Page 79 of My Scarred Laird
Duncan whirled, “This man has come ta help us. I care no’ for the rumors tha’ swirl. He is already kinder than McGavin ever was.”
Callum put his hand on Duncan’s shoulder, “Ye humble me sir. I ken ye have heard abou’ the rumors. Tha’ is all they are. Only rumors. I can assure ye tha’ I’m no’ tha’ man. I may be scarred, but tha’ is all. I am more than capable of helpin’ ye and givin’ ye a good life.”
Some of the people looked at him as if they didn’t believe him and Duncan turned, “Ye would do tha’? For people ye doona ken?”
“Aye. Ye are my people now tae.”
Duncan held his hand over his heart, “I vow ta ye my fidelity, here and now.”
Callum inclined his head, “I accept.”
He turned to the other people standing in the bailey, “I ken it will take time for ye ta accept me as your laird, but I assure ye, I’m only here ta help. My wife and I, along with my allies, wish ta help ye. We are here ta help rebuild wha’ we can, feed ye, try ta heal yer sick. We wish ta give ye a good life.”
One woman sobbed, and Callum stepped forward, “Are ye all right?”
She nodded, “Are ye really here ta help heal? My son is verra sick and he needs a healer.”
Islay rushed forward, “Show me ta him.”
The woman collapsed into his arms, and Islay hugged her, “We are here now.”
The woman lifted her head, “Thank ye. Thank ye.”
Islay led her away, speaking to her quietly and Callum’s eyebrows lifted when the others stepped closer to him, and Egan whistled for the wagon, which was loaded with food and other supplies.
He, Malcolm, Tavish, and Tague helped distribute what food they could, and then Duncan showed them where to put the rest.
Callum walked into the keep, seeing tons of pallets on the floor of the great hall, and saw how dirty it was.
Tague walked in behind him, “Damnation this is bad. No wonder everyone go’ sick.”
Callum nodded, “Bring your men. We will clean this up, wash wha’ we can and try ta help these people.”
Islay was by the side of a small boy and was speaking with his mother.
Callum walked over to her, “Can I help ye?”
“I need my medicants. He needs help. But he needs ta be clean. His pallet, everythin’.”
Callum nodded, and walked out the front doors, getting Islay’s chests of medicines and a few fresh blankets.
He gave them all to her, kissing her softly and then doing what he needed to do to clean up.
With the men he and the other lairds, they had the hall cleaned, blankets washed and drying in the bailey and some women cooking in the kitchens.
Other men, the ones that were left had gone with a few of Tague’s men to the forest and were cutting timbers for the homes that needed to be rebuilt.
Callum knew this would take time, but he would do all he could for these people.
Duncan was a good steward, knowing everything about the keep, the people left and what they had in the larders.
It was bleak, but Callum was determined to do what was necessary for them.
After he spoke with Duncan, he came back to the great hall, seeing the people eating and happy.
They had seen how hard his men worked, and they had chipped in, washing clothes, and doing all they could to find the pride they once had in their keep.
When he sat down, Islay was at his side and everyone sat up taller and cheered.
