Page 1 of Highland Ghost

Chapter One

Lighting a fifteenth candle in the vestibule of St. Alban’s church in the Scottish Highlands, Caitlin MacKenzie prayed softly for the fate of her future. She did everything in her power trying to delay the inevitable task of marrying the dark-hearted Highland laird, Ian MacBain – a man she’d never even met. Her prayers almost seemed to be working, since her betrothed had yet to show. Still, she worried what was to come.

“Sister, if ye light any more candles, ye’re likely to burn down the church before the weddin’ even begins,” whispered Caitlin’s sister, Kellina, coming up behind her. Kellina had hair of spun gold while Caitlin’s tresses were dark like the night. They were sisters, but their personalities as well as their looks were quite different.

Caitlin’s sister had married Nash MacKeefe two years earlier. Afterward, Nash had convinced the MacKeefe Clan to also take in Caitlin and her brother, Jamie, as well. The MacKeefe Clan was their family now, and Caitlin could wish for nothing more.

The last thing she wanted was to marry a stranger and leave those that she loved behind.

“Guid,” Caitlin answered in spite. “I hope I do burn down the church. Then I willna have to marry the cur after all.”

“Caitlin!” gasped Kellina. “Is that any way to talk about yer future husband?” She glanced back and forth quickly, hoping no one was listening. Satisfied that they weren’t overheard, she smiled and placed a hand on Caitlin’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. Kellina had always been the strongest of the three siblings, especially since the death of their parents when Caitlin and Jamie were still very young. Oftentimes, Caitlin had looked up to Kellina who stepped in and replaced their mother, even though Kellina was only three years Caitlin’s senior. “Ye’re shakin’ like a leaf in autumn, Sister,” said Kellina. “Are ye really that frightened of Laird MacBain?”

Caitlin sighed loudly and shrugged. “I dinna ken. I think so. I’ve heard the man is a loner, dark and mysterious. Plus, he lives in that haunted castle along with a ghost. Ye’ve heard the stories, too, Kellina. No one even goes near Gowrie Castle. It’s got a ghost!”

“The rumors say two ghosts,” Kellina corrected her with a smirk. “A piper and his lover. But really, Sister, it’s all naught but a tall tale made up just to frighten people away.”

“Is it? Well, it’s certainly frightened me away.”

“Our laird asked Ian MacBain about it, and he assured him that there was no need to worry.”

“Och, Kellina, I dinna believe that, and I really dinna want to live in a gloomy castle with a strange man and two ghosts! I want to stay with the MacKeefe Clan where I belong. With my siblin’s. Ye, me, and Jamie have always been together. I dinna want us to ever be apart.”

“Enough of this foolish clishmaclaver,” scolded Kellina. “Storm MacKeefe is our chieftain now, and he has decided that an alliance with the MacBains is a guid move. I agree, and told him so myself.”

“Ye agreed to it?” Caitlin’s brows dipped. This wasn’t at all what she wanted to hear. “So ye had somethin’ to do with this awful betrothal?”

“I only agreed to it, no’ suggested it,” Kellina corrected her. “Well, no’ really. Laird MacKeefe wanted an alliance and was lookin’ for a girl of the clan to marry Laird MacBain. It’ll be a guid thing . . . in time. Just give it a chance.”

“How could ye do this to me?” Caitlin’s hands balled into fists and her body shook more now as her sense of panic grew. “Ye are my sister! Ye are supposed to be lookin’ out for me, no’ sendin’ me away like a lamb to the slaughter.”

“Stop it, Caitlin! I only suggested to our laird that ye be the one to marry Laird MacBain, because it is time for ye to take a husband and have bairns of yer own, and ye ken it. Ye are well past marryin’ age now at eight and ten years. If ye wait any longer, no man will ever want ye.” Kellina glanced across the church, and Caitlin’s gaze followed. There sat Kellina’s husband, Nash, with their one-year-old daughter, Robena, on his lap. The little girl was named after the girls’ mother. Next to Nash was his twin brother, North. North held his one-year-old son, Bram at his side. His boy was named after Nash and North’s father. Matilda, Nash’s red-haired English wife, sat close to North, and both of them played with the baby.

They all looked so happy that it made Caitlin jealous. She wished them all the best, and was thrilled that everything had worked out so well for them. However, she was sure she would never find that same happiness, and this made her sad. She supposed she wanted that same feeling with a loving husband and adorable children, but how in heaven’s name could that ever happen now? She was betrothed to a dark-hearted Highlander who lived in a haunted castle. Nay, this marriage and her life from now on was sure to be filled with naught but regret and gloom.

“I suppose none of this even matters after all,” answered Caitlin, releasing a pent-up breath of frustration. “After all, it seems my betrothed has left me at the altar and is no’ goin’ to show, so it’s over. Let’s head on back to the MacKeefes’ home,” she suggested, this time flashing a smile that she meant. A sense of relief and freedom washed through her.

“I wouldna be so sure of that suspicion.” Kellina took Caitlin’s hand and gave it a light squeeze. Then she nodded toward the front door of the church. “Look.”

Caitlin’s body froze when she saw that the door of the church was open. A cool breeze blew past her face, sending a chill up her spine. A dark stranger stepped over the threshold with one man behind him, and no one else. “I-is that him?” she whispered to her sister.

“Aye, I think so. Our chieftain is goin’ over to greet him.”

Storm MacKeefe, the clan’s leader, made his way to the newcomer, greeting him and speaking softly. Caitlin almost died when she heard Storm call the man Laird Ian MacBain. This truly was her betrothed after all. To her horror, the man was here to marry her.

He was tall and foreboding, and didn’t seem to smile at all. Long, dark hair fell past his shoulders and a rugged stubble covered the man’s jaw. He wore the bright red plaid of the MacBains. A long, thick cloak was thrown over his shoulders, and it was wet.

“He didna even bother to remove his weapons in church,” Caitlin mumbled, eyeing his weapon belt. “That canna be a guid thing at all.” Her worry started to grow once again.

“I’m sure he just hasna had a chance to remove them since he’s only just arrived.” Kellina took her by the hand. “Come, Sister. Let us greet yer betrothed. It is time for the ceremony to begin.”

Ian MacBain hadridden like the wind, trying to make it to the church before the threatening storm set in. It had just started to rain as he approached the church. Of all days to be married, this was probably the worst time to be taking a new bride to his home. He’d only recently become laird of Gowrie Castle, and it was proving to be a life of hell.

The myth of ghosts in the castle was not a myth at all. It was true. Although the spirits weren’t really a threat to anyone besides Ian’s immediate family, they were still pesky and frightening. This morning, the apparitions caused so much ruckus that they frightened away most of the castle’s occupants who had moved in six months ago when Ian seized the castle from their enemies and claimed it as his own. With his approaching wedding and needing to be at the church in time, Ian hadn’t had time to go after his clansmembers who left him.

Without his stablemaster, he and his cousin, Finn, had to catch the spooked horses themselves, just to have steeds to ride to get here. Being laird of Gowrie Castle was becoming quite a chore. He had no doubt now why it had been so easy to seize the place to begin with. He hadn’t heard rumors of these ghostly apparitions since he was a child. But lately, the stories had started up again. They were back, and no one wanted to live with two ghosts, let alone one.

It was said the ghosts were responsible for the deaths of his grandparents and also his parents, but he couldn’t bring himself to believe it. He had hoped the ghosts were just tales to frighten others away, made up by his family from the days when his grandfather and then his father was Laird of Gowrie. But after being at the castle for six months now, he realized the stories weren’t fabricated in the least. These ghosts were able to smash things and knock over chairs and tables, constantly ruining his belongings, and putting things in disrepair. Because of this morning’s episode, his cook as well as the chambermaids and even some of his best warriors had left to go back to the MacBain camp in the hills to live. Ian needed to marry this girl quickly before word got out that Gowrie Castle truly was haunted. If he didn’t attain a wife soon, he’d lose more than his sense of pride. He’d never have an heir, since no laird would be willing to send a lass to live in these conditions.