Page 67 of My Scarred Laird
Callum swore, “Get ta your horses! We ride for the keep.”
The men all mounted and Islay jumped into the saddle of her new horse, making Callum watch in awe as the other followed close behind her.
They rode hard and fast to the keep, not seeing anything amiss, but when they got inside, Culloden raced up the stairs with Callum right behind him, hearing a girl scream.
“Daracha!” Culloden yelled, and Callum raced after his brother, watching in awe as Culloden got to his chambers, lifting his foot and kicking the door in.
A man was in the room with Daracha, trying to hold something to her face, but she fought as if he were the Devil himself.
Culloden roared, and launched himself at the man, tackling him to the floor and after two punches, the man was unconscious under him.
Daracha raced to Culloden’s side, “He tried ta take me. Said tha’ he took my sister ta keep me in line and tha’ I was ta be his new bride.”
Callum walked to a branch of candles, lighting them and coughing in shock when he saw the man was none other than the Laird McGavin.
How he got in the keep was something else and then Callum growled. Angus must have snuck him in. Him and the other man who stole Islay.
Must have told McGavin about Callum’s sentries and how they weren’t seen on the battlements, but blended into shadow so that everyone thought the stronghold unprotected.
The first two men hadn’t known, but McGavin had to know. Why else was he here?
Egan rushed into the room, “My Laird!” Then he stopped short, seeing McGavin on the ground.
He looked up with wide eyes, “Search the castle!” He called to whoever was outside the room.
Callum heard feet running and Islay was right behind Egan, not seeing Culloden or Daracha standing behind the closed bedcurtains that lined Culloden’s bed.
“Callum? Is Daracha all right?”
He looked over, seeing Culloden kissing Daracha like his life depended on it.
“Aye lass. She is fine.”
Islay let out a breath,“Thank the gods.”
Callum went over to her, “We have a problem.”
Her eyebrows draw together, “What?”
“Ye have a problem. See tha’ man?”
Islay saw McGavin, still unconscious on the floor and nodded, “Aye. Who is he?”
“‘Tis the McGavin laird.”
She gasped, “How did he get here? How did he get in? I kenned the man who took me snuck in somehow, but McGavin is well known.”
Callum nodded, “I think he followed the instructions Angus gave him. Tha’ is what is written in the letters. Written in the cipher.”
Her eyes went wide, “Angus would really betray ye like tha’?”
He nodded, “He wanted me gone. Ye heard Talitha and Gemma. He has been conspiring with McGavin for a long time. No one quite kens how long, but I am angry I didna see.”
Egan shook his head, “None of us did. And Angus was smart. Kept his head down, did wha’ ye asked of him, never spoke ou’ of turn. Just did wha’ ye wished. None of us kenned. And since he has been writing in a cipher how were we ta ken?”
Callum nodded, “I just wished we had figured out the damn thing. Damnation, he came ta my castle. Had my woman taken as a distraction. She could have been killed. Her sister could have been killed. People still could die because of the men MacGavin has to have posted in my keep.”
Egan nodded, “We will find them. I’m wakin’ the other Lairds so tha’ they can vouch for the men they brought. We will find all the men McGavin brought. And it’s now my personal mission ta find Angus and end his life.”
