Page 98 of My Brave Highlander

Aiden stood. "I agree with all of you."

"Aiden, sit down!" Maighread ordered.

"Nay, Mother. If you truly see me as the rightful chief, then let me speak the truth." He glared at her and when she remained silent, he went on to address the clan. "I remember Dirk well from when I was a lad. I looked up to him and admired him as a strong older brother and someone I wanted to be like. This man sitting beside me is my brother." He motioned to Dirk. "My father's eldest son. As such, it is his right to lead this clan as the chief. I am stepping aside, Dirk. What they say is true. You will make a powerful, strong and wise leader."

Dirk stood, near overcome with humble gratitude for his beloved brother. He clasped his hand, then hugged him.

"I'm proud of you, Aiden. You are the most honorable of men."

"I thank you, brother."

"This is lunacy!" Haldane leapt to his feet, his hands clenched in fists at his side. "Are you insane, Aiden? To simply hand over the inheritance that Da entrusted you with to this imposter?"

"Sit down, Haldane," Aiden said in a calm but firm voice.

"Nay! I will not sit down. Nor will I be the filthy rushes beneath this bastard's feet! You are daft to give up everything without a fight."

"There is no need to fight. I know the truth. This is Da's oldest son."

"You don't know that he is legitimate. Da may not have even been married to his mother. 'Haps she was only his whore and this man a bastard in truth."

"You go too far, Haldane!" Dirk said, offended outrage rushing through him that the lad could insult his mother to such a degree. "Either sit down and remain silent or leave."

With a snarl, his youngest brother stormed from the room and shoved the door back to bang against the stone wall. A gust of chilly wind whooshed in before the guard closed the door.

Dirk ran his gaze over Maighread. Her eyes were narrowed, and she looked vindictive enough to charge him with a sword. But he knew she would never be so open about her revenge. She would retaliate in secret, under the cover of darkness. She would hire someone to do her dirty work while imagining she was keeping her hands spotlessly clean. He was certain she was even now making those plans. If he knew her, she would hire someone capable of getting the job done, someone as malicious as she was herself. But not McMurdo. He was in the dungeon.

"I think we can all agree that Dirk MacKay is our rightful chief," Hamish announced. "All in favor say aye."

A loud chorus of ayes went up.

"All not in favor say nay."

Everyone remained silent, even Maighread. But venom nearly shot from her eyes. He lifted a brow, daring her to take another shot at him.

She stormed from the room. He hoped she was going to pack her baggage.

Isobel caught his attention as she trailed his stepmother from the room. Why the devil was she always following that evil harpy about?

The meeting was adjourned and the clansmen gathered 'round to shake his hand and pledge their loyalty to him. They informed him they would hold a traditional inauguration outside when the weather was better.

Moments later, two guards burst in the front door and addressed Keegan. "The prisoner tried to escape. One of the guards was injured."

Dirk strode across the great hall toward them. "What happened?"

"Dirk MacKay is our new chief," Keegan told the two guards. Dirk had met them a few days earlier.

Each of the men bowed. "Chief, three masked men barged into the dungeon and strove to overpower the two guards. One was stabbed with a sgian dubh but he lives. The other was knocked out. The intruders snatched the keys and opened the cell door but they didn't have the key to the manacles. They were trying to smash the chain or rip it from the wall when more guards arrived."

"Did you capture them?"

"Aye. They must be from McMurdo's band of thieves."

"Damnation. I'm going to question them now."

Moments later, Dirk descended the narrow stone steps into the dank dungeon with the two guards. Rebbie followed him as did Erskine and Keegan. A large hammer lay in the corridor. He nudged it with his toe. "Is this what they used?"

"Aye." One of the guards opened the door to McMurdo's cell. He was alone inside, and his fellow outlaws in separate cells.