Page 7 of Highland Sky

Chapter Three

“Stop yer complainin’, Nash,” said North over his shoulder as the three MacKeefes approached the MacKenzie camp later that day. “My ears canna take anymore.” North faked a shiver from atop his horse.

“But it’s no’ fair, I tell ye.” Nash rode up next to his brother while Aidan watched the rear. “I shouldna have to marry a wench as part of my punishment. Especially no’ a bluidy MacKenzie! I dinna want to get married. But if I did, I would want to choose a wife for myself, and no’ be told who I have to take as my bride.”

“Ye dinna have a choice, Nash. No’ if ye want to be welcomed back into the clan. If ye dinna do it, ye’ll be an outcast of the MacKeefes forever.”

“God’s eyes! The MacKenzies are our enemies, North.”

“I ken that, Brathair. What do ye want me to do?”

“And as if it’s no’ bad enough already, Laird MacKenzie’s daughters have been avoided by every man in the Highlands. So what does that tell ye? I’m goin’ to marry a dog.”

“Ye’re no’ marryin’ his daughters. Ye’re marryin’ his niece,” North reminded him.

“No difference, I’m sure,” said Nash with a sigh.

“We’re makin’ an alliance,” Aidan shouted from behind them. “Yer marriage is what solidifies the deal. Ye canna turn it down, Nash. Ye are doin’ it for the guid of the clan.”

“I didna ask for this,” Nash ground out, clenching his fists as well as his jaw. “North, ye take this punishment, and I’ll take the next one.”

“What? Nay.” North chuckled. “It doesna work that way, Brathair. “Ye canna choose what ye want to do, or it wouldna be called a punishment.”

“We’re twins. They willna notice if ye take my place.”

“Brathair, I think ye must be dafter than I thought. We’re no’ identical and ye ken it. It’s no’ like they willna notice.”

“We’re close enough in looks, I assure ye. Just do me this one favor, North. Please.”

“Nay! And if I hear another word about ye no’ wantin’ to marry this lass, I swear I’ll tie ye up and stick a gag in yer mouth until the weddin’ is over.”

“Fine,” mumbled Nash. “But dinna think I am comin’ along with ye when ye get yer sentence, because I willna help ye at all.”

“Guid.” North gave a quick nod of his head. “I cherish the thought of peace and quiet. Anythin’ no’ to have to listen to ye complain anymore.” North kicked his heels into the sides of his horse and shot up to the lead. Aidan came from behind to join Nash.

“I’m sure it willna be all that bad,” said Aidan, which only sounded ridiculous to Nash.

“How would ye ken? Ye are married to a lovely redheaded lass. She’s a bonnie one, too. Ye didna have to marry yer enemy’s homely daughter.”

Aidan laughed heartily. “So that’s the real problem. Ye are no’ really concerned about marryin’ the enemy at all, are ye? Ye are just too damned proud to marry a lass if she isna bonnie.”

“Mayhap that is true, but it’s only part of the reason, I assure ye. Can ye blame me?” he asked. “If the marriage isna for love, then looks is all I have to go on.”

“Alliance. Ye’re doin’ it for an alliance,” Aidan reminded him once more. “To help yer clan.”

“To help their clan is more like it,” Nash scoffed.

“Everyone canna have the perfect lass to marry,” Aidan told him.

“Why no’? Ye did.”

“Is that what ye think?” Aidan grinned. “That bonnie wife of mine no’ only betrayed me by stealin’ the stone of destiny from right under me, but almost got me killed, if I must remind ye.”

“And yet, ye still love her?”

Aidan nodded slowly. “It comes in time, Nash. Give this lass a chance and someday ye might find ye actually love her, too.”

“I dinna have a choice, do I?” He directed his horse to catch up to his brother. With his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Nash scanned the area, watching for trouble as they entered the MacKenzie camp where his life would change forever . . . and most likely not for the better.