To Steal a Highlander's Heart by Holt Samantha

Author:Holt, Samantha [Holt, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-09-27T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

The air in his father’s chambers smelled sour. Morgann eyed the shrivelled old man surrounded by pillows and blankets and sighed. Hard to believe his father had once been a great leader, bringing about peace and many victories for the MacRaes. Ranald MacRae was respected far and wide.

Floorboards squeaked as he stepped carefully across the room, candle flames flickering as he brushed by, and his father awoke. It took a moment for him to focus on Morgann and he grinned in recognition.

“Morgann, lad, ‘tis good to see ye. Is all well?”

Morgann resisted the need to wince at his father’s scratchy voice and how he greeted him as if he hadn’t seen him in days. Which was likely true. He avoided seeing his father, using his duties as an excuse. The sight of his father so decrepit tore at him, made his gut clench with despair.

He concealed his discomfort with a grin as he came to his father’s side and dragged the small wooden chair closer. “Good morrow, father,” he greeted as he sat. “Are ye well?”

“Aye, aye, well enough. Have ye seen Margot this morn? I’ve not seen her yet.”

“She’s busy, Father.”

“She is? What have ye got my bride doing? For surely I cannae persuade her to take her duties seriously.”

Morgann let slip a wry smile. “None can, but I try.”

“And here ye take yers too seriously.”

“Someone has to.”

“I worry for ye, lad. Ye cannae bear everything on those shoulders of yers. Ye need to share yer burdens.”

“With someone like Margot ye mean?”

His father gave a gruff laugh. “Margot is well enough for an old man like me but ye need a woman like yer mother. One of good character.”

In spite of himself, Morgann laughed, trying to ignore the voice at the back of his mind that told him he’d already found one. “Ye mean she’s good only for a quick tumble. Then why did ye marry the woman? Father, there’s more to that woman than good looks. She has a black heart.”

The old man shook his head. “She’s just a simple lass. Ye need to realise that, Morgann. Not many women are like yer mother, so I settled for what I could get. She keeps me warm as long as I keep her in fine clothes and that will do for me. Soon ye’ll find yerself a good lassie of strong character and Margot will be content not to have to worry about her duties.”

Morgann fought the urge to grimace. They’d debated Margot’s character many times and the man refused to believe she was anything but a beautiful, empty-headed woman. But Margot was not so simple. If she was, Morgann would have little to worry about.

“So have ye any news for me?”

Pressing his fingers to his temples, Morgann debated telling him of Alana’s presence. In truth, he didn’t know what to say and he feared making his father sicker, but he also needed him to know of Margot’s plot. He’d wondered if Margot intended to make his father aware of Alana’s captivity but decided it was unlikely.

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