Page 32 of A Highlander’s Heart

Confused about marrying Morgan and leaving the only home she’d known her entire life, she gave herself time to settle and then began to gather the personal things she would take with her.

*

Morgan was able to ask Enoch to run some small errands for him. He didn’t want to admit it, but his leg was throbbing and his sides ached; he’d follow Emma’s advice without blether for once and let his body heal without moving around too much. But he would need his sword back from Arron, the blacksmith.

He’d told Enoch to ask the man to sharpen it before he returned it to him and especially, to inquire about his horse. Was Demon sound and ready to travel?

In spite of the fact Demon had nearly killed him when he’d fallen on him, Morgan couldn’t actually blame his horse. Battles were full of such instances.

That matter settled for now, he turned to more personal issues. The breeches Emma had given him after they cut off the pair he’d been wearing when he was brought to the healing hut were dirty, and needed to be washed before they left. Perhaps Emma could acquire another pair for him, but in case not, he gave them to one of the serving girls who frequented the healing hut with water or food. Or sometimes to flirt, but now his heart and his fealty would belong only to Emma.

Emma.

When he’d first heard her name, he’d immediately disliked her. As hard as he’d tried over the weeks he’d been here, she’d managed to crawl into his heart. Emma had had a great deal of patience with him even though he’d been so nasty to her when he’d first arrived.

She was also a fine-looking lass. And with plenty of curves to keep his hands and mouth busy. In truth, he admitted to himself he was not sorry that Daniel had forced marriage on them. There was no doubt in his mind that had he stayed here much longer, their relationship would have grown.

Had that happened, being under Laird Daniel Mackenzie’s protection, he would not have been able to put his hands on her the way he wanted to unless they married.

Arron arrived and agreed to get his sword from the Mackenzie and sharpen it for him. He also agreed to make two sgian dubhs, one for him as well as one for Emma.

He had every intention of protecting the woman he needed to start calling his wife, but wanted to make sure she could defend herself to some extent if necessary.

Before Emma returned from wherever she needed to go to prepare for their departure, Daniel sent word for Morgan to meet with him in his solar, where he’d been able to go with help from Enoch.

The alliance was finished and after reading what Daniel had written, Morgan signed the document and since it was without the clan ring to stamp his seal, he merely took one copy of the alliance, and tucked it into the waist of his clean borrowed breeches.

“When do ye plan to leave?” Daniel asked.

“As soon as possible.”

“Then I guess the next question is when do ye plan to marry Emma?”

Morgan ran his fingers through his hair. “Also as soon as possible. The longer I remain here, the stronger the hold on the clan is by whoever took over.”

Daniel studied him for a moment, then said, “I can marry the two of ye today. However, I must have yer word that ye will find a priest to sanctify the marriage as soon as possible.”

Morgan nodded and left. No one, least of all Morgan, expected to go into battle with the Gunns, only to return with a Gunn wife!

He wondered if his clan’s priest would sanctify their marriage before and after he laughed himself silly.

Chapter Eighteen

Emma and Morgan arrived at the healing hut at the same time. He was doing fine moving by himself with a slight limp.

“Ye are doing well, Morgan,” Emma said with a smile.

“’Tis because I am a warrior. We doona let small injuries trouble us.”

Emma grinned. “A small injury?” She stepped through the door that Morgan held open for her. “Men in good physical form as well as young lads and lasses usually recover more quickly than others from injuries.”

Morgan closed the door to the empty hut and smirked. “So now ye are comparing me to a bairn?”

She felt a flush crawl up her face. “Nay, that is no’ what I meant.”

He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her to his body, his eyes growing darker. “Can I remind ye I am no’ a bairn?”

For a long moment she looked back at him. Her heart thumped at his words and she licked her lips. Then she gave him a slow nod.