Page 2 of Highland Ghost

“I was beginnin’ to think ye changed yer mind, and were goin’ to break the alliance,” said Storm, looking and sounding concerned. The church was filled with MacKeefes, and none of them looked too happy with him right now. By rights, this place should be filled with MacBains as well, but because of the blasted ghosts, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Nay, of course no’,” said Ian, glancing over to his cousin. “We had a small setback that took longer than I anticipated, but we are here as promised.”

“Where is yer travelin’ party? Ye didna come here without MacBains to witness the marriage, did ye?” Storm stretched his neck, peering out the open door.

Thunder boomed outside and lightning flashed from the darkened sky. The wind picked up, blowing out some of the candles.

“I thought it best no’ to make too many travel with the approachin’ storm on the horizon,” Ian answered. “My cousin, Finn, is here as a witness. That’s all I need. Finn, close the door,” said Ian, feeling as if this storm were a bad omen of things to come.

“Aye,” answered Finn, turning back and closing the door, just as a few monks raced over to do it.

“Aye, I can understand yer concern with the storm approachin’,” said the chieftain of the MacKeefe Clan. “Mayhap it would be better to conduct the weddin’ at yer castle so ye willna have to travel back afterwards in the rain with yer new wife.”

“Nay!” Ian blurted out, noticing the curious look in Storm MacKeefe’s eyes. All the MacKeefes glanced over at him now. “I mean . . . there is no need for that. I’m here now, and I wouldna want the MacKeefes to have to travel in the rain to get to Gowrie. I see there are several young children here that might become frightened or ill from the trip. We can have a quick ceremony here and then return to Gowrie Castle before the weather turns much worse.”

“All right then,” said Storm. “Ian MacBain, I’d like ye to meet yer bride, Caitlin MacKenzie.” He held out his hand, and Ian turned to get his first look at his betrothed.

“Hello,” he said, nodding to the blond-haired beauty approaching, pleased to see this woman looked strong and not afraid of anything. He’d need a wife who wouldn’t be frightened off by unwanted spirits. He reached out and took her hand, kissing it quickly.

“Hello, I am Kellina,” said the girl with a giggle. “However, I am no’ yer betrothed. Yer bride is my sister, Caitlin.” She stepped aside to reveal another young woman standing right behind her in the shadows. She had dark hair and held her face downward, staring at the floor. She’d been so quiet that Ian hadn’t realized she was even there. “Sister, greet yer betrothed properly,” said Kellina, nodding at the girl.

Slowly, the girl raised her face, but only enough to peek up at him through the long strands of dark hair that hung over her eyes. She seemed timid, and this wasn’t a good thing. If she frightened easily, she was likely to tell Laird MacKeefe that the rumors of ghosts that Ian more or less insinuated were naught but tall tales, were true after all. If the MacKeefes thought Ian had lied to them, it could bring about unsettled circumstances, and a possible battle between them.

“My betrothed,” said Ian, bowing at the waist, taking the girl’s hand in his. She tensed, her hand balling into a fist, still not looking up at him at all. He quickly kissed her fist and looked back up at Storm MacKeefe. “I’ll just go out to my horse and collect the weddin’ rings, and be right back. Then the ceremony can begin.”

“Kellina, bring Caitlin up to the altar,” said Storm with a nod. “As soon as all the candles are relit, the ceremony will start.”

Ian faked a smile, turning on his heel and hightailing it out the door with his cousin right behind him. He stepped outside, looking up at the ominous sky, letting out a deep breath. It was only drizzling now, but the sky was sure to open up soon. A sense of deep dread settled in his chest that had nothing to do with the weather, and he didn’t like it in the least.

“What is it?” asked Finn. “Ye seem as if ye’re about to bolt. Are ye changin’ yer mind about the marriage?”

“Nay,” Ian answered in a low voice. “We both ken that this is probably my only chance to secure a wife. I need to get married immediately.”

“I think ye’re overreactin’, said Finn. “I’m sure there will be other chances. The ghosts are sure to leave sooner or later. Nay?”

“Nay,” said Ian, pulling a folded parchment out of the travel bag tied to the horse. He handed it to Finn. “I found this early this mornin’, hidden in an old book high on a shelf. Actually, the book fell off the shelf and hit me in the head.”

“What is it?” asked Finn, opening the parchment and scanning the contents. “I dinna understand.” He shook his head.

“Finn, this is worse than I thought. It says in that parchment that there was a curse put upon our grandfaither, Sholto MacBain. The curse extends to his eldest son and the eldest son of every first-born male MacBain that follows from this direct line.”

“A curse? Then the rumors are true of how our grandparents and yer parents died because of the ghosts.” He handed the letter back to Ian. “I am certainly glad I’m descended from Sholto’s daughter and also that I am no’ ye.”

“It is signed by grandfaither.” Ian slowly folded the parchment up and put it back into the travel bag. “Grandfaither says only true love can break the curse. If within the first two years of marriage, true love isna seen, then the couple will die horrible deaths.”

“Grandfaither was only married two years when he and Grandmathair died if I’m no’ mistaken.”

“Aye,” said Ian sullenly. “My faither and yer mathair were only babies at the time. And once my faither was grown and married, he and my mathair died from the plague when I was only one year of age. They were married exactly two years at the time.”

“Do ye really think they died from the curse?”

“I’m bettin’ it is true,” answered Ian. “I think the ghosts wanted me to find this, and threw the book at me.”

“Well, mayhap ye shouldna wed the girl after all.”

“It’s my only chance, Finn. I ken it might sound selfish, but I want a wife and family. I’m goin’ to be five and twenty years of age in a few days. I’m no’ gettin’ any younger.”

“Ye kent about this curse, didna ye? I mean . . . before ye found the parchment in the book.”

“I’ve heard stories growin’ up, same as ye, but I never wanted to believe them.”

“Is that why ye never married before now?”

“Aye, I admit, it is. I thought if I never married, there would be no chance in dyin’ at the hands of bluidy ghosts. But recently, I decided I didna want to live in fear any longer. That’s why I accepted Laird MacKeefe’s offer of the betrothal with Caitlin to form the alliance.”

“Well . . . I’m sure ye and yer betrothed can fall in love. Nay? After all, Grandfaither wrote in the missive that the ghosts relayed he had two years for he and Grandmathair to fall in love.” So ye have two years to make Caitlin fall in love with ye.”

“Grandfaither brought this all on himself, for killin’ his sister’s lover, but the rest of his descendants dinna deserve to suffer because of it.” Ian wasn’t sure about any of this anymore. He was about to marry a lass he didn’t even know, and had no idea if he’d even like her or if she’d like him. Still, he had to take the chance. He would make her love him, he decided, if that is what it took to break the horrific MacBain curse.

“I agree,” said Finn.

“Get the rings, Finn. I’m goin’ to do this before I change my mind. We have no time to waste. I want the curse broken and the ghosts gone as soon as possible.”

“Do ye think Caitlin MacKenzie is strong enough to no’ be frightened off by the ghosts?” asked Finn, getting the rings out of the travel bag.

“I’m positive that she is no’. That is why the weddin’ has to happen before she ever sets foot in Gowrie Castle. Whatever happens, it is crucial that we get married here today, right away.”