The Highlander's Defiant Captive (The Lairds Most Likely 4)

But that was for later. Right now, he needed to lay the foundations for what he'd worked so long and hard to achieve. An end to the feud between the Drummonds and the Mackinnons.

He bowed his head. "She's the wife of my heart, sir, and I promise to devote every drop of my blood to making her happy."

The old man didn't smile. "See that ye do." He paused. "It was a brave thing ye did, coming to me tonight. Ye knew you werenae likely to emerge from my tent alive. I dinnae like ye, Mackinnon, and you're no’ the man I’d have chosen for my daughter's husband. I'll never forgive ye for stealing her away from me, even if it's clear she’s willing to overlook how your courtship started. But I can see ye love her."

"I do."

"And she loves ye."

"Aye, Da, more than I can say," Mhairi said, crossing to take Callum's hand.

He swallowed the emotion jamming his throat. He wasn’t yet used to hearing her proclaim her feelings. The simple statement still had the power to turn his heart to caramel.

"So perhaps it's time the families came together to mend the wounds of the past."

"Thank ye, Drummond," Callum said with a bow.

The old man even managed a strained smile. Callum appreciated the effort.

The Drummond swept his hand through the air in a comprehensive gesture that included everyone in the tent. His good humor was only slightly less strained than his smile. "I hope ye and your kinsmen will join me in a wee dram before you go back to Achnasheen. Then it’s time to pack up the camp and get my fine men back to their own beds."

***

It was late when Callum and Mhairi and their escort rode back through the gates of Achnasheen. The rain had stopped, so he wasn't surprised to see the courtyard lit with flaming torches and crammed with what looked like every one of his kinsfolk currently sheltering in the castle. He hadn’t been convinced he’d make it back from visiting William Drummond. It seemed his clan had been equally uncertain of his fate.

But thanks to the magnificent woman he'd married, he lived to return to his home. He'd even managed to toast an end to the feud with his former enemies without getting a knife in the belly or poison in his whisky.

The atmosphere when he, Mhairi, his escort, and the Drummonds had shared a dram hadn’t been warm. William still hadn’t forgiven him for the abduction and John had scowled throughout, but it was a start. Callum had always believed the rift would truly start to heal when grandchildren arrived. Grandchildren who mixed Drummond and Mackinnon blood and promised a united future.

Heaven had been merciful enough to spare his life. Now he looked forward to taking his bonny, brave wife to bed and making a start on the new generation.

As a resounding cheer broke out at their appearance, his arms tightened around the woman sitting across his saddle bow. He raised his hand for silence.

"Thank you, my kinsmen and kinswomen, for this hearty welcome. The siege is over and God willing, so is the feud. There will be peace, and the promise of prosperity and long lives for us all."

Cheering rose again.

"Long life and happiness to the Mackinnon!"

"God bless our Lady Mhairi!"

Through the continuing racket, he felt Mhairi stiffen in surprise. She twisted to look at him. "They’re cheering me, too."

He smiled down at her, knowing he looked dazzled and adoring and not caring a farthing if he did. "Aye, mo chridhe. So they should. This night wouldnae have ended near so well if ye hadnae persuaded your father to listen to ye. If there’s peace in the glens tonight, it's because of ye."

Her lips quirked with the familiar humor he loved. "Och, I couldnae let Da murder ye, Mackinnon. I've got used to having ye around."

"Pleased to hear it," he said with equal dryness.

He addressed the crowd over the jubilation. "The Drummond and his retinue are coming here in three days for a feast to mark the accord between our clans. I want ye to welcome him as befits my kinsman and the father of your lady."

"Nae hemlock in his porridge then, Mackinnon?" a man asked jovially from the crowd.

Callum laughed, although not long ago, that might have been a serious question. He wasn’t such an optimist that he expected unalloyed amity, but at least if all went well, everybody would survive the gathering. "Och, the man's my new father-in-law. It would upset my bride if we hurt her old da. And I’m gey careful about upsetting my bride, laddie."

There was laughter and more good-natured jeering. Callum spoke over the noise. "As ye all know, the siege was a rude interruption to my honeymoon. I'll thank ye kindly to seek your beds and allow me and my bonny wife to seek ours."

"We wish ye joy!"