Page 23 of A Highlander’s Heart

He had to get stronger because one day Laird Mackenzie would decide what to do with him and he needed to face him, one man to another.

*

Daniel took the seat at the round table in his solar. Joining him around the table were Beth, Gregory, Megan, and the members of the council he’d dismissed weeks before.

The elders had insisted on attending all the meetings, claiming it was in the clan members’ best interests. He had agreed, once he’d made them understand they were there as advisors and he, as Laird of Clan Mackenzie, would make the decisions.

Except for Beth, of course. He hated to think of what his punishment would be if he decided to ignore her opinion before he made a decision. He shuddered, just thinking of the cold bedchamber on the top floor where no brazier had ever rested.

Before they began, the door opened and Emma Mackenzie entered the room. “My laird,” she said as she dipped in a curtsy.

“Thank ye for joining us, Emma.” Daniel waved to the last empty seat at the table.

He leaned his forearms on the table and looked around the group. “Before we start making any plans and decisions, I want to hear from Emma how Morgan Gunn is progressing in his recovery.”

She looked uncomfortable at his request. From what he knew of Emma, she was more comfortable with the injured needing her care and comfort then she was addressing a group of people. She cleared her throat and said, “He is doing well, and if he is careful, he will continue to heal.”

Daniel nodded, trying to hide his smile at her brief answer. “Explain for the benefit of those who have just arrived back from Edinburgh what his injuries are.”

She took a deep breath and, looking a tad nervous with all eyes on her, a slight flush began to appear on her face. “Morgan Gunn arrived in my hut near the end of the battle between Gunn, Sinclair, and our clan.”

When one of the elders asked how he arrived at the healing hut, Daniel decided to rethink his decision to allow the former council permission to attend meetings. With this sort of question, they would be here until Michaelmas.

“Two of our warriors carried him in.”

The elder nodded and Emma continued. “It was obvious he had a leg injury. One of the men said Morgan had swung at a warrior about to cut one of his men in half, and saved the man, but fell from his horse, who also slipped in the mud and fell on Morgan.”

“So the Gunn has broken legs?” Another elder heard from. Daniel held his sigh.

Emma shook her head. “Nay. He had a verra serious gash on his leg as well as bruised ribs. The wound to his leg developed an infection and from that, he developed a fever on and off for about ten days. And in addition, he needed his ribs kept cold to help that injury.”

The healer must have noticed the frown on one of the council member’s faces, because she quickly added, “Cold helps bruised ribs which canno’ be wrapped since it could interfere with breathing.”

“And what condition is he in now?” Daniel asked for the benefit of those who did not know the history of the warrior and wanting to get back on track.

“He is doing verra well. His gash is healing, he is able to walk, but slowly, with caution so he doesn’t rip the stitches again. He also has to keep from putting too much pressure on his ribs. He needs more practice. He tends to try to rush it.”

The room grew silent and Daniel tapped his finger on the table. All eyes were on him. “We currently have two clans with no lairds.”

Emma sat up straight in her chair and looked at him. “I was made to understand Morgan is now the Gunn, being the old Gunn’s heir.”

Gregory studied her, looking surprised at her quick response and defense of her patient, no doubt wondering what sort of an attachment the two had developed. Daniel did as well, but instead of reacting to her comment, he said, “Stephen Gunn had no bairns, so the lairdship falls to his deceased brother’s son, Morgan Gunn.”

Emma sat back and looked satisfied at his answer.

Again Daniel just studied the group and tapped the table with his finger. “Gregory, please tell the group what happened in Edinburgh.”

Gregory leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “There had been no edict from the king to annul my marriage to Megan as the Gunn and the Sinclair had stated. Once that had been quickly dispensed with, and the king appearing annoyed to have the so-called problem brought before him, my wife asked for the opportunity to speak with His Majesty.” Gregory looked at her and smiled.

One of the elders opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Daniel said, “What did ye tell the king, Megan?”

Gregory reached out and covered Megan’s hand, which rested on the table, and gave it a squeeze.

“One of the nights during my travels with the Gunn and the Sinclair, I was in the room next to them at an inn. They had been drinking quite heavily that night and since the walls were not too thick between their bedchamber and mine, I heard them speaking about how they’d arranged for my husband, Laird Robert Sinclair, to be killed in the battle that they had set up along the border. One of the Gunn men had been ordered to do it.”

Although most everyone at the table, except the elders. had already known this, shocked silence descended at Megan’s words.

After a minute, Gregory said, “Although the two men attempted to dispute it, Megan and I had often discussed how strange it was for Robert, a seasoned warrior, to be cut down during such a small conflict. The king apparently agreed, and despite their protests, he ordered the Gunn and the Sinclair be sent to the dungeon to be hanged in the morning.”