Page 68 of Highland Sky

“Nash? Is that ye?”

Nash turned around to see Gavin and Cam strolling through the marketplace with tankards of ale grasped in their fists.

“Gavin? Cam? What are ye doin’ here?” Nash took a hold of Kellina’s arm and walked over to join his friends.

“I think we can ask ye the same,” said Cam, lifting his tankard as he spoke.

“And we felt sorry for ye, havin’ to thatch all those roofs,” said Gavin with a chuckle. “I guess ye pulled a fast one on Old Callum after all, since it doesna look to me as if ye are workin’.”

“North is the one ye have to feel sorry for,” said Nash. “He is thatchin’ the roofs for me, so I can be here with Kellina.”

“Yer wife, I am guessin’?” Cam nodded to Kellina.

“Aye. Kellina, these are my guid friends, Cam and Gavin.”

“Hello,” said Kellina. “I’ve heard so much about ye.”

“We were actually on our way to the MacKenzie camp to help ye thatch roofs,” said Cam. “We thought we’d stop here for the night and enjoy a drink.”

“Ye were comin’ to help me?” asked Nash. “Why?”

“Because ye helped us with our sentences,” said Gavin. “However, I’m no’ sure ye need us.”

“We were goin’ to stay a few days, but after what just happened, I think we will head back first thing in the mornin’,” said Nash.

“What happened?” Gavin took a swig of ale.

“A Sutherland tried to kill my kitten,” said Kellina, before Nash could even answer. “And I swear if Nash hadna convinced me to leave my weapons at home, I would have finished carvin’ the man’s face, since I’d already started when he raided our camp with his clan.”

“Blethers! Ye’ve got yerself a live one here, Nash,” said Cam. “So, the Sutherlands are here at the market?” He looked around, his hand going to the hilt of his sword.

“It was their chieftain,” stated Nash. “I think I scared him off, so there shouldna be any more trouble.”

“For everyone’s sake, let’s hope no’,” answered Cam.

“Where are ye two stayin’ the night?” asked Nash.

“We’ve got a room at the inn,” Cam told him.

“Where are ye two stayin’?” asked Gavin.

“Well, I had hoped to secure a room.” Nash looked over at Kellina, who had stepped away again, putting the kitten on the ground to sniff around. “But since I had to buy Nash somethin’ made from silver, and then I got this for Kellina, I ran out of money.” He held up a silver ring in two fingers, keeping his back toward Kellina so she couldn’t see it.

Cam whistled, inspecting the ring that Nash had gotten engraved with a few images on it of nature things. “That’s a nice one, Nash. When are ye goin’ to give it to her?”

“I dinna ken.” He glanced back at Kellina who was now picking up the kitten again. “I guess I was waitin’ for the right time. However, I think she’s too angry with the Sutherland man now, so I’d better wait.”

“If ye want, ye can share a room with us,” said Gavin.

“Och, Gavin, give him and the lass the room for themselves. We’ll get another for us,” said Cam. “After all, they are newly married and might want some time alone.”

“Then it’s done,” said Gavin. “And in the mornin’, we’ll travel with ye back to the MacKenzies.”

“Aye,” said Cam. “Mayhap we’ll help North finish the thatchin’, since he seems to be gettin’ the brunt of all of our punishments.”

“Thank ye,” said Nash, looking back over his shoulder at Kellina. “Kellina has been havin’ a hard time lately.”

“Since her chieftain died?” asked Cam. “Aye, we got the missive at the MacKeefe camp. That is another reason why we convinced our new wives that we needed to go and help ye.”

“Aye. Kellina’s upset because of the chieftain’s death,” said Nash, wanting more than anything to tell his friends everything that had transpired. But he couldn’t. He’d made a promise to keep this information to himself, and now he would have to keep it a secret for the rest of his life. Nash didn’t like keeping secrets from his friends – from his family. It just didn’t seem right. Then again, Kellina was his family now, and he had to adjust to the fact that he might end up staying with the MacKenzies forever, although all he wanted was to return to the MacKeefes once and for all.