Page 78 of Highland Steel

Storm was finally able to talk. “I ken Rhoswen no longer has a faither to do this, so I give her hand in marriage to Logan on his behalf.”

“Thank you,” said Rhoswen with a nod, as Storm went and took his seat next to his wife.

The MacKeefe family was growing in leaps and bounds, Logan noticed. Not only with Rhoswen and her family living there now, but also with Ethan and Hawke’s new wives and children. Plus, each of his friends had parents and siblings that belonged to the clan as well. Not everyone was here today, because some of them lived at Hermitage Castle. But still, Logan felt a sense of family and was glad he was a part of it.

“Are ye ready?” asked the priest.

“We are,” said Logan, holding out his hand to Rhoswen. “Ye are bonnie, and a sight for sore eyes,” he whispered and watched as Rhoswen’s bright blue eyes sparkled. Her ebony hair was twisted around each ear, and she wore a wreath of bluebells like a crown.

“And you smell good,” she whispered back to him. “Bathing in the lake again, I’m guessing?”

“We’ll have to try it together tonight,” he told her in a low voice and winked at her, making her blush.

The priest cleared his throat, gaining their attentions. Then they said their vows, promising to love and honor each other for the rest of their lives.

“The ring please,” said the priest.

Ethan stepped forward and handed the ring to Logan.

“Rhoswen, I ken this was someone else’s ring at one time, but I dinna ken whose. Still, it doesna matter to me and I hope it willna matter to ye either. It was a bonnie ring and I thought someone as bonnie as ye should wear it on her finger.” He held the ring up, slipping it onto her finger.

“Logan,” she gasped, looking at the ring and holding her hand out. He noticed her hand was shaking.

“If ye dinna like it, I’ll get another one, lass,” he promised, thinking he had made a wrong decision.

“Nay, I love it,” she said softly, reaching out with her other hand to run her finger over it. “This is my mother’s wedding ring. Where did you find it?”

“It is?” Logan asked in shock. “Bug found it on the road,” he admitted softly, his eyes glancing around, ready for everyone to think less of him since he’d used it.

“My father must have had it in his pouch and lost it during the attack. I thought Mother was buried with it, but I see now my father had different plans for her jewelry. Why should I be surprised?” A tear dripped down her cheek and Logan reached out and brushed it away with his thumb.

“Ye dinna have to wear it, lass. I ken it only brings bad thoughts of yer faither.”

“Nay, I want to wear it,” she said, looking up and smiling at him. “I’ve forgiven my father, because it is the right thing to do. He was . . . confused . . . and I see that now. I want to wear this ring, because since I will never again go back to England and to my mother’s grave, it is the last remembrance I have of her. Thank you, Logan,” she said, reaching up and kissing him. “You have made me very happy in so many ways.”

“All right, well, I guess ye can kiss him now,” said the priest, slamming shut his book and shrugging his shoulder. “I pronounce ye two married.”

Everyone cheered and clapped and the bagpipe music started up once again. Then came the sound of a horse and wagon. Logan looked over to see Old Callum MacKeefe stopping the wagon and hopping over the side. A young woman who looked like one of the tavern whores was with him. “Am I too late?” called out the old man. “Did I miss the weddin’?”

“Ye’re here now,” said Logan. “And as long as ye brought plenty of Mountain Magic, we’ll forgive ye for showin’ up late.”

“I’ve got a whole cart of it,” said Callum, cackling. “Who wants a drink?”

Everyone rushed over to Callum, but Storm put his fingers up to his mouth and whistled loudly. Everyone stopped and turned around, and even Jack and Trapper came running.

“Before we start the celebration, I have somethin’ to say,” Storm spoke up.

“Excuse me, wait a moment please,” said Bridget, pushing to the front of the crowd with her father right behind her. “My faither doesna want to miss a word.” She pulled a book out of a bag she carried. “For the Highland Chronicles.” She held up the book for everyone to see.

“Well, this is somethin’ ye’re no’ goin’ to want to leave out,” said Storm, taking the Sword of Triumph from his waistbelt and holding it up high. “As ye all ken, Logan was the one who recently saved the Sword of Triumph from the Drummonds.”

“With Rhoswen’s help of course,” Logan added, not wanting her to be forgotten just because she was a woman. After all, she was the real one to rescue it as far as he was concerned.

“It’s guid to have our lucky sword back,” shouted Ethan.

“We’ll win every battle from now on,” added Caleb.

“This sword has been passed from clansmember to clansmember to hold and use in the past,” said Storm. “But from this day on, I am givin’ it to Logan, unless anyone in the clan objects.”