Page 3 of A Fearless Rebel

At once, his father’s keen eyes traveled over his face. Although he’d done his best to keep from being struck in the face, the man he’d attacked had hit him in the jaw and temple a couple of times.

“It is kind of ye to join us.”

Keithen sat at the table. Broden slid a glass of whisky in front of him, and he looked up to see apprehension in friend’s gaze.

One of the council members, a lifelong friend to his father, cleared his throat. “We received a missive from the Mackenzie requesting a date be set for the wedding between ye and his daughter. We must reply this time.”

Before Keithen could speak, his father leaned forward. “I am sorry, Son. There is nothing we can do to prolong it.”

“We are to give in?” Keithen asked. “Are we to allow this man who is responsible for the deaths of many of our people to be joined permanently to us? I will not do it.”

His father got to his feet and Keithen did as well. He was prepared to argue the point until an alternative was figured out.

When their gazes clashed, a cold sweat came over him. Keithen knew that look on his father’s face. His father’s eyes narrowed. “As yer laird, who ye have vowed fealty and obedience to, I order ye to do as I ask. Ye will marry Ava Mackenzie for the good of our clan.”

It was a low blow. His father knew Keithen would never stand against him and disobey a direct order. Like every other member of the guard and family, on bended knee, he’d given his sworn oath to give his life for not only the laird, but also for the good of the clan.

Keithen folded his fingers into a fist and placed his right arm over his chest. “Yes, Laird.” Unable to utter the word “Father”, he’d preferred to use the title. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, that a father would order his own son to marry the daughter of the man responsible for so many deaths of their people.

And yet, upon meeting his father’s gaze, he understood the decision had not been made lightly.

“Sit down. We must discuss the wording of the message we will send back. If this marriage is to take place, the Mackenzie must agree to the lass coming to live here. We will travel there for the marriage ceremony along with five hundred guardsmen, which will include the contingent from Clan Ross and my brother, Clan Fraser.”

Keithen nodded in agreement. Perhaps this would be a way to enact his revenge. His presence on Mackenzie lands could not be questioned as much if he were married to the laird’s daughter.

“For a dowry, I will ask for the lands at the forest that border our own,” Keithen said.

There was pride in his father’s expression at the comment. “That is very good thinking. Why had it not occurred to us?”

By the time the message was written, it was wordy. The messenger was sent away with instructions to not stop until arriving at Mackenzie Keep.

Although not happy to be marrying, Keithen wondered if the Mackenzie would call off the wedding at his request of land. He hoped it would be something the man would not agree to and therefore make it easier to turn down the marriage offer.

As Keithen walked down a corridor, he slowed outside a door that was partly open. Inside, he heard his mother speaking.

She looked up at seeing him and lifted her finger to her mouth, signaling for him to be quiet.

“I do not wish to leave this room,” Catriona’s voice sounded vacant, without any emotion.

His mother kept a smile on her face. “A walk in the garden would be nice. I understand ye not wishing to be around people. Although my experience was not as horrible as yers, I am still nervous when guards are about.”

“Very well.”

Keithen peeked in through the door when his mother motioned him forward. Catriona stood with her back to him. Her auburn hair cascaded down her back. Although she was looking outside and he couldn’t see her face, he knew her eyes to be a striking amber brown and her sweet freckled face, once cute, was now astonishingly lovely.

They’d grown up together. For as long as he could remember, Catriona had been part of his life. Of the three, Esme, Catriona and him, she’d always been the more sensible, keeping them in line when they were about to get into troubling situations.

“Mother, I wished to come and greet ye and Catriona.” Keithen kept his voice calm, hoping to not startle Catriona.

She whirled around, eyes rounded, mouth open. Her gaze moved to his face only for a split second before she once again turned away, seeming as if she wished to disappear.

“How fare ye, Catriona?” Keithen asked in as soft a voice as he could muster.

Moments passed without a reply. “I am well.”

It was a lie, but the reply alone was much more than he’d gotten since her attack. Just recently, she’d began to speak to him, only a word here or there. For the most part, it was obvious she didn’t wish to see him or any other man for that matter.

“I am glad to hear it.” He looked to his mother, who stood and went to Catriona’s side. “Now, off for a walk we go. Ye promised me. The gardens will be empty.”