Page 39 of My Scarred Laird
He nodded, wincing a little and she kissed his forehead, and he let out a small sigh.
“T’was nay yer fault lass. None of this is. Wha’ did I do ta deserve ye?”
She walked around from behind him, cupping his face in her hands, noting that even with him sitting in a chair, he was so tall that she was the same height as him, “Ye are a good man, a good Laird and I see how hard ye work. How hard ye try ta keep yer people safe, fed and sheltered. I have been in the village, seeing how the houses are all in good repair, everyone has enough food, and the children are happy as they play. There isna people suffering at yer hands. They flourish under yer leadership and if yer cousin canna see tha’ then it’s on him. He musna care enough ta go and see the people he is serving.”
Callum’s eyes studied hers and he slowly shook his head, “All Angus has done was go ta different keeps trying ta smooth over things and ta make alliances. Apparently, he likes the life tae much and I can only guess wha’ he has said about me ta that other Laird.”
She shook her head, “I doona ken, but he never came ta speak ta my father. He would have seen right through Angus’s charming lies.”
Callum nodded, reaching up and running the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “Ye are so beautiful.”
She leaned into his touch, “We can figure this out.”
He nodded, “Come. Ye still need ta fix up Graham’s leg.”
She grabbed a few things, and handed the box to Callum, but before they left her room, he leaned down, kissing her lips softly and then kissing her cheek that had finally stopped smarting after Talitha’s slap.
She shut her eyes for a second, and then Callum stood straight, walking out of her room, and down to where the men were waiting.
While she fixed up Graham’s leg, Callum explained to the men what was going on with Angus and what he was doing.
Callum’s men weren’t happy. Egan stepped forward, “How did he get away with this? I thought we sent men with him?”
Callum shrugged, “He must have paid them off, or they must no’ have been around when he did what he did.”
Egan nodded, “Have any of ye gone with Angus lately?”
One of the men stepped forward, “Aye. He made me stay in the stables with the horses. Said that he didna need protection in the keep, and tha’ it was important for me ta stay put.”
Callum swore, “Egan, we need ta check his rooms. Find any correspondence between him and the other Laird. See if he has left a trail.”
Egan nodded, “Fraser, with me.”
“Just ken, I locked Talitha and Gemma in their room. Talitha is a mean thing and willna hesitate ta hit either of ye.”
Fraser’s face hardened, “I will take care of it.”
Egan and Fraser walked away, and Callum looked around at his men, “If we go ta war over this will ye stand at my side?”
The men around him raised their hands, “Aye!”
Then they put it on their chests, banging it over their heart.
“We will follow where ye lead Laird.”
Callum nodded, “Tonight at dinner, we will ken more about Angus and his betrayal. If there are more of the nobles in on his plan, we will find out.”
The men all nodded, and Callum went on, “This canna be taken lightly. Who kens what Angus has said ta the other laird. What he tried ta do ta our peace. I’m goin’ ta kill him with my bare hands.”
Islay felt a shiver rush through her at his anger, and she swallowed hard, seeing a new light to Callum.
One that seemed to call to her.
He was everything. In one half, he was kind, quiet, patient, and a little shy. And on the other? He was hard angles, a rough warrior, unafraid of battle, or death.
Seeing him now? It was all something else. She shivered, feeling her body grow wet, and supple. This man commanded armies, and he commanded her body.
She swallowed hard, going back to fixing up Graham’s leg, and helping anyone else with a need.
