Page 70 of Desiring the Highland Laird
“Well, then, shall we?” He swung up into his saddle. She followed. “I want to be back before the midday meal.”
She settled into the saddle, holding onto the reins with confident hands. “Where are we going?”
He motioned toward the gate. “Yer choice, my lady.”
Though he said it in jest, he saw the color rise in her cheeks. She nudged the gray mare into a slow walk and headed for the gate. Smiling, he followed.
*
When they returnedto Dundale after their riding lesson—truly the lass was getting better—Callum was surprised to see his youngest brother, Jamie, had returned from his travels with their uncle. Jamie, along with Malcolm, and Uncle Argyle, were in the great hall seated at the long table. Upon seeing him, Jamie granted him a wide smile.
“Ah, there ye are, brother,” Jamie said. “And yer bonnie lass. Malcolm was telling us of her surprising arrival.”
Evie cast him an uncertain glance as they paused in the great hall. Callum stepped in front of her to shield her from his brother’s piercing gaze full of wonder and curiosity. As though he had never seen a lass before.
“Was he now?” Callum’s stern gaze landed on Malcolm, whose face remained impassive.
Callum folded his arms over his chest as he sized up his younger brother. He looked as though he had aged over these last several months while traveling. His face no longer held that youthful glow he once had. Now it was tanned as though he was a man of the world. And mayhap he was.
Argyle was their father’s brother. When he saw Callum, he rose to his imposing height, which seemed to tower over all of them. His hair was long and white peppered with gray, his beard full and thick and the same. He had one good eye, which was a pale blue, and the other he had lost in battle some years ago. He kept his blind eye covered by a black patch. His weathered face was lined with age and wisdom.
“Callum,” he greeted, tipping his head. He glanced at Evie, looking her over from head to toe then back at him. “I was sorry to hear about yer father. The MacDonalds, was it?”
“Aye,” Callum replied as he looked at Malcolm. “We bury him on the morrow. I dinnae expect ye or wee Jamie.”
“I cut our travels short. It was a wise decision seeing as how yer da has passed.”
There was some underlying meaning there in his terse words and the tone of his voice. Another glance at Jamie revealed nothing, though. Callum had to wonder if there was something the lad had done to warrant a swift return to Dundale.
Argyle made no mention of the fact that Hamish was his older brother, nor did he show any signs of grief or sorrow. But then, that, too, was like his uncle. He was not a man of great emotion. Callum often thought Malcolm was much like him as well.
Jamie rose from the table and ambled over with his normal cad-like swagger. His gaze was firmly fixed on Evie.
“Are ye going to introduce us to the lass?” There was a broad grin on his face Callum didn’t like.
Behind him, he sensed Evie edge closer to him. She slipped her small hand into the crook of his folded arms, as though making everyone in the room aware of her status. She belonged to him.
“Evie, this is my brother, Jamie, and my Uncle Argyle.”
Jamie bowed with a flourish. Argyle merely regarded her with cool indifference.
“’Tis good to meet the lass who fell from the sky,” Jamie said, eyeing her and edging closer. “Since her mention, I couldna wait to see who holds my brother’s attention so well.”
Callum stiffened, ready to do battle with his brother if he stepped one inch closer. Her hand tightened on his arm butotherwise she remained where she stood. She lifted her chin higher in defiance which made him admire her all the more.
“Is that so?” Evie said, her voice calm and cool. “Funny, Callum hasn’t mentioned you at all.”
Jamie looked stricken as his gaze met Callum’s. Behind them, Malcolm snickered. Callum managed to stuff down the bark of a laugh he wanted to emit. He knew Evie was familiar with his younger brother and the reason for the feud between them and the MacDonalds.
“Ye haven’t?” Then he pressed a hand against his chest as if he were mortally wounded. “How that pains me, brother.”
“I’m sure you’ll recover,” she said, with that same exterior coolness.
Jamie’s gaze flitted back to her as his eyes widened.
“A sharp-tongued lass, to be sure.” Argyle grinned. “I like her.”
Callum dropped his arms and turned to her, taking her small hands in his and giving them a gentle squeeze. “Mayhap see if Roslyn needs help in the kitchen.”
