Page 23 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
Noah valued Callum above all others on his staff. They had been friends for years. Callum's ease was always a calming influence on his somewhat temperamental mind, but he did not relish telling him the truth of his recent activities.
“They were goin’ to burn her at the stake,” he said bitterly, feeling the fury rage through him before he could stop it. Saying it aloud made it seem all the more real.
“Who?”
“A village not far from here.”
There was a long silence beside him, and he glanced at Callum angrily.
“And?” Callum asked, “What business is it of yers if they burn her?”
Noah stopped mid-stride, turning to glare at him. “What did ye just say?”
Callum raised his hands in protest. “I’m nae sayin’ they should! I am just askin’ why the Laird of the MacAllen clan has to get involved with such things.” Callum was frowning at him with what looked like genuine concern now.
Noah growled as he resumed walking toward his study.
“I met her in the woods by chance. They were chasing her like a wild animal. Torches, pitchforks, and some crazed priest who called her a witch. She’s nae witch, she’s a healer, and she has done nothin’ wrong.”
“And how do ye ken that?”
“I just do.”
They continued in silence for a short while, and Noah wasn’t inclined to elaborate, waiting to hear what else his friend had to say.
“Well, that was very noble of ye then,” Callum conceded a little awkwardly.
“Away with ye, I ken ye think I’m mad for bringin’ her here.”
“I wouldnae think ye were mad for havin’ some compassion,” he said, sounding thoughtful. He cleared his throat. “It would help if she were twice her age and dinnae have nae teeth, though. I might believe yer reasonin’ a little more,” he mused.
Noah scowled. “Dinnae be a fool. I can hardly entertain such notions. She’s a healer; that is all, like Deindre is.”
“Of course, Me laird, I never would have doubted it. And her sister and brother?”
“I could hardly leave them there to fend for themselves, now could I?”
“And where is ‘there’ exactly? Should we be expectin’ company?”
“Nay. It’s a tiny village on the Donaldson lands. Other than that mad priest, there is nothin’ for us to worry about. The laird willnae get involved in such a small matter.”
“Aye, of course nae, isnae as thoughourLaird got involved, is it?” Callum commented.
“Ye’re tryin’ me patience,” Noah murmured as he pushed through the door to his study, walking straight to the whisky decanter and pouring himself a healthy dram.
“She’s a bonnie thing,” Callum said as he followed behind, shutting the door. “If ye arenae interested, would ye object to me gettin’ acquainted with the lass?”
Noah drank the whisky in one swallow. “Ye stay away from her. I thought ye preferred women with fair hair besides.”
“I do, I just wondered what ye’d say if I tried. And now I have me answer.”
“Ye are in a gleeful mood today; if ye’ve finished judgin’ me, ye can be about yer duties.”
Callum chuckled. “I havenae seen ye this riled up in an age. Maybe she is a witch; she has certainly bewitched ye.”
“Do ye want a black eye, is that it?” Noah said, pouring himself another dram. He held it in his hands instead of knocking it back in one swallow. Callum was right; he was riled up, and having a thick head wouldn’t solve anything.
He stared down at the amber liquid, watching its rise and fall in the glass, calming his breathing.
