair.”

“What advice would that be?” North brushed the dirt off his hands.

“Kellina is my wife now. Even if she doesna agree with it, she is goin’ to have to start doin’ her . . . wifely duties.”

“Now ye’re talkin’,” said North with a smile. “How do ye intend to get her to do it? After all, now she has no need for ye, if ye ken what I mean. Mayhap ye were too guid of a teacher, Nash.”

“I suppose I should have thought of that sooner,” said Nash, regretting showing Kellina how to pleasure herself. “I’ll get her to change her mind about me. Dinna ye worry.”

“The wench is tryin’ to kill us, or have ye forgotten? And now she has the sister of the Legendary Bastards givin’ her advice. This canna end well for us. I think ye’re forgettin’ that Spring was raised by the Gunn Clan and has been trained to be a killer since she was a child. No’ at all the person to be givin’ Kellina advice, if ye ask me.” North took it upon himself to tell Nash what to do, and Nash didn’t like that.

“I didna ask ye.”

“I canna believe she’s been called here,” said North. “I think the chieftain has lost his mind.”

“Laird MacKenzie kens how Spring changed,” Nash heard from a voice across the room. “I believe he is hopin’ that Spring will convince Kellina to like ye, Nash.” Aidan came over to join them. He reached up, and his squirrel jumped from the top of the box bed, running down his arm. His pet hid inside his sash. “Mayhap, she’ll even convince Kellina to consummate the marriage before yer foolish actions bring about consequences that will keep ye an outcast forever.”

“Losh me! Ye heard.” Nash felt a sinking sensation in his gut.

“I did. However, I didna have to hear yer conversation to ken the truth,” said Aidan.

“What do ye mean? Are ye sayin’ ye kent they never consummated the marriage?” asked North. “How could ye ken that?”

“I think ye are both forgettin’ that before I married my angel, Effie MacDuff, she betrayed me. Any woman who has somethin’ to hide, has a certain look about her. Kellina has it.”

“Did ye notice that look on Effie before or after she stole the Stone of Destiny out from under yer arse?” asked Nash in spite, wanting to make his point.

“All right. So I didna ken it at the time, but hindsight is a guid teacher. Lookin’ back, all the signs were there. I just was too infatuated with the lass to notice.”

“Then ye agree that Kellina is tryin’ to kill us?” asked North.

“I wouldna say that, but I can tell she is confused. If she wanted to kill ye, Nash, I’m sure ye’d already be dead.”

“If ye’re sayin’ I’m a bad warrior, then how about I show ye my skill with my blade right now?” Nash reached for his dagger, holding it up for Aidan to see.

“Put it away,” scoffed Aidan. “I’m tryin’ to help ye understand lassies, no’ challenge ye to a fight to prove yer worth. We’re on the same team, remember?”

“Sorry. Ye’re right,” said Nash, running a hand through his long hair and sheathing his blade. “I guess I’m just fed up with Old Callum makin’ us be a part of all these punishments to begin with. I still canna believe he ordered me to marry a lass who I didna even ken. Especially, our enemy.”