Page 16 of Once Upon a Haunted Horn and Hoof

Chapter Six

Shocked by what she’d heard, Lorna was sure this would be the end of the betrothal, and the start of a new feud between the clans.

She heard the sound of scraping steel as the MacKeefes drew their swords. Her father’s guards did the same.

“I dinna want bloodshed in my tavern!” shouted Callum. “It’s hard enough tryin’ to get my customers to return, but if killin’ is goin’ on, they’ll never come back.”

“He’s right. Put down the blades,” Bhaltair said to his guards.

“But Chieftain,” one protested, “they’ve still got their weapons drawn, and we will die to protect ye and yer wife.”

“Put yer swords away, ye fools!” Callum growled at Cam and Gavin. “Canna ye see we are tryin’ to solve a problem, no’ create a new one?”

Everyone slowly lowered their blades.

“Callum, I’m surprised ye are no’ angry with Bhaltair for admittin’ he was the one who wanted to steal from ye,” said Keithen.

“Everyone wants to steal my secret, so what’s the difference?” said the old man. “Even though I should have yer head right now for deceivin’ me.” Callum glared at Lorna’s father.

“It seems to me ye both deceived each other,” Lorna spoke up before Keithen could say a thing.

“So … what are we goin’ to do?” asked Cam. “We seem to be at a standstill.”

“There is only one thing we can do,” said Bhaltair. “Get the ghost to leave so we can get on with the weddin’.”

“How do I ken ye’ll no’ still try to steal my secret?” asked Callum, looking at Bhaltair from the sides of his eyes.

“I dinna need to ken how ye make Mountain Magic anymore,” said Bhaltair. “If my daughter is married into the MacKeefe clan, then I’ll have as much whisky as I want. Right?”

“That’s right,” Keithen spoke up. “The MacKeefes drink for free, and I’m sure Callum will extend that privilege to ye and yer clan as well, since ye’ll be part of the family.”

“Nay, I willna,” protested Callum. “I have no customers anymore, and I willna give away the main means of income for our clan by servin’ all the MacNeils free whisky.

“Then how about just my mathair and faither?” asked Lorna. “The rest of the MacNeils will pay if they drink.”

“Lorna!” snapped her father, wanting to shut her up.

“Bhaltair,” said her mother. “I think that is a fair trade.”

“Callum? What do ye say?” asked Keithen.

The old man thought for a while and finally nodded. “Aye, but only if Bhaltair gets rid of the ghost.”

“Shake on the deal,” said Keithen, not wanting either of them to back out.

Reluctantly, Bhaltair held out his hand. “I suppose that would be fair.”

“Ye’re damned right it is,” said Callum, grasping his hand and shaking it. “And ye should be thankful I’m no’ goin’ to lop off yer head for makin’ me live like this for so long.” The men shook and then pulled apart.

“Ye werena the only one to suffer. I had to live with the guilt of what happened,” said Bhaltair.

“So, it was really yer fault yer faither died and no’ the MacKeefes,” said Anna.

“It’s no one’s fault, since the horse reared up, so let’s forget about this and figure out how to rid ourselves of a ghost,” said Keithen, coming to the rescue and making Lorna want to kiss him for stepping in and stopping a brawl that was about to begin.

“I need to talk to the ghost of my faither,” said Bhaltair. “But we’ll have to get him here first.”

“Now that he’s probably realized he’s been tricked, he is goin’ to be angry,” Callum pointed out.