Page 106 of Desiring the Highland Laird
By midday, Malcolmand Jamie returned with as many men as they could convince to fight. She didn’t know the numbers, but she understood from the tense whispers that they were still outnumbered by Rory MacDonald. She did her best to stay out of the way, but there was an underlying feeling of chaos in the keep. Even Roslyn was dashing about to make sure they had enough provisions to feed all the men.
As the day waned, she took to the garden to find solace. She stuck her hand in her pocket to make sure the keystone was still safely wrapped in the cloth. Relieved it was, she picked her herbsand flowers and returned to the kitchen to make her herbal tea in the hopes it would keep her calm. She needed a distraction to keep from worrying about Callum. She didn’t want to get in his way, and she didn’t want to hide out in their bedchamber, either.
As she cut her flowers, though, she heard a distant rumble. Glancing up at the early evening sky, she saw it was clear. It wasn’t thunder but sounded strangely like it.
Ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum.
Snatching the basket, she shot to her feet and hurried inside the kitchen. It was a bustle of activity, as if no one had heard the sound.
“Did you hear that?” she blurted.
Roslyn paused her chopping to look up at her. “What’s that, lass?”
“It sounded like…” She paused to think. “Like drums.”
The woman dropped her knife and hurried toward the open kitchen door. Evie followed, clutching the handle of the basket as they stood in the garden and listened. She held her breath, as if that would make the sound clearer.
Ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum.
There it was again.
Roslyn’s gaze flickered to her, worry creasing her face. “Ye best get inside, lass. I’ll find Callum.”
“What is it?” She followed the woman, still holding on to the basket with her cut flowers as if it were a life preserver.
“War drums,” she said, her voice low. Likely so she wouldn’t frighten the others working in the kitchen. She reached for the basket and took it from her, placing it on the nearest counter. “We must find Callum. He’ll want to see ye to safety.”
Roslyn took her by the hand and led her out of the kitchen. Evie didn’t have a chance to protest. Her mind whirled with fear of what was to come. All she could think about was Callum goinginto battle. Callum fighting. She didn’t want to think about what would happen to her if he didn’t survive.
As they exited the kitchen and entered the great hall, she saw him. He was headed across the great hall, a look of determination creasing his face.
“They’re here, aren’t they?” she asked as they came to a halt in the center of the large room.
Roslyn released her and headed back to the kitchen, leaving her alone with Callum.
“Aye.” He gave one nod of his head. “Do ye still have the keystone?”
Bewildered, she nodded. “Yes.”
He held out his hand. “Let me have it.”
A trickle of unease went through her as she reached into her pocket and handed it to him. He glanced down at it briefly when he took it. The lines still pulsed a pale light through the cloth. He tucked it into his sporran. Taking her by the hand, he led her out of the keep and into the bailey. Malcolm saw them from across the frenzy of activity and headed for them.
The distant drumbeat pulsed a rhythmic thump under the thunderous vibration of horses’ hooves. It was a harbinger of what was to come. Evie clutched Callum’s hand, dread shuddering through her.
“I will see my wife safe,” Callum said to his brother. “And then I’ll join ye.”
“Ye cannae mean to—” Malcolm began. His gaze flickered to her and then back again.
But Callum cut him off as he turned to him. “I can and I will.”
Confusion slipped through her at his meaning. What did he mean, he intended to see her safe? Was he going to take her away from the keep? She glanced back at the imposing structure of Dundale and wondered if Roslyn and the scullery maids were hiding in the larder.
She looked up at him. Panic skittered through her at what he meant to do. She shouldn’t have given him the keystone. There was fire in his eyes as he looked at his brother. Evie trembled. He was determined to make sure she was safe despite Clan MacDonald coming for them. He squeezed her hand, never lifting his gaze from his brother’s face.
Malcolm glanced from Callum to her, his gaze lingering on hers. For a moment, his stern expression seemed to soften. His lips thinned as he nodded.
“Aye, go then, brother.” He gripped the hilt of his claymore, pulling it from its sheath. “And dinnae tarry for the MacDonalds willna wait for ye to return before they attack.”
