A Fire Within (These Highland Hills, Book 3) (42 page)

"But not this one," the Earl said, motioning to Dar. "This one
ye feel differently about?"

"Aye, m'lord. Verra differently."

"Well, in that case"-the Regent shrugged as he met Dar's
gaze-"it seems ye come verra highly recommended, lad. And,
because I've little taste for the legally sanctioned murder of any
of my people, I'm willing to give ye a chance. A chance to save
yer clan."

Dar's heart gave a great lurch before resuming a regular if far
more rapid beat in his chest. Had he heard right? Was it possible?

"Exactly how would I be permitted to carry out such an opportunity, m'lord?" he asked, taking the greatest care with his
words, even as Caitlin gave him a strong, excited squeeze of her
hand.

"How else? If ye promise to keep a tight rein on yer clan
henceforth, I in turn promise to lift the proscription on Clan
MacNaghten. But I want no more murderous feuds, no reiving of other clans' cattle, and no other such unpleasant incidents. Is
that aught ye think ye could manage?"

"I'll manage that and more, m'lord, or die in the trying."

For a long moment, the Regent eyed Dar intently. Then, he
nodded.

"Aye, I believe ye will, lad." He turned to Niall. "It's past
time I set out for Inveraray. Argyll won't be happy to hear he's
not gaining MacNaghten holdings, but the man's land wealthy
enough as it is. Send one of yer men with me, though. Once at
Inveraray, I'll need to write out a document for the lad here, officially putting an end to the proscription. Once it's signed and
sealed, yer man can bring it to him."

Niall nodded. "It'll be as ye ask, m'lord." He glanced at lain,
who nodded, then turned and strode back to their men.

Dar bowed to the Regent. "Words are insufficient at a time
like this, but nonetheless, I thank ye from the bottom of my
heart. Ye're a most merciful and kind man. Clan MacNaghten
will never forget it."

"I'm only returning the favor ye first granted me, in averting
my possible assassination." The Regent smiled grimly. "It's not
the first attempt, ye know, nor will it likely be the last. I need all
the loyalty I can muster."

"Ye have Clan MacNaghten's, m'lord," Dar said. "I swear it."

"Good." The Regent signaled that his horse be brought to him.
"Just see to it that ye keep that unruly clan of yers well contained.
And ye'd do well, in the bargain, to maintain the close alliance
ye've already begun building with the Breadalbane Campbells."

Dar nodded. "I'll do my verra best, m'lord."

They watched in silence as the Earl mounted his horse, offered one final wave, and then, accompanied by a large party of
his own retainers, rode away. Once they were well out of sight,
Caitlin gave a joyous cry and flung her arms about Dar, gave him
a fierce hug, then ran to her brother and did the same.

"Och, what a wonderful day!" she cried. "Can ye believe it?"

She released Niall and hurried back to take both of Dar's hands.
"More so, can ye believe it? The proscription's over! Ye and yet
clan are free men once more!"

"Well, that's not exactly true," Niall offered with dry humor
from behind them. "There's still the wee matter of Darach's servitude to me. He did sign a legal document to that effect, ye
know."

Caitlin dropped Dar's hands and wheeled about. "But ye can't
hold Dar to that now. He's the chief of Clan MacNaghten. He
needs to be with his people, not plowing some field or mucking
out some stall for ye!"

"Wheesht, Caitlin," Dar said, taking her by the arm to gently
ease her back to him. "It's a wee matter, at any rate. The work, I
mean. But what does matter is that I honor the promise I made,
and I will do that."

Niall chuckled. "Of course, though I've no difficulty in the
MacNaghten chief working for me, I am a bit adverse to my
future brother-in-law doing so."

He looked from Dar to Caitlin, who were both, at that moment, standing there with their mouths agape. "That's my wedding present to ye two. Or are ye both so slow-witted ye've yet
failed to have reasoned that out?"

Dar was the first to regain his addled thoughts. "Er, I haven't
even asked yet leave to court Caitlin, much less proposed to
her."

"Well, then know ye have my leave," the Campbell said. "Now,
I suggest ye propose to her posthaste. She's not the sort to wait
around forever, ye know."

"Och, aye, I am," Caitlin said, throwing her arms about Dar's
neck. "I'd wait forever for the likes of him."

"Well, I'd never make ye wait quite that long, sweet lass."

Dar pulled her to him. His eyes burned with traitorous tears, but he didn't care. If any day were a day for tears, it was this day.
But tears of joy, not sadness. Tears of victory, not defeat. Tears
of gratitude ... for God's infinite mercy and love.

"I know I've repeatedly turned aside yet offers to wed ye,"
he said, his voice gone hoarse and low with emotion. "But, I'm
asking ye now. Will ye be my wife, lass? Will ye remain here with
me at Dundarave and help me rebuild my home? And will ye be
friend and sister and mother to my clan?"

"Aye," she whispered, "I'll be that and more. I've one boon to
ask of ye, though."

"Ask it and it's yers, sweet lass."

She turned to where Goraidh had come up to stand a few feet
behind them. "I want yet father to wed us. I'll have no other."

Dar dragged in a deep breath. Then, disengaging himself from
her, he wheeled about and walked to meet the hermit.

Goraidh eyed him, his gaze calm yet at the same time resigned, accepting. "I'll tell her I refuse to do it," he said, "if that's
what ye want. I wouldn't come between ye two for aught in this
world."

"I know that." For one last time, Dar battled his lingering pain
and resentment and, at long last, defeated them. "Today, however,
begins my new life. A new life that has only been made possible
by the love and faith of people who believed in me and never lost
hope. And ye were-are-one of those people."

"So much has been lost to us, passed us by," Goraidh murmured. "I mourn that. Mourn that with all my heart."

"As do I." A smile twitched at one corner of Dar's mouth.
"But, the Lord willing, there's still so much more time left us.
Time I'd like verra much to spend with ye at my side. I'll need
all the wisdom of yer years to advise me, after all, if I'm ever to
be a worthy clan chief. I'll need ye beside me as my mentor. As
my father."

At Dar's last words, Goraidh laughed. "That's one role I've had little practice at. I've a lot to learn to be a good father to ye,
lad."

"And I, in being yer son. But we can learn together." Dar held
out his hand. "I'd like verra much to try."

His father grasped his arm, hand to elbow. "As would I."

"So, is it safe to assume ye two have finally come to some sort
of peace?" Caitlin asked, joining them. "Because if ye two can't
get along, what hope is there for the rest of yer clan?"

"None at all, I suppose." Dar released his father's arm and
turned to face her. "Why do ye imagine I've just made up with
him?"

"Och, ye made up for more than the clan's sake, Darach MacNaghten," she said, laughing. "I know ye too well for that."

He took her into his arms, savoring the feel of her soft, woman's
curves pressed now so possessively to him. Knowing, at long last,
he had every right to do so, that she was finally his. And it felt
good. So very, very good.

"Aye, ye always have known me for the knave I was," Dar said,
his voice tight with emotion. "And I knew ye. Always, from the
verra first moment I laid eyes on ye."

Caitlin smiled, her gaze brimming with love. "Aye, ye did. Ye
always did-deep down to the depths of my soul."

Dear Reader,

Well, I guess that brings These Highland Hills to an end. From
the first book in the series, I'd always planned on a total of three
books so I could also do lain's and Caitlin's stories. Not that I
might not one day do more stories about Clan Campbell and
some of their offspring or relations. It'll just be another series or
as stand-alone novels, if I do.

As you probably guessed, the meeting of the Regent, James
Stewart, with Dar and the Campbells was fictional. It's true,
however, that there were several assassination attempts on his
life, perpetrated by supporters of his half sister, Mary, Queen of
Scots, who by then was Elizabeth I's prisoner. And, in 1570, James
Stewart was finally assassinated in Linlithgow, Scotland, by James
Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, a supporter of Mary. It was, by the
way, the first recorded assassination with a firearm.

The description of Kenneth MacNaghten's clarsach is very
similar to the description of the Queen Mary's harp, on display
in the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh, Scotland,
and is thought to date from the mid- to late-fifteenth century.
The song Kenneth sang, "Fortune, My Foe," was probably first
performed for Elizabeth I at a Garter Fest on April 23, 1597.
So I admit to taking yet another bit of literary license in using
it twenty-nine years earlier than it was first documented to have
been performed. Still, there have been many times when words, songs, utensils, furniture, etc., were actually in use quite some
time before history finally made mention of them. And the song
was not only appropriate for the time but also perfect for what
Dar would've been feeling, don't you think?

My next book, As High as the Heavens, will be out in January
2008, which, when you think about it, isn't all that long to wait.
It'll be another Scottish historical romance, also set in the time
of Mary, Queen of Scots. No Campbells this time, though. This
tale revolves around an actual plot to rescue Mary from Lochleven
Castle, and is kind of a Pygmalion in reverse.

I always enjoy hearing from my readers. You can contact me at
mywebsite, www.kathleenmorgan.com. It's a good place to check
out all my other books, as well as keep up-to-date on upcoming
books and other news.

Blessings,

Kathleen

Kathleen Morgan is the author of the Brides of Culdee Creek
series as well as Child of the Mist and Wings ofMorning, the first
two books in her These Highland Hills series, and Giver of Roses,
book 1 in her fantasy series, Guardians of Gadiel. She lives in
Colorado.