Page 80 of Highland Sky

“We canna stay here long,” said Jamie, putting the kitten on the ground and teasing it with a sprig of heather. “The MacKeefes are leavin’ at first light, and I want to say guidbye to them. I really like them.”

“Me, too,” said Caitlin. “I’ll miss them.”

“Especially Nash,” said Jamie. “Sister, is he really leavin’ ye to go back with the MacKeefes?”

“Aye, I believe that is what he said,” she answered, feeling her heart breaking.

“He’s yer husband!” said Caitlin. “Ye should be together.”

“I willna leave ye two,” said Kellina, plucking a few sprigs of heather and handing them to Caitlin.

“Convince Nash to stay,” whined Jamie.

“He has made up his mind, and so have I.” Kellina gave the heather to Caitlin who laid it atop the graves of their parents and the others. “This is my home. I belong here with ye two, and I promised ye that I would never leave ye.”

“Then take us with ye,” said Jamie.

“What?” Kellina blinked, looking away from the sun that was rising quickly and becoming very bright now.

“Aye, we will all still be together, but just livin’ with the MacKeefes instead,” said Caitlin. “I mean, if they’ll have us.”

“Would ye two really be willin’ to leave here?” asked Kellina, feeling suddenly excited. Why hadn’t she thought of this solution?

“Why no’?” asked Caitlin. “We have no one left alive to stay here for. No’ really.”

“Except ye, Kellina,” said Jamie. He picked up the kitten and gave it a kiss while it mewled loudly. “And ye, too, Midnight,” he said to the cat.

“Well, I think that is a grand idea,” said Kellina. “I’m sure Nash willna mind. That way he doesna have to leave his brathair or his friends.”

“We’d better go and tell them before they ride out.” Jamie took the kitten in his arms and started down the hill.

“I’ll race ye, Jamie,” said Caitlin, throwing down the rest of the heather and running after her brother.

Kellina looked over to the gravesites, and walked over to say her goodbyes. “Mathair, Faither,” she said, talking to the parents she knew, and not her uncle. “I am goin’ to take guid care of Caitlin and Jamie, so please dinna worry. We willna be livin’ here, but I promise, we will be back to visit. I love Nash, and I dinna want to be apart from him. No’ now, no’ ever. Well, guidbye,” she said, turning around, starting down the hill. That’s when something shiny reflecting in the distance caught her attention. She looked out, able to see far from that height, and her heart almost stopped at what she saw.

“Sutherlands,” she whispered, seeing so many of them on horseback heading right to their camp. “Nay,” she cried, picking up her skirt and running down the hill so fast that she thought she’d fall. She had to warn her clan. She needed to tell the MacKeefes. They were about to be attacked again and, this time, they all might die in the battle.