Chapter 20
To say the clan was pleased by Keegan’s announcement would have been a vast overstatement.
However, nothing would change his mind about going through with the wedding, and his clansmen were well aware of how resolved he could be when he put his mind to something.
They were also bound by fealty to heed his words.
Damon, on the other hand, evidently felt that expectation did not apply to him.
“Ye cannae possibly think it is wise to join our families,” he complained, and Keegan let out a low sigh, turning away and bracing his weight on the shelf now before him.
The study was particularly warm with the fire going as it was, and Keegan was already strained over the need to plan a wedding to come in the next few days. And this argument with his brother was not how the laird should be spending his time.
“Damon, I’ve already agreed. What’s more, I’ve told ye that it has nae a thing to do with Magnus. This is about Willow. She had been abandoned by her brother, and I wouldnae see her left to the wilds.”
His brother glared. “She is his sister, Keegan. It’ll involve him at some point, even if ye wish to avoid it. And for as sorrowful as ye may feel for the lass, Willow isnae our problem. Melissa is.”
Keegan gripped the shelf in front of him, dropping his head between his arms. He could remember the last time he was butted up against these shelves.
He could still taste Willow on his tongue.
Those thoughts and more served to make Keegan steadfastly against letting Willow suffer the consequences of his own actions.
Even more, Keegan was exhausted. He’d not had to deal with matters like this for a time. Of course, there were concerns about protecting his land, as always. Still, this abduction business between him and the McCallums had claimed all of his time for several weeks now.
He simply didn’t have it in him to put on a proud face anymore.
“I am tired, Brother, so daenae make me repeat this again. It was our taking of the lass that led to her brother relinquishing her so rudely. She was to be married, which is now off because they believe her to be lacking her virtue. It is our problem.”
Folding his arms across his chest, Damon eyed Keegan hard, studying every flicker of emotion that crossed the laird’s face.
“And is it?” Keegan frowned, his lips rolling into a tight light at the question. “Is yer bride-to-be so lackin'?”
The laird’s tone dropped as rage began to swell to the surface. “I willnae entertain a question like that again. Understood?”
“Ugh,” Damon scoffed, “yer short and curlies are wrapped around that lass’s finger. And it will ensure that we arenae prepared to do anythin' about Magnus. He took our sister from us and beat her.”
Keegan could see the fury but even more the remorse flaring brightly behind Damon’s eyes.
His brother was still holding onto a massive weight that resulted from his guilt.
Keegan felt no better that they’d both been unable to stop Melissa’s abduction, but he’d been able to take comfort in her safe return.
Damon evidently had not.
Walking toward him, Keegan attempted to leave the memories that accompanied that shelf behind him. This was his chance to speak with his brother unencumbered, and he wanted to make the most of it.
“I understand, Damon. I do.” Keegan took either of Damon’s shoulders in his hands, squeezing them lightly.
“I willnae allow that bastard to lively easily with his actions toward us. He is to be dealt with. I only ask that ye daenae see this as a union between the families. Willow has agreed that she is nay longer a part of the McCallums. She has essentially been cast out. This is to protect her.”
Meeting Keegan’s stare, Damon squinted, assessing what he could see in his brother’s expression. After a moment, he sighed, shaking his head.
“Why are ye so concerned with keepin' the lass safe?”
Keegan wasn’t ready to divulge everything that informed his decision to wed Willow, even to himself, so he would offer his brother what he could.
“I feel responsible for her situation. Additionally, I have seen that she is nae like her brother, and I daenae wish our people to ken me as a laird that would take out his wrath on innocent parties. I, too, am nae like Magnus.”
Sagging, Damon offered a simple nod, and Keegan relaxed a hair, letting go of his brother’s shoulders.
“This is unlike ye, Brother, and I think ye ken that well enough. Ye’ve never once spoken about marriage.”
Unable to stop the chuckle, Keegan shrugged one shoulder before walking back toward his desk and leaning against the edge in a half-seat of sorts.
“Nay. I’ve never been so daft as to believe it wouldnae come for me, however. I cannae imagine Willow spoke on marryin' someone from our clan or being taken from her home only to be left in the cold by her very brother. Life isnae what we plan or think at most times, Damon.”
His brother remained quiet, and Keegan could see his thoughts churning from even outside of the man’s head.
With this opportunity to speak, he let himself be open about how he was feeling for once.
If he couldn’t do it with his brother—a closer friend than nearly anyone else in his life—who could Keegan be honest with?
“She was caught in Magnus’s plot but is innocent.
We have been caught in his snares before, and we will be again.
That man isnae likely to give up his pursuit of Brahanne land.
We…we have all suffered enough. I wish for there to be some peace for Willow, for meself, for yerself, and Melissa.
Please, can ye find it in yerself to accept this?
Accept her? I wish for ye to work with me, as ye always have.
And further…this is somethin' I want. The…marriage. Can that be enough for ye?”
Keegan watched the surprise work over Damon’s face and then settle into an expression of understanding, his brother offering a familiar crooked smile. Damon approached him, holding out a hand toward Keegan with his brows raised in expectation.
“Aye. I can accept yer words as ye’ve said them plainly.”
The laird shook his brother’s hand, and relief worked through him so profoundly that the remaining tension in his body was hardly enough to keep him from falling victim to sleep right then and there.
“And I will offer ye me apologies, as well. I have been…unkind to ye both, Brother. I was…Melissa’s capture affected me more than I’d imagined it would.
I suppose, well, I suppose it made me think too much of our parents.
I couldnae stand to lose her. Ye are the laird and, as such, have yer responsibilities.
Ye will always be close to me heart, but ye arenae always as available as Melissa. Ye understand?”
Keegan nodded. “I’m the laird, and therefore cannae always just be yer brother. I understand. But I am yer brother, Damon. Ye can always come to me. Ye are me blood, me friend, and I willnae have ye think differently.”
They both smirked at each other, clasping their arms together before leaning into one another for an embrace.
Relationships were not simple things like they had been when they were younger.
Still, Keegan cared for his brother—and Melissa—deeply.
He would protect them, and he would do the same for Willow.
With a nod, Damon stood back from him. “What are we to do about Magnus then?”
Keegan dropped his stare to the floor, rubbing his hand over his stubble.
“He must be kept from securin' more land.
And he will try somethin'. He’ll see to the portion of land he has been trying to claim for a time now.
I think it best if ye were to take a large group of our warriors to it and stand guard.
I can come to join ye once the weddin' has finished.”
Damon met Keegan’s serious expression with one of amusement, smirking at him as he folded his arms over his chest. “I’ll miss yer weddin'? Och, how can ye slight me as such?”
All Keegan could do was chuckle, shaking his head. “If ye’ll be missing it so much, I can have Rodrick take yer place as war chief? Or perhaps, if that is too far, shall I have someone draw it up for ye? Or perhaps a reenactment of the event?”
Shoving him playfully, Damon rolled his eyes before taking up a spot next to Keegan, leaning on the desk.
“It will take me a few days to gather the men. We can leave in likely…three days’ time.”
“That should suit us fine. But I daenae relish the thought of Magnus sittin' behind his walls crafting some new plot. He’s proven how tricky he can be. If it werenae for Willow’s information, we would have been caught off guard by the archers.”
Damon balked slightly, turning to face Keegan. “Willow is how ye learned of the archers?” He turned the corners of his mouth down, cocking his head in a sort of nod. “Och, well, the lass has already proven to be more useful than I gave her credit for.”
“Ye have judged her quite harshly, Damon,” Keegan smirked, calling out his brother’s behavior.
“Aye. I have. Ye’re right. I apologize, truly.”
Grateful as he was for his brother’s words, Keegan shook his head. “It isnae me that ye need to apologize to. Take yer time in it, but ye should be saying the same to Willow. She’ll be yer sister-in-law soon, after all.”
“An odd thought,” Damon replied. “But one that I am getting used to. And I’ll offer me apologies to the lass. Ye have me word, Brother.”
“I thank ye for that, Damon.” The laird’s stare fell to the ground once more. “Now, there is only the matter of learnin' more of Magnus’s machinations to deal with.”
There was a beat between them, and then Damon sat up straighter before standing altogether.
“Ye can send warriors to spy on his territory. Perhaps yer lassie will have knowledge of a bonny sight to set up a watch?”
Keegan swallowed, the idea a fine one, but Damon’s words hit him with an odd punch.
“She is truly mine, Brother. But aye, I will ask Willow if she kens a spot to spy on the man. It is a fine plan.”
Damon clapped him on the shoulder, and Keegan flinched slightly.
“She will certainly be yers after the ceremony, Brother. Ye best be making yer peace with it—and soon.”
Before Keegan could reply, Damon strode to the door and left the laird alone in his study to think. There was undoubtedly much on his mind and much to plan. And still, the lingering thought consuming Keegan concerned the voracity of Damon’s statement.
Willow would be his once they were wed, tradition and legality demanding it. What might that mean for them? Keegan was unsure, but he could not deny the ultimate truth.
He longed for the eventuality with Willow as the flower yearned for springtime.