Page 29 of A Highlander’s Heart

Straightening in his seat, he said to the Mackenzie, “As laird of Gunn Castle, once the alliance is agreed upon and signed, I demand to be released and offered transportation back to Clyth Castle with no guards.”

Daniel and Gregory made to protest, but he held up a hand. “I’m nay finished. I have one request I will no’ waiver on. It must be part of the alliance agreement.”

The Mackenzie laird viewed him with narrowed eyes, but he nodded.

He wasn’t sure how acceptable this would be, but it was something he could not, at this point, waiver on. He didn’t know why he felt so strongly about it. He had a suspicion, but it wasn’t something he wanted to think about much. It was just what he knew he had to have and there was no backing down.

He cleared his throat and glanced at the two men. “Before I sign, I insist that part of the alliance include that healer Emma Mackenzie accompany us to Clyth Castle.”

Chapter Sixteen

Mackenzie and Gregory sat back and looked at each other with a strange look on their faces before the laird turned to him and asked. “Why? She is just yer healer.”

Morgan nodded. “Aye, and a fine one at that.”

“With Emma gone, Castle Leod will have no healer,” Gregory added.

Morgan leaned forward. “She has been training Janet and Enoch, who—from what I’ve seen—have been doing verra well at the job.”

The two men sat quietly as they most likely considered their response. Morgan knew his request was a bit outrageous, but he had a strong feeling about Emma. He needed her in his life and couldn’t leave her behind. Though, he would never refer to it as a dependency, even to himself.

The Mackenzie leaned forward and said, “We canno’ continue this conversation, Laird, without Emma present. No matter what yer demands are, we are talking about a woman who has lived her entire life here and is verra well loved by all the clan. I will no’ force her to accompany ye to Clyth Castle.”

Morgan was completely shaken up by the Mackenzie so easily referring to him as “Laird.” His head was truly spinning, but he would not show weakness in front of these men.

Mackenzie waved a lass over who was headed to the kitchen. “Please go to the healing hut and ask Emma to join us in the great hall.”

The lass nodded and then, before she walked away he added, “And have someone from the kitchen bring us ale.”

While they waited for Emma, the three men chatted about Morgan’s return, who he thought in the clan might cause him problems, and how he would handle them.

He received good information from the Mackenzie and after a short while he felt comfortable in his presence and even began to admire the man. They also spoke of what, as the new laird, he would do to improve things.

He could tell the laird thought his ideas were well thought out and possible.

Even while they spoke, Morgan’s mind kept drifting back to Emma. The only chink in the excitement he felt at taking over as laird was her.

After learning about his uncle’s death, and realizing he was now the new laird, his next thoughts had been about her. He wasn’t sure he would call his attachment to her as love, but he surely liked and admired her a great deal.

And he could see many interesting nights in his bed with the curvy, warm, soft woman at his side. As well as under him, on top of him and…

He halted his thoughts there. They were speaking of her returning to Clyth Castle with him. As his healer. Nothing else.

Morgan looked up to see Emma approaching. He tried to hide the smile that was tempting his lips, but was unable to do it. At the sound of Gregory clearing his throat, he looked over at the two men to see them smirking at each other.

Emma joined them and he was grateful that he was sitting and not standing with his cock saluting the group.

“’Tis sorry I am to be bringing ye back after just sending ye away. I hope we are no’ taking ye from yer patients,” Daniel said.

“Nay,” Emma replied. “Janet is there and she is quite helpful. She has picked up the healing process verra well. Enoch is also working with me now, too.”

“Aye, I remember ye asking if he could join ye.” Daniel nodded and after a moment, he cleared his throat. “Morgan is quite anxious to return to his keep. As laird myself, I certainly understand, but he is also our captive, so I will make the final decision. But first I need some information.”

He leaned forward, his arms on the desk. “Can the laird travel?”

Briefly startled at Daniel’s reference to Morgan as “the laird,” Emma looked briefly at Morgan’s leg and said, “Aye, he can travel, but I’m no’ sure about by horse. He would have to be in a wagon.”

Daniel nodded, and turned his attention to Morgan. “Once ye are beyond the Mackenzie land, ye must pass through the Ross and Sutherland clans. In case ye doona remember, ’tis a long trip for someone just healing from a serious injury. If the healer says ye canno’ travel by horse, we have to abide by that.”