Page 9 of Once Upon a Haunted Horn and Hoof

“He wants me to find out and tell him Callum’s secret of how he makes his Mountain Magic better than anyone else’s whisky.”

Gavin laughed. “Callum will die before he gives up that information.”

“And so will I if I dinna give the ghost what he wants.” Keithen sat on a chair to don his boots. “Plus, he said he didna want me marryin’ his granddaughter.”

“What are ye goin’ to do?” asked Cam.

“I have to find out Callum’s secret and tell Lennox before the ghost kills me. Then I need to marry Lorna before her faither kills me. No’ to mention, I need to bring back business to the Horn and Hoof before Callum kills me, that’s all.” Just saying this aloud brought a knot to Keithen’s stomach.

“That’s a tall order to fill.” Cam chuckled.

“Ye two are goin’ to help me.” Keithen told, didn’t ask, his friends.

“Nay, no’ me,” said Gavin, holding up a halting hand.

“I’m no’ gettin’ involved either. I’m a married man now with a bairn on the way,” said Cam. Both men shook their heads and looked in the other direction.

“I’m yer family now,” Keithen pleaded with them. “My sister has already seen her first husband die. Do ye think she wants to see her brathair die as well?”

Cam looked back over his shoulder without really turning his head. “Now, that’s no’ fair.”

“Neither is the position I’m in fair to me. Have ye two been able to bring back the customers yet?” Keithen inquired.

“No’ yet,” said Gavin. “They’re pretty scared by what they’ve seen. It’s goin’ to take a lot of convincin’.”

“Damn it, ye’ve got to try harder.” Keithen rubbed the back of his neck, already feeling Lennox’s blade against his skin. He wasn’t sure if a ghost could really kill him or not, but he wasn’t willing to find out. He rather liked having his head mounted on his shoulders.

“What about ye?” asked Cam. “What are ye goin’ to do to help?”

“I’m goin’ to go to that old barn where Callum makes his whisky,” Keithen told them his plan. He stood and put on his belt, slipping his dagger through it. “With any luck, mayhap I can figure out Callum’s secret, and tell Lennox without Callum ever finding out. At least that would solve one of my problems.”

“Did Lennox agree to leave the tavern for good if ye gave him this information?” asked Gavin.

“Well, nay. I didna think to tell him that,” Keithen admitted.

“Ye need to make a deal with him,” said Cam. “Tell him if ye give him what he wants, he has to promise to leave here and never return.”

“And to let the weddin’ progress as planned,” added Gavin.

“Aye. I’ll do that as soon as I see him again.” Keithen wasn’t looking forward to another encounter with the ghost, and neither was he excited about having to sneak into the barn where Callum kept his still. Either of these things was more dangerous than anything he had ever done since hiding the fact that his sister had killed—or thought she killed—her own husband. “Make sure Yvaine keeps Lorna busy until I return. And tell Callum I went to town but will be back soon.” Keithen got to the door and stopped. “Oh, and try yer hardest to get the customers to return and stay quiet about what they saw. We wouldna want any of the MacNeils findin’ out about the ghost before the weddin’.”

“Anything else, yer highness?” asked Gavin sarcastically. Both Cam and Gavin glared at him. Keithen had no right to tell anyone what to do, especially not a Highlander. But in this situation, he had no choice.

“Aye,” said Keithen, flashing a quick smile. “Make sure neither Callum nor Lennox follow me. And if I live through this, I want ye both to train me to wield a sword, because about right now it would certainly come in handy.”

*

“Enter,” Lorna calledout, hearing the knocking at her chamber door. She had just finished dressing, and was about to go look for Keithen and start her day.

A woman poked her head around the door. “Hello, I am Yvaine, wife of Cam MacKeefe. This is our daughter, Avianca.” She pushed the door open wider to reveal a young girl standing next to her. “May we come in?”

“Yes, of course. I am Lorna MacNeil. I’m happy to meet ye.”

“Come on, Avianca,” said Yvaine, entering the room, but the little girl stood at the door, not wanting to enter.

“I’m afraid the ghost is in here,” said Avianca.

“Ghost?” asked Lorna with a chuckle, thinking it was just a childish fear until she saw the look on Yvaine’s face.