Page 34 of A Highlander’s Heart

She moved a few more steps until he was able to reach her hand and pull her towards him. “Are ye certain ye want to go?”

She waited a moment, looking out the window. “I would have preferred to have an idea that ye were thinking about marriage before ye spoke to the laird about it. A lass would like to be asked and give her consent before her intended blurts out his intentions to someone else.”

He moved his hand to brush an escaped curl from her hair and pushed it behind her ear. “As I told the laird, I have no idea what shape my home will be in when I get there. Some—or, by now, maybe all—of the clan members might think I am a prisoner here, or that I have died from my injuries.” Once he fixed her hair, he placed his index finger and thumb on her chin.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“I trust ye. I need someone to make sure I no’ be given something in my drink to make sure I doona awake.”

She took a deep breath. “Do ye think something like that is possible?”

He looked over her shoulder out the window to the growing darkness. “Aye. I am almost sure of at least two men who would be more than happy to step into my place, hoping I would ne’er return. Men who would no’ give up easy.”

He looked back at her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Also, when we return, ye might be my only friend.”

He then pulled her close against his body and covered her mouth with another possessive kiss. His kisses were growing stronger and her reaction to them were stronger, too.

His warm large warrior hands roamed her body, squeezing, touching, caressing, pulling her even closer until she found it hard to breathe.

They moved apart as the hut door opened and one of the kitchen maids entered. She gave a clumsy curtsy as she addressed Morgan with a shy glance at Emma. “The laird requests that ye and Emma join him at the dais for the evening meal.”

He looked at Emma and his hand slid down her body, linking their fingers together.

It appeared the laird had acknowledged him as the laird of Gunn Castle.

“I think the laird has a wedding planned,” he said to her.

Chapter Nineteen

Serving maids brought out platters of food and placed them on the table in front of the trencher sitting between Emma and Morgan.

If any of the warriors or clan members were surprised or angered at him being at the dais with the laird, it wasn’t evident. A few surprised looks were about all he’d noticed. Most likely word was passed among the servants and warriors about his new status and upcoming marriage to Emma.

Laird Daniel Mackenzie had welcomed him, introduced him to the others at the table, and then proceeded to ignore him. Which was perfect because he was still unsettled after his conversation with the laird and the signing of the alliance earlier in the day.

Once the meal had ended and Morgan was fiddling with his mug of ale, Daniel looked over at the two them. “I managed to get a priest after all, so I will no’ be marrying ye tonight. He will arrive at first light.”

St Bridget’s armpit! If they didn’t marry until tomorrow, they would not be able to share a bed tonight. That meant they would consummate their marriage on a pile of leaves in the woods!

If the laird had already arranged it, there was no reason to dispute it, except for the obvious one. It did look to him that as Daniel gave them this news, he was hiding a grin.

He looked down at Emma. “Enoch brought back my sword that Aaron had sharpened for me. I had also asked to have two sgian dubhs made, one for me and one for ye.”

Emma’s brows rose. “I ne’er carried a knife before.”

“’Tis important for ye to have something to protect yerself. I will always protect ye, but if for some reason I am not with ye—which should ne’er happen,” he added with a frown, “just remember ye have to get verra close to use it on someone, but if ye are grabbed, that would be close enough to stab.” He grinned. “Always aim for the most important part of a mon’s body.”

“The heart?”

Morgan almost spit his drink out. “Nay, lass, more to the south.”

As understanding grew, she turned bright red. “Aye.”

Again he cursed not having her in his bed tonight. He shifted in his seat, attempting to adjust himself.

Emma took a sip of her ale and placed the mug on the table. “I was also busy today working in the garden. I picked a great deal of healing herbs, and then went to the kitchen and had both Janet and Enoch help me prepare ointments, tonics, and bandages. Since you stated that ye have no idea what the situation in your keep is, I wanted to be prepared in case someone—other than ye—would need attending.”

“How are Janet and Enoch faring with having to take over the healing?”