Page 49 of Never Kiss a Highlander

The Mackay nodded. “Aye. Give him the land.”

Finn cleared his throat, but he was certain that the laird heard their exchange. “The land is yers. Laird Mackay will sign it o’er to ye.”

“That is no’ all.”

The Sinclair took out a document and laid it on the table. After waiting for a few moments, most likely to build up tension, he tapped it with his finger. “I just came into possession of this. ‘Tis worth a great amount of coin.”

Finn didn’t see any reason to respond since it was up to The Sinclair to tell them what he wanted and what was in the document.

“I will take five hundred merks.” The laird sat back after making that announcement and crossed arms over his chest.

Finn pushed back his chair and stood. “We shall be leaving now. I will take my wife with me. We can share my horse unless ye care to offer one to us that will be returned.”

“Doona ye want to see what is on the document,” the Sinclair laird said.

“No’hing is worth five hundred merks,” Finn said. He looked over at The Mackay who studied the other laird. He nodded to the parchment. “I will see what it says.”

“Are ye prepared to turn over five hundreds merks?” Finn said.

The Sinclair shoved the paper across the table. His father-in-law picked it up. He read it very slowly and then said, I will have the merks delivered to ye and take this with me.”

“I have yer word?” The Sinclair said.

“Aye.” The Mackay pushed back his chair. “Gather the men, Finn.”

Still completely stunned at what just happened, he stared open-mouthed at the two men, then stood. “I am no’ leaving without my wife.”

He turned to The Sinclair. “I would like to have the use of one of yer horses. I doona ken if my wife is strong enough to ride by herself but we would make better time if we are no’ sharing a horse. I want her home in our own bed to recover.”

The Mackay walked very slowly from the room, looking broken, tucking the paper in his pouch.

Finn hoped the laird would one day share with him what was on that paper that was worth five hundred merks. ‘Twould probably empty their coffers.

“Smiling gleefully, The Sinclair said, “We can lend ye one of our carts. It will take ye longer to return home, but I believe Lady Mackay would be more comfortable.”

“Thank ye. I would like that.” Finn headed upstairs to the room where Alison was. She was sleeping again and the maid watching her said, “The healer gave her another draught to help her fever and make her sleepy.”

Since it would take some time to prepare the cart for her and for the two lairds to work out whatever exchange they needed to do for the land and money, Finn nodded at the maid and returned downstairs.

‘Twould be a long trip, so he went to the kitchen. The cook was still in there and he asked for food for the trip. It would takea couple of days to travel to Castle Varrich with Alison using a cart, so most likely they would stop for the night at least once, so the men would have to do some hunting.

She was most accommodating and said she would have the packed food ready when they left and she would make up trenchers of food for him, James, Albert, Finn, Alison and The Mackay straightaway.

As was the practice, the warriors who traveled with them would provide their own also by hunting.

He didn’t know exactly why but he was itching to leave the place and get Alison settled in their bed in their own bedchamber. The healer here seemed quite nice, but he would feel safer for his wife once they were home.

Chapter Twenty-One

Alison was feeling a little bit better, but still weak when Finn came into the room where she was staying. “Good morn, lass. We will be leaving on the morrow. I have arranged to have a cart so ye can rest on the trip.”

She frowned. “Wouldn’t it be faster if I rode a horse?”

He shook his head and sat alongside her. “Nay. The healer thinks it would be too hard on yer body. We could wait a few days?—”

“Nay,” she said. Tears filled her eyes. “I want to go home. To our home.”

He stretched out alongside her on the bed and pulled her into his arms. “Do no’ fash yerself, my love, we will take the cart.”