Page 17 of Once Upon a Haunted Horn and Hoof

“I heard what ye said,” came a voice from the top of the stairs. When the ghost floated down, the MacNeil guards turned and ran out of the tavern. Lorna grabbed her mother’s hand when she saw the woman’s face turn pale.

“Da,” said Bhaltair, with a catch to his voice. “Ye dinna have to haunt the MacKeefes any longer. We dinna need the recipe for Mountain Magic. I was wrong in wantin’ to steal it.”

The ghost hovered over the chieftain as he spoke.

“I tried to make ye happy, Son.”

“It would make me happy if ye left and stopped hauntin’ this tavern, and the MacKeefes.”

“Nay!” shouted the ghost.

“Nay?” questioned Cam. “Oh, hell, this canna be good.”

“Grandda, what will it take to make ye leave?” asked Lorna.

“I want to be at yer weddin’,” said the ghost.

“Oh.” Lorna looked over to Keithen for help.

“Surely, that can be arranged,” said Keithen, surprising her.

“And I want a drink of Mountain Magic as well as this entire tavern filled with people, or I’ll never leave.”

“Of course,” said Keithen. “Ye will have it.”

“Good!” With that, the ghost disappeared into thin air.

“Keithen, why did ye agree to such a daft thing?” spat Callum. “Ye ken that no one will even come inside if the ghost is here.”

“He’s right,” said Bhaltair. “Ye saw my guards run from the room. And if we canna fill this tavern, my dead da will no’ be happy, and I’m ashamed to say he may never leave.”

“We’ll fill the tavern with people. He’ll have what he requests,” Keithen assured Lorna’s father.

“Keithen, are ye a simpleton?” hissed Gavin. “No one will step foot in here because of the ghost. And ye think they’re goin’ to want to attend yer weddin’ with the ghost present? I’m afraid we’re goin’ to be haunted by Lennox forever.”

“Nay, we’ll do it,” Keithen assured them. “Gavin and Cam, send word to the MacKeefes that they are all invited to the weddin’ in two days’ time.”

“That’s no’ enough time to get a message to Hermitage Castle and have everyone return,” Gavin pointed out.

“Then just send word to the Highland camp,” said Keithen.

“Keithen, they’ll run as soon as they see the ghost, and then we’re still doomed.” Cam shook his head.

“Only invite the bravest warriors then,” was Keithen’s suggestion.

“Faither, I think some of the MacNeils need to be here for the weddin’ as well,” Lorna spoke up. “After all, this is an alliance bein’ formed. And Grandda used to be the clan’s chieftain.”

“I canna ask that, and I refuse to demand it,” said Bhaltair with a scowl.

“This is important, Da,” said Lorna. “If the MacKeefes are bringin’ in some of their brave warriors, then I think we should do the same. And I want my family present for my weddin’.”

“I dinna ken,” said Bhaltair. “Once they hear about the ghost, I dinna think they’ll come, and I refuse to trick them.”

“Then the ghost of Grandda will never leave,” said Lorna sadly.

“I’m sure I can get yer brathairs and even yer uncles to show up,” said Anna. “But we’ll have to make it worth their while.”

“How about free Mountain Magic for a month for anyone who attends our weddin’ and stays until the end?” asked Keithen, looking over at Callum.

“That sounds good,” said Cam. “What do ye say, Callum?”

“Fine,” mumbled Callum, followed by a few choice words. “But no more than a month. And everyone has to spread the word that the ghost is gone forever so my customers return.”

“See, Lorna? Everything will work out for us after all.” Keithen smiled and held Lorna’s hands, filling her heart with love.

“Yes. Yes, it will,” she said, eager now to be married to the handsome Keithen MacKeefe and become part of their clan—their family.