Page 6 of Highland Sky

“Then do somethin’ about it, before they attack again,” she challenged him. “We need to rebuild and regain our strength. Then, when the rest of our clan returns, we need to pay back the Sutherlands in the same manner.”

“Yer heart is blackened by revenge, lass. That is no’ an admirable thing to see in such a young lass.”

“I am no’ young. I am nine and ten years of age now. I am no’ a child anymore. I ken how to use a blade, and I intend to do it.”

He hesitated to answer, causing Kellina to hold her breath. Finally, he spoke. “Ye’re right, somethin’ needs to be done. But ye’re also wrong if ye think I am doin’ nothin’ to help this clan, because I already have taken measures for our safety.”

“Ye did? What do ye mean? What did ye do?”

“I have taken the first step to strengthen this clan, and to secure yer future as well.” He struggled to stand, and she ran over to help him.

“That’s great! Tell me all about it.”

“I have a few men arrivin’ at camp today to help us rebuild. Since yer late faither was a thatcher and ye ken buildin’ roofs better than anyone in the clan, I want ye to lead them.”

“Of course. I will be happy to do so,” she said. “I will teach them everythin’ I ken about thatchin’ roofs.” She felt happy that her uncle had done something, until she heard the rest of his solution.

“Ye will also marry one of them as well.”

“What?” She stood frozen, not able to believe her ears. “What do ye mean I’ll marry one of them? Who are we even talkin’ about?”

“I’ve already made the betrothal. It is for the guid of the clan. It’ll make us stronger.”

“Uncle, I dinna even ken who ye’ve summoned, nor who ye decided to betroth me to without even tellin’ me about it.”

“His name is Nash MacKeefe, and I believe he will make a guid husband for ye. We’ll gain their alliance from the marriage. The MacKeefe Clan is strong, and they’ll help to protect us.”

“MacKeefe?” Her heart almost stopped, hearing this name spring from his lips. It was even worse than marrying a stinking Sutherland. “God’s eyes, nay! Never. How could ye? Unless ye’ve forgotten, it was the MacKeefes who took the lives of my parents.”

“I didna forget,” he said through gritted teeth. “Bid the devil, I will never forget that.” He moaned and bent over to rub his leg. “I purposely chose a clan with whom we arena aligned because we canna risk bein’ attacked by anyone else right now. With this alliance, we’ll have a strong clan at our backs should we need to fight off the Sutherlands, or anyone else again.”

He limped away as if it didn’t matter to him what she thought about this arrangement. Kellina stood there for a moment in shock, not able to believe this was happening. Then she ran to catch up and, hopefully, try to talk him out of this absurd plan.

“Uncle, please, reconsider. I dinna think this is a guid idea at all.”

“It’s too late, Kellina,” he told her, looking up at the sound of approaching hoofbeats. “Ah, here they are now. Jamie, sound the horn and call everyone over,” he shouted over his shoulder.

Jamie was Kellina’s younger brother, who was only twelve years of age. Their sister, Caitlin, was six and ten. They had lost their parents not long after Jamie was born, and had been raised by their aunt and uncle. Jamie was only a baby at the time, and Caitlin was too young to remember much at all about their parents. However, Kellina was seven when it happened. The day her parents died was a memory that she would never forget. Their dead bodies being brought home by the chieftain was something she’d never expected. The MacKeefes were said to have killed them, and that clan name was engraved in her mind and put vengeance in her heart. The last thing she wanted to do was to marry one of the barbaric bastards!

She turned and raised her chin as she watched the MacKeefes ride into their camp. She didn’t know which of the three men she was to marry, and neither did it matter. She would never marry or ever accept a MacKeefe into their camp, and especially not into her heart.

The MacKeefes were no better than the Sutherlands in her opinion. Even if they hadn’t battled with them for twelve years, they were still the enemy. Kellina’s poor parents had paid the price.

Her face remained stonelike as she heard her brother blow the horn, calling everyone to gather. She walked slowly with her fists balled up tightly, feeling the flat end of her sword strapped around her waist hitting her in the leg as they approached.

She would have her revenge after all, but it would not be with the Sutherlands this time. Or at least, just not yet. First, she would have to do away with the MacKeefes. She’d kill all three of them, she decided. And the first to go would be Nash MacKeefe – the man she was to marry.