Chapter Six #2
“The wretched ghost stabbed me!” shouted Payne. “Dammit, Whitby, I want nothing to do with these blasted moors, stupid ghosts, and certainly not your daughter, ever again. You are all cursed and I want no part of it.”
“Are you saying the betrothal is broken, then?” asked Linnette, feeling suddenly hopeful.
“Yes,” snarled Payne, still holding his arm. “Whitby, if you want a war, I’ll give you one. Or I’ll just be on my way and you can find someone else to marry your daughter.”
“I already told you that I don’t want her to marry you,” shouted Lord Whitby.
“So get out of here before I finish what the ghost started and I kill you the rest of the way.” Linnette’s father rode toward Payne, waving his sword in the air.
There was a look on his face that told Linnette he meant what he’d said.
It made her feel good that her father had finally come to her aid.
“I’m going, I’m going. Leave me be.” Lord Payne rode away and didn’t turn back.
“Aren’t any of you going to kill the ghost?” asked Brom, swallowing forcefully as the headless rider rode right toward them.
“I’m not sure a ghost can be killed,” Linnette told him.
“Nay, hold up,” came a muffled voice. Then the headless horseman lowered his sword and untied his cloak, pushing it back to expose the fact that he really did have a head, after all. His wide shoulders were made by a bow hidden under his cape.
“Duncan?” North started laughing.
“Duncan!” Linnette shot forward and ran to him. Duncan jumped off his horse and wrapped his arms around Linnette in a big hug.
“Linnette, who is this?” asked her father, still holding on to his sword.
“Father, lower your sword,” Linnette instructed. “This is Duncan MacKeefe, the man I love. And his friend, North MacKeefe,” she added with a nod toward North.
Brom dismounted and ran over to help Paulina to her feet. “Are you all right?” he asked softly.
“I am now that you’re here,” Paulina told him, her body shaking as she leaned up against the stableboy’s chest and he wrapped his arms around her in a protective hug.
“Linnette, you are in love with a Highlander?” asked her father, shaking his head and not doing a thing to put away his weapon.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I met him through my good friend, Matilda Montclair.”
“Matilda is my wife, Lord Whitby,” North explained.
“Really.” Slowly, Linnette’s father lowered his sword. “The Montclairs are a respectable family. I’ve known them a long time. How did I miss the fact that one of them married a Highlander?”
“Lord Whitby,” said Duncan, his arm still around Linnette. “I would like to ask you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
“Really. Even though you planned on running off with my daughter without my approval?” asked Lord Whitby.
“Aye, that is true,” Duncan admitted. “But honestly, I never felt good about doin’ so behind yer back. And I dinna want a war between ye and the MacKeefes. All I want is to protect yer daughter and to make her my loving wife.”
“It’s true, Father. Believe him,” pleaded Linnette.
“You just pretended to be that ghostly headless rider in order to fool Lord Payne and send him away, didn’t you?” asked Lord Whitby.
“Aye, my lord,” Duncan answered. “I kent that in order for the betrothal to be broken, ye both had to agree to it. So, I figured if Lord Payne felt the wrath of the legendary headless rider in a physical way, he’d leave rather than have the story of a ghost defeatin’ him gettin’ around.”
“You knew he’d break the betrothal and that is why you did it. How brave of you,” said Linnette.
“Or stupid,” mumbled North under his breath.
“Duncan MacKeefe, I never really liked a single Scot,” admitted Linnette’s father.
“Father!” said Linnette.
Lord Whitby held up his hand. “Let me finish, Daughter. I never liked a single Scot…until today. Duncan, you were smart and also brave enough to not only protect my daughter, but to make things right for all involved and I appreciate that,” Lord Whitby finished.
“So, what does that mean, my lord?” asked Duncan.
“Can we be married, Father? Please. We love each other and Duncan will never let anything bad happen to me.” Linnette held her breath, waiting for her father’s answer.
“I give ye my word, my lord, that what she said is true. I willna ever let anything bad happen to her and I promise to treat her with respect.” Duncan looked down at Linnette and kissed her on the lips, right there in front of Linnette’s father.
Paulina spoke up. “I think you two make a wonderful couple.”
“We’re not the only good couple here,” Linnette responded, causing both Paulina and Brom to blush.
“If we can hurry this up, I’d like to get back to my wife,” complained North.
“Yes, MacKeefe, I give you my blessing as well as my permission to marry my daughter,” Lord Whitby answered, sheathing his sword.
“Thank ye, my lord.” Duncan sheathed his sword as well and reached out to shake hands with Lord Whitby. “Ye will no’ be sorry.”
“Oh, I already am, because I know you’ll be taking my daughter far from here to live with you in the Highlands,” Whitby answered. “But still, I approve of this marriage.”
“We both do.” Linnette’s mother rode out from the mist accompanied by one of the castle’s guards. “Linnette, I am so happy that you will be able to marry the man you love, after all.”
“Lady Whitby.” Duncan hurried over to Linnette’s mother, who reached down. Duncan took her hand and kissed it.
“Well, I didn’t know a Highlander could be so charming,” said her mother with a slight giggle.
“We’ll still have a wedding tomorrow at the castle, as we’ve promised everyone, and we’ll forget about posting the banns,” said Linnette’s father. “The wedding will be between the two of you.”
“I’d like that,” said Linnette, feeling as if everything was finally going to be all right.