Page 30 of A Highlander’s Heart

Morgan dropped his head in his hand and moaned. “I canno’ arrive at Clyth Castle as the new laird in a wagon like an old lady.”

Silence reigned as they all considered Morgan’s words, which did, indeed, make a lot of sense.

“What if he rode in a wagon and then moved onto his horse once the men from the ramparts at Clyth Castle can see them arriving?” Emma asked.

Morgan said, “If they have heard that I am still alive and here, they might verra well have a group of men miles from the castle keeping watch.”

Daniel nodded, but said nothing. After a few moments, he said, “Ye are the healer, Emma. Can he safely travel by wagon and horse? We’re speaking of a fortnight or more, depending on the weather.”

She studied Morgan and looked at his leg. As a healer, she shouldn’t approve his journey, but she understood his need to return to his clan. He was a laird now and needed to be with his people. She took a deep breath. “Aye. I believe he can do that since he will have a few more weeks of recovery if he travels in the wagon. As long as the ride from the wagon to the castle is short enough.”

Gregory looked over at Morgan. “I will bring fifty men with us. We have no idea what ye will find when ye return. If we bring more, yer clan might assume they are being attacked and an entire battle could erupt.”

“Aye,” Morgan said, “I have already thought of a few men who would try to take over the clan if they have heard of my uncle’s death and my injuries.”

After a few moments of silence, Morgan turned to Daniel and looked him in the eye. “As Laird of the Clan Gunn, I am prepared to sign an alliance with the Mackenzie clan which includes all the stated requirements discussed at this meeting.” He glanced over at Emma. “As ye ken, I have another requirement of my own not yet written.”

Daniel sat back, his arms crossed over his chest and nodded at Morgan. “I’ll let ye speak.”

Morgan turned to Emma, who looked, confused, at a grinning Daniel.

“I am verra pleased at how well ye have healed me.” He paused, and Emma continued to stare at him. What was the mon trying to say?

He took a deep breath, then swallowed so that the muscles in his throat worked. “I would like ye to accompany me back to Clyth Castle.”

Emma continued to stare at him, her heart thumping in her ears. Finally, she managed to say, “Why?”

In truth, the idea that he would be leaving—even though she’d known he would, of course—filled her with unhappiness. Her life wouldn’t be the same; no man could or would take his place. Forever would she be imagining him on the cot in the corner of her hut, a grouchy, handsome presence, who had, she had to admit, fought his way into her thoughts.

And just maybe somewhere else.

Nay, not her enemy anymore.

Obviously, not comfortable with how he’d said it, he took another deep breath and added, “I ken ye are needed here, but when I left Clyth Castle there was no healer, and I have no reason to believe there is one now.” He spoke so fast that his words tripped over each other.

Gregory coughed, and she thought he was hiding a chuckle.

She nodded at Morgan to continue, but made no comment. Instead, he reached over and took her hand. “Would ye consider returning to Clyth Castle with me?”

“I doona ken.” She was more than shocked. Was it true that he expected her to leave her home, and the name she’d built for herself as a healer because he might need a healer for his clan when he returned?

She looked over at Daniel expecting him to say something to make this make sense. Instead, he cleared his throat and held up his hand. “Before this goes any further, I want ye both to ken that if Emma Mackenzie leaves here with ye, she will leave as a married woman.”

She turned back to stare at Morgan, who looked as dammished as she probably did. Married!?

Daniel and Gregory stood. “Morgan, Gregory and I will leave ye two alone to work this out.”

After those words the two men left the room, with Emma and Morgan continuing to stare at each other.

Morgan climbed from his chair and stood. Then began to hobble. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and—

“Stop!” Emma took a deep breath. “If ye have something to say, then say it.”

“I guess ye ken what Daniel expects me to say?”

She didn’t answer him, just continued to stare. Apparently, he had already spoken to Daniel about her returning to Clyth Castle with him, but Morgan seemed surprised by what the laird had just said about how she would be able to leave Castle Leod.

She, however, was stunned, and not truly sure what the laird meant, although she had an idea, which she immediately pushed away.