Page 38 of A Highlander's Vow

Chapter Seventeen

Gregory entered Daniel’ssolar right before Evan. Once they were all settled in chairs, Daniel leaned forward and placed his forearms on his thighs. “Two important matters, men. I need our warriors in top shape. Evan, I still want ye to go to the border, and Daniel, I am expecting the Gunn and the Sinclair to arrive any day.”

Gregory’s brows rose. “Indeed? What makes ye think so?”

Daniel leaned back in his chair. “I’ve had a couple of men watching the trails from both Clyth Castle and Sinclair Castle Girnigoe. One of the men reported back early this morning that there is a large contingent of men with both the Sinclair and Gunn banners only a day or so from us.”

Gregory let out a low whistle. “Do ye think they came to fight?”

Daniel shrugged. “I doona think so. My mon said there weren’t enough to forge a battle, but enough to ken they had something important on their mind.”

“My wife,” Gregory said.

Daniel nodded. “Aye.”

Evan glanced between Daniel and Gregory. “What is yer plan, laird?”

“I will see what they have to say. Why they would arrive without enough forces to wage a battle leads me to believe they have another method of taking Megan.”

Gregory snorted. “Let them try. I doona care what they come with. I’m no’ giving up Megan. She is my wife and will stay just that way.”

Daniel nodded. “I agree. I have no intention of turning the lass over no matter what information or method they arrive with.”

The laird slapped his legs and stood. “Just be sure our men are prepared for battle, even though I doubt there will be one.” He turned to Evan. “I will postpone yer trip to the border until the Gunn and Sinclair have arrived and speak their piece.”

Gregory left the solar more concerned than he had pretended in the meeting. The only way they would be able to take his wife was if they grabbed her when she was alone. Any other way would cause anyone who put their hands on her to lose their head.

As he headed to the list to work with the men, he thought about whether he should tell Megan or not. As an adult woman, she had the right to know, but he didn’t want to worry the lass if whatever Gunn and Sinclair hoped to do would be only speak with them.

It didn’t matter. No one was taking Megan from him. They were legally married by the church, so whatever nonsense The Sinclair thought he could get away with would never work. Otherwise, there would be a battle, even if he had to fight it by himself.

*

Two days laterMegan entered the kitchen and came to an abrupt stop only to have what felt like a brick wall walk into her immediately. She turned to see one of the warriors behind her. “Is there something amiss, John?”

He shrugged with a guilty look on his face. “Nay. I was just going to see about getting a couple of oatcakes.”

She watched him go to the table against the wall and pick up two oatcakes. He smiled at her and walked toward the great hall.

It was very odd to see one of the warriors in the keep during the time they were to be on the list. She’d noticed how during the last couple of days she seemed to be tripping over warriors all day.

Later, when the keep doors were opened and the vendors piled in to sell their wares, Gregory left the list and walked up to her asking if he could join her as she browsed. She just looked up at him and stared, then shrugged. Things were strange, indeed.

*

It was theevening meal and Daniel, Beth, Gregory, Evan, and she sat at the dais, waiting for the lasses to bring out the food. They were all busy with conversations when a man hurried into the great hall. “Laird, they are here.”

Daniel, Gregory, and Evan all stood. Megan tugged on the cuff of Gregory’s léine. “Who are here?”

“Yer uncle and The Gunn.”

She jumped up as if to run away when Gregory grabbed her around the waist. “Doona go anywhere lass. Stay next to me no matter what anyone says.”

All the days of being guarded when the men were pretending they were not guarding her finally made sense. They must have known that Anthony and The Gunn were on their way.

“Ye kenned about this, dinna ye?”

Gregory looked down at her with an expression that she didn’t quite understand, but brought tingles to her stomach. “Aye, we did, but I dinna want ye to be worried about it.”