A Highlander In Peril (Gunn Guardsman) by Kara Griffin Page A

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    “Sean, lad, I’m dying and it is my last wish that you take my place here. I haven’t much time, days mayhap. I need your promise to inherit and …” He gasped again, his breath coming harshly.
    He handed Lord William a cup, but the man wouldn’t take it. “You ask me to leave the life I have. I’ll need to consider this.”
    “There is no time, lad. I must have your promise. And there is something else.”
    Sean stood. He couldn’t help it. The situation called for pacing and he did so beside the old lord’s bed. He took three steps toward the end and three steps back. He didn’t know what to think of this let alone consider becoming a laird.
    “What else?” He kept his gaze on the old man’s eyes, trying to read his sincerity.
    “I set a betrothal in place.”
    Sean balked as he turned and headed for the door.
    “Wait! Come back, lad. I wasn’t finished.”
    He couldn’t disrespect the dying man and so he took a deep breath. “Lord William, you ask too much. I will not be coerced into wedding your choice. When I take a wife it will be of my own doing.”
    “I’ve thought on that, lad. You will get a chance to meet her. She’s a dear lady who is under my care. I’m her guardian. For her father and I were great friends. A lovelier lass you cannot find. Fancy has the heart of an angel. You are verily stubborn like your mother.”
    “Mayhap I am as stubborn as my mother. Had she not a reason to be? None of this was expected, Lord William. I am not sure I can be what you want of me.” Sean’s stomach felt as though it dropped out of him. He swallowed hard and tried to comprehend what was happening.
    “You’re much like your father, too. He was reserved, modest, and was a fine man. But I learned that too late. I wish to repay my debt to your mother and father. It is my last wish to make amends. Will ye deny me the right to meet my maker without fault?”
    Sean couldn’t say. Who was he to dissuade the man from making peace? And yet he verily wished he could.
    “I’ll have you take your rightful place here. I ask that you wed Fancy. She needs a strong man like ye are. I cannot die until I arrange for her care and all that I have is yours.”
    Sean’s stomach twisted and his heart tensed. None of what the old lord said made sense. He needed air. The chamber closed in on him and he felt stifled.
    “You must accept both in order to receive the inheritance, Sean. For there’s a great fortune here, and a powerful position many men would envy. But aye, you must also accept Fancy. That is the covenant.”
    “I will return later and will let you know my decision.” Sean nodded to Lord William and left the chamber before he could stop him. He stood outside the door for a few seconds, shocked at what had been told to him.
    When he mustered up the courage, he bounded down the stairs and went through the front door. James followed and tried to ask what happened, but Sean kept walking, his strides long. He didn’t stop until he reached the field outside the walls of the keep and stood watching the moon rise.
    “What the hell is going on?” James reached him and pulled his arm to get him to look at him.
    “You’re not going to believe this. I deem I’ve reached hell.”
    James laughed. “Hell? Surely you’re exaggerating, Sean. What happened?”
    Sean took his sword from his scabbard and began hacking at the tall blades of grass around him. It felt good to inflict his wrath on something. “Lord William wants me to become laird here, wants to give me his land and wealth.”
    James whistled. “What? You’re jesting with me, Sean.”
    “Nay, I’m not. He deems it will make up for what he did to my mother.”
    “Will it?” James asked.
    “I don’t know,” Sean said, whipping at the grass, cutting great lengths of it with his ire. “I wouldn’t mind that because he should make amends, but he wants me to wed his ward.”
    “ Cosh! Aye? Truly? Imagine that. You, Laird Hume. Never would