Page 28 of A Highlander’s Heart

“The way the story goes, when my wife was in the Sinclair’s and yer uncle’s company on their way to Edinburgh the two men both had too much to drink—”

Morgan snorted. Of course they did.

“—and as they spoke to each other my wife overheard them. It seems they had arranged for Laird Robert Sinclair to be killed in the minor battle that took his life.”

Morgan sat up straight and sucked in a breath. Conspired to kill a laird? That was a hangable offense.

“Apparently, there was some sort of agreement between yer uncle and the Sinclair that he would get my wife in marriage, and yer uncle would receive a generous compensation in return.”

Now completely attentive, Morgan placed his forearms on the chair and leaned forward. “What did the king do?”

Daniel took a deep breath. “He sent both yer uncle and the Sinclair to the dungeon to be hanged the next morning.”

Morgan was so stunned he merely sat, staring at the Mackenzie. After a few breaths, he said, “Does that mean—?”

The laird nodded. “Aye. We have confirmed that the two men were duly executed.”

“So, unless I am wrong, what ye are telling me is I am now the Laird of Clan Gunn?”

“Aye,” the laird said.

Morgan collapsed back into the seat and let out a deep breath. “Why are ye still holding me, then? The Gunn’s and Sinclair’s hangings must have been weeks ago.”

The laird nodded. “Aye. First off, I dinna ken about it until Gregory and Megan arrived home, which was only a few days ago. Even though it doesn’t seem so, I did ye a favor. If ye returned all broken up as ye were when ye first came under Emma’s care ye would have had no chance of taking over as laird.”

That might be true, but right now his clan was leaderless. They needed him. They needed a leader to turn to, to keep them safe. To keep them alive. “I feel I am ready to return, unless it’s yer plan to keep me and take over the Gunn clan.”

Daniel shook his head. “If that were the case, we would have done so before now,” he said.

Morgan narrowed his eyes. “What do ye want?”

Daniel Mackenzie took out a piece of parchment and laid it on the table between them. “I’m no’ interested in yer money. I’m not interested in assuming yer clan. I am sure if we did that we would end up in a war with yer surrounding clans.”

“What do ye want, then?”

“I want a solid alliance between the Mackenzie clan and the Gunn clan. I want ye guarding yer borders with the Sutherlands, the Mackays, and the Sinclairs. If ye need help, ye are to send word to us. I also want ye to keep me informed of any major changes in yer clan. I want ye to inform me when ye marry, and to whom.”

They were fair terms. “For how long?”

Daniel smiled. “A verra smart question. Let’s say five years, except I expect the alliance to continue with no set end date.”

Morgan’s head was spinning. With all the protection that his uncle traveled with, he never expected to hear that the man was dead. Executed by the king. He still couldn’t sort out the news he’d just received without having to consider the laird’s demands.

“As I stated, ye will also be protected by the Mackenzie clan in the event one of yer neighbors decide yer clan is now weak and attempts an attack. Just as we expect ye to send men if we are attacked.”

There was silence among the three men.

“I will sign an alliance, providing it is no’ one-sided. However, as part of the alliance, I demand to be released and sent to Clyth Castle now.”

Daniel raised his hand. “Just take a breath, Morgan. Ye have a lot of information to process without rushing right off. I plan to send Gregory with about twenty warriors or mayhap more to make certain things are in order. I doona ken if yer people ken that yer uncle is dead. Most likely they do, since it’s been some time and I’m sure word has spread among the clans. Which is why Gregory will go to make sure things are secure.”

Morgan ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath, which still hurt from his injured ribs.

He’d probably not handled this the best way, but after weeks of lying around, only taking walks in the garden, and watching one broken and bleeding clan member coming into the hut after the other, he was slowly losing his mind.

He pulled the alliance document over and began to read. Not being that schooled in reading, it took him some time to complete. Meanwhile the laird and Morgan had been speaking quietly to each other.

There was nothing in the agreement detrimental to him or his clan. The man was indeed fair, since he held him here, and could demand much more.