Page 2 of Highland Spy

“They left to visit the other clans,” Hawke told them, wiping off his blade and slipping it through his weapon belt. “If they’re back, there must be a reason. Mayhap the king wants his chronicler to write more about the MacKeefes in that book of his.”

“Aye, ye’re probably right. And since they’re back, mayhap I can get the chronicler to add me to the Highland Chronicles like everyone else,” said Caleb.

Logan walked over, nudged Caleb aside, and gazed out the door. He stretched his neck to see the girl. “She probably wants to write more about me in there. That’s why she came back here.”

“Ye wish,” said Caleb, pushing Logan aside as he headed back into the shelter. “No’ everyone listed in the book truly deserves to be there.” He glanced over at Ethan and Hawke when he said it. Not only all their fathers’ heroic acts had been recorded in the Highland Chronicles, but lately Hawke, Ethan, and Logan had been added to the book as well. In Caleb’s opinion, he was just as worthy. Therefore, he didn’t know why his name wasn’t on those pages.

“Bid the devil, ye make it sound as if we bribed the man to put us in the book,” said Ethan shaking his head.

“Och, I didna even want to be mentioned,” said Hawke looking up. “It just sort of happened.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I didna really care.”

“Me, neither,” said Ethan, acting as if it meant nothing even though it was an honor to be mentioned in the Highland Chronicles.

“Same for me,” added Logan.

“Ye all say this now, but that wasna yer tune before yer names were scribbled onto the pages of that book,” Caleb reminded them. “My name should be mentioned in the king’s book as well.”

“Hah!” Logan walked back to join them. “Ye need to earn it, Caleb. Just like we all did.” Logan slid the Sword of Triumph from the sheath attached to his weapon belt and held it up, admiring it – just for effect.

“I’ve done plenty of things to deserve it,” said Caleb. “If I wanted to be mentioned in the book, I could get into it with no trouble at all.” He waved his hand through the air and tried to act nonchalant like his friends when they’d said they didn’t care.

“Really?” Ethan raised a brow. “Then do it,” he challenged Caleb.

“Huh?” Caleb turned to find all three of his friends staring at him. He already regretted spouting off because there was no way he’d be able to brush off what he said. His friends heard it and were going to hold him to it and make his life miserable because of it. There was nothing he could do now but stand behind his words.

“Caleb, no one is goin’ to write ye into any book unless ye do somethin’ big,” said Logan.

“That’s right,” agreed Hawke with a chuckle. “And we all ken there is nothin’ big about Caleb.” They all laughed at that.

“Haud yer wheesht!” spat Caleb, as his friends teased him about his height and build. He might be smaller than the rest but he still had good-sized muscles and worked harder than any of them to keep it that way.

“Calm down, Caleb. He’s only jestin’,” Ethan told him. Still, Caleb was fired up now and he wasn’t going to sit there and do nothing about it.

“If I wanted to, I could have my name mentioned in that doitit book with no problem at all,” Caleb informed them. “Bridget likes me and I’m sure she’s tellin’ her faither right now to put me in the book.”

Another shout from Bridget was heard out the open door. Glancing over, Caleb saw the girl kneeling next to the log and sticking her hand inside to try to get her stolen item back from his pine marten.

“Somehow I dinna think that’s exactly what she’s sayin’ right now.” Logan crossed his arms over his chest and smiled as he looked out the door.

“Most likely what she’s really sayin’ are a few choice words no’ suited for the Highland Chronicles,” said Ethan, making them all laugh again.

“I can do it, I tell ye. I just dinna want to anymore.” Caleb hoped that would shut them up, but it only made things worse.

“Well, I dinna believe it,” said Hawke.

“Me, neither,” added Ethan.

“If ye’re so sure, then I’d like to see ye do it.” Logan threw down the proverbial gauntlet, waiting for Caleb to pick it up, accepting the challenge.

“Aye. And I’ll even bet ye three shillin’s ye canna do what ye claim ye can, Caleb,” said Hawke, pulling coins from his sporran and throwing them down on the table with a clank.

“Only three?” asked Ethan, reaching for his sporran. “I’ll bet five.” Pulling out the coins, Ethan added his bet to the pile. “And just to make things interestin’ I’m bettin’ on Caleb that he can do it instead.”

“Really? Ye’re placin’ bets?” spat Caleb, starting to think he shouldn’t have been so bold. No MacKeefe had ever turned down a challenge, and there was no way he’d be able to back down now.

“Ethan, ye’re daft to put yer money on Caleb,” spat Logan. “Hell, I’m so sure he canna do it that I’d be willin’ to bet anythin’ on it.”

“Anythin’?” Caleb eyed up the Sword of Triumph still clutched in Logan’s hand. It was a long, strong blade made of Damascus steel. Still, it was lightweight and perfectly balanced. When swung, the weapon was very accurate and extremely sharp. It had ornate carvings in the wooden handle that added to its value, put there by Logan since he was the master whittler of the clan. Their chieftain, Storm, had recently given the sword to Logan. It was considered lucky. Any MacKeefe to use it was sure to win at any battle.