Page 105 of The Highlander's Auctioned Hellion
He opened the door wide, stepping into the room as they all whirled around to stare at him.
“I would save yer breath, McCarthy. She only cares about herself.”
CHAPTER 29
McCarthy drew his sword,his gray beard quivering as Eilis and Amy both cried out with joy.
That joy was short-lived, however, as their mother grabbed them and pulled them to her side.
Eilis struggled against Moira’s grasp as Callum looked at the guards on the edge of the room.
There was one who had been standing just behind the door whom Callum had not seen. He was several feet smaller than him and half his size, the sword in his fingers trembling.
“I willnae kill ye if ye dinnae dae anythin’ stupid,” Callum said to him.
“What are you waiting for? Kill him!” Moira screamed at the guard, and Amy and Eilis both cried out in protest.
The guard looked to Moira as if she had lost her mind, and did not move. Callum stepped forward, removing the sword from his hand and taking it for himself.
“Ye should be careful with this, lad. It’s sharp.”
The guard was trembling so violently that his lip was quivering, and in the next instant, he ran from the room.
Callum turned back to face McCarthy. The Laird was no coward, standing firm in front of him, sword raised and pointed at Callum’s chest.
“Ye shouldnae have come here, Laird Murray, ye arenae welcome, and I will have ye killed if ye try to take these girls.”
Callum scoffed. “Ye willtryto have me killed, McCarthy. I dinnae think ye will be successful, nae one has managed it yet.”
“Ye are nae able to fight off me entire castle guard,” McCarthy snapped.
“Well, I’d be willin’ to give it a try after the bravery of that one. Let’s see which of us is right,” Callum growled. “Ye have taken somethin’ that belongs to me, and I intend to take it back.”
“These children aremine!” Moira spat, and Callum finally turned his attention toward her.
“And what claim did ye have to them when ye walked out overnight and didnae even say goodbye to them? Ye left them in the care of a castle full of servants.”
“I was grievin’ me?—”
“Spare me. Ye nay more cared for Angus than ye dae anythin’ else if it isnae servin’ ye. Dinnae expect me to believe ye were in love—he told ye he had found out the truth and to save yer own skin ye left. I have proof of that.”
Amy and Eilis were staring up at him, their little mouths open in shock.
Whatever man Callum knew himself to be, he would not slander their mother in front of the girls. Glancing to the back of the room, he saw Lydia’s maid standing near the wall.
What is the damned woman’s name?
“Hannah, is it?” he asked, and she nodded, looking terrified. “Take the girls outside to play, would ye? I have business here.”
He turned his attention back to Eilis and Amy.
“It’s all right, girls, ye go outside with Hannah. Dinnae go far and I’ll be with ye soon.”
Amy and Eilis exchanged a glance as Moira’s hands tightened on their shoulders.
“This is nae yer castle, ye cannae give commands,” she snarled.
“What truth?”
