Highland Chieftain

by Hannah Howell

  “Ye killed your own brother?” She chanced a glance under the bed but saw nothing and breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Aye, and now I mean to kill ye and that big fool in the chair.”

  “Wait! What did ye do with the children of the people ye killed?”

  “Dumped them on the streets of the next village. Probably too young to survive but”—he shrugged—“stupid people breed like bloody rabbits.”

  “They were just bairns!”

  “Get his back to me.”

  Bethoc blinked and tried not to look at Robbie when she heard those whispered words. “Nay a kill to be proud of,” she said, struggling to think of a way to get him in the position she assumed Robbie wanted. “Just toss them aside and let nature do the work for ye.” If the narrow-eyed look he was giving her was any indication, she had succeeded in getting his mind off how many ways he could boast of his cleverness.

  He lunged for her and she darted out of the way. The knife he held was long and looked sharp but she tried not to be distracted by it. As she waited for him to make his next lunge she tried to think of how many more times she needed him to move then decided it was useless. She could not plan what move he would take. He lunged again as she barely got out of the way in time, the knife slicing her skirts. For a moment he actually chased her but finally stopped. As she faced him again she realized she finally had him with his back to Robbie but was he close enough? To her surprise she discovered the fool was winded from the short chase.

  “Out of breath?” she asked in surprise. “O’er a wee bit of dashing about?”

  “Ye bitch! Ye willnae get away.”

  “Ye cannae e’en catch me without panting like a hard-run horse. I think ’tis time ye went back to jail.”

  She tried very hard not to watch Robbie for fear it would warn the man. Robbie pulled his hands from behind him and she wondered how he got them untied. Slowly, silently, he stood up. One silent step brought him up hard behind Angus. So quick she gasped, he grabbed Angus by the head, wrenched his head around, and she heard the awful sound of his neck snapping. She stared at Robbie.

  “I think ye have killed him,” she whispered.

  “Aye, he did.”

  Bethoc’s eyes widened even more when she looked toward the door. The laird stood there, flanked by two of his sons, one looking pale and bruised. He stared down at Angus who sprawled on the floor like a broken doll. Robbie stood tall and rubbed at his newly freed wrists.

  “I am so sorry, m’laird,” said Bethoc.

  “Better this way. And he gave ye no choice. He wanted to kill ye, that big fellow, and would probably have even killed the wee lass peering round him.”

  She spun around to stare horrified at Margaret. The little girl smiled, stepped out from behind Robbie, and held up a rope. Suddenly Bethoc knew what she had seen under the bed.

  “Margaret!” Even Bethoc could hear both a scold and relief in her voice.

  “Fix,” Margaret said, and looked at Robbie. “See? Fix.”

  “Aye,” Robbie said. “Ye did weel, lass.”

  “Ye had her help ye?”

  “Och, nay, ne’er thought of it. But I was struggling to get loose when I felt a wee hand slap mine out of the way and then she got to work. Couldnae say anything so just had to let her do it.” He frowned. “An odd skill in such a wee child.”

  “Aye. Allow me to show ye her favorite toy.”

  Robbie watched Bethoc go to a big chest, open it, and then pull out a length of rope. The rope had a line of knots on it. He looked down at Margaret who was doing an odd little hopping dance and clapping her hands as Bethoc walked back and waved the rope at Robbie.

  “How long has she been doing it?” Robbie asked, fascinated.

  “Since she discovered fingers were good for more than sucking on. She saw that rope knotted on your arms and couldnae have resisted nay matter what crazed fool was dancing through the house. She had to untie that knot. Isnae that right, Margaret?”

  The little girl grabbed the rope and yanked on it. “Mine.”

  “Say please.” Bethoc sighed as the child just kept pulling on the rope and glared at Robbie when he looked like he was about to laugh.

  Margaret got the rope, climbed up on Bethoc’s bed, smiled, and said, “Thank ye.”

  Bethoc just shook her head and smacked Robbie on the arm for laughing, but then noticed his shoulder was bleeding. “He stabbed ye?”

  “Early on. Right after he tied me up. Thinking he meant to do some more poking at me but he heard something. Dinnae ken what but he suddenly dashed outside. Obviously, he hid and watched until ye walked in.”

  “Weel, we need to see to that.”

  “The laird is leaving.”

  She gasped as she recalled what she had to tell the man and ran out the door. “Laird! I ken where the bairns are.”

  The man turned from the horse they had draped Angus’s body on and slowly walked back to her, so she said, “Again, I am so deeply sorry for what ye have had to suffer in all this.”

  He waved his hand to dismiss her condolences. “Ye saved me the hard task of signing the hanging order. What of the children?”

  “He said he took them to the next village and left them in the streets. I dinnae ken how old they are but he implied some might be too young to survive long.” He turned back to the horses and a moment later Keith, who still looked a little weak, rode off with Angus’s body while the other Keddies rode hard for the next village. “God’s speed,” she whispered.

  She turned back to the house only to stop at the doorway to look at the ones now walking up to the house. “Laurel,” she called, pleased to see the woman walking hand in hand with Magnus. “Weel met. How are ye?”

  “Verra weel.” Laurel stopped and Bethoc quickly hugged Magnus. “He was visiting with me for the day.”

  They walked into the house and Laurel stopped abruptly to stare at Robbie, who was sitting down and looking pained. Bethoc was about to say something when Laurel ran over to Robbie. As she scolded the man and studied the wound in his shoulder, Robbie sent Bethoc a little grin.

  It shocked Bethoc but as she watched Laurel tend his wound, she began to think his campaign to get her to notice him enough so he could woo her was working. It would be a slow, frustrating wooing, she suspected, but she also began to think Robbie knew exactly what he was stepping into. She then looked at Magnus who had gone to sit with Margaret.

  The boy looked happy. He also looked remarkably clean. The clothes he wore were far better than any he got from Kerr. Laurel was clearly treating him very well. Bethoc knew she had to let him go to the woman, let him have a good, loving family.

  “Bethoc!” cried Callum from outside, appearing a moment later in the doorway. “What has happened here?”

  “Sit and I will get some ale.” She looked at Robbie but he was keeping an eye on Laurel, using her diverted attention to send a big grin at Callum as the others walked in.

  By the time the men were all seated and Bethoc had served them ale, Laurel and Robbie were able to join them. Bethoc sat next to Callum and let Robbie tell the tale. She added very little to it. The whole thing made her sad. The laird was a good man, as was his whole family except for the one and that one had tainted so much that was good about the laird’s rule.

  “The mon was quite insane,” remarked Simon, shaking his head.

  “Aye, especially if he thought he could tie up our Robbie and all would be fine,” said Uven.

  Robbie smiled and there was a sly twist to it that told her he was about to tell them about Margaret. Bethoc had a moment of unease and then inwardly shrugged. None of these men had revealed any problem with the child so she would assume, until shown otherwise, that even this oddity would be accepted.

  She listened as he told his tale, and watched their faces. Laurel just laughed but the men looked stunned. When they all looked at her, she just shrugged.

  “Margaret likes undoing knots,” she said simply.

  “But sh
e is only two,” said Uven.

  “Actually, nearer to three now. I dinnae ken how or why she does it. I truly dinnae. All I ken is Robbie is free right now because Margaret cannae bear to leave a knot tied. I only just got her to stop untying gowns and boots. I will let her have her knotted rope.”

  “’Tis just that one always assumed it required a bit of skill yet she does it. Dinnae think that is supposed to be possible.” Callum smiled at Margaret. “Ye are a clever girl.”

  Margaret hurried over to Callum, climbed onto his lap, and presented him with her forehead. He laughed and kissed her. After a brief subtle look at Robbie and Laurel he glanced at Bethoc and winked.

  Bethoc had to admit it looked as if Robbie was not insane to think he had a chance and she suspected he was one who had a lot of patience, was more than willing to wait for what he wanted. She idly wondered if she should warn Laurel then inwardly shook her head. Robbie was a good man. Laurel deserved one of those. And, Bethoc thought, she deserved a little boy who clearly adored her.

  It was not until Laurel took her leave that Bethoc let her know her decision. She followed her friend outside and took her hands in hers. The wary look Laurel gave her told her she was expecting a no and Bethoc smiled.

  “Ye can collect up Magnus and his things tomorrow.”

  Surprise was Laurel’s first reaction and then she burst into tears. Bethoc took her into her arms and patted her on the back, not sure what to do. It was several minutes, and a silent dismissal of a glaring Robbie, before Laurel calmed down.

  Laurel wiped the tears from her face. “I dinnae ken why I did that. Mayhap because I have been so tense about this business. And, did Robbie come out here? I thought I heard him.”

  “Dinnae ken how. The mon walks as if all that is beneath his feet is clouds,” Bethoc grumbled.

  Laughing, Laurel nodded. “True. Are ye certain ’tis acceptable to ye?”

  “Aye. Magnus hasnae been one of my boys for years as the others have. I think he also needs more than being amongst a crowd vying for attention. I think ye need him too. And from all ye have told me of Yolanda, she would have wanted ye to have him.”

  “I will come by on the morrow then.”

  Bethoc stood and watched Laurel until she was out of sight. It pinched to let go of Magnus but she knew she was making the right decision. Now it was time to see to her own life. There might be some more changes to come and she needed to be ready for them. She also needed to stop hiding from the urge to take a chance, she decided, and walked back in to join the others.

  Callum smiled at her as she sat down next to him. Listened to her quietly tell Magnus he would live with Laurel and was pleased to hear no deep sadness or uncertainty behind her words. What he puzzled over was why she was so insistent that he know he could, and should, come back to visit Colin and Bean anytime he liked. Then he caught the look on Robbie’s face and smiled.

  She would be going with him to Whytemont, he was sure of it. Robbie would stay with the older boys and he wished his friend much luck. He was going to need a lot himself if he planned to keep Bethoc at Whytemont.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Whytemont was more than she had ever expected. It was not a towered castle like at Banuilt but it was not some simple fortified manor house, either. It was a bit of both, she decided, and was quite stunningly beautiful in its indecision. The walls enclosing it were thick and high but the gates were wide open.

  Callum could not mean for them to live in such an elegant place, she thought. She glanced down at her gown and winced. Laurel had insisted on giving her one for her entry into Whytemont and it was lovely, a soft gray with white lace at the sleeves, but it was still a very simple gown. The boys looked worse even in their cleanest clothes. She noticed they had gone very quiet as well. They were as suddenly intimidated as she was, she suspected.

  The only one undisturbed by such grandeur was Margaret. Bethoc had let the child ride in front of her for the last part of their journey. She stared at Whytemont and smiled at Callum. Bethoc could tell the child could not wait to get down off the horse and thoroughly explore the place.

  Once inside the bailey, Callum helped her and Margaret down from her horse, the white mare a gift from Callum he had had to work hard to get her to accept. The boys gathered around her as they waited for their baggage to be unpacked and the horses and cart taken away. Bethoc tried to ignore how everyone stared at her. The stares were not unkind, just curious, but she badly wanted to get away from them for she felt as if everyone was asking what a girl like her was doing with a man like Callum. Then a man and a woman came over, the man speaking kindly to the boys as the woman took her by the arm.

  Callum hurried over and put his arm around Bethoc’s shoulders. “Nay, Agnes, these people are with me. We will be needing a few guest rooms made up if ye would be so kind.”

  “Oh, m’laird, so sorry. I will see to it right away.” She frowned at the four boys. “Do ye want one for each lad?”

  “Nay. Just a bed for each and if ye have to split them up, mayhap it could be in rooms that are near to each other.”

  “And the wee lass?” Agnes reached for Margaret.

  Margaret wrapped herself in Bethoc’s skirts and growled.

  “Margaret, ye must cease growling at people. ’Tis rude.” Bethoc looked up to apologize to the woman, saw the laughter in her eyes and the tight press of her lips, and decided to just mutter, “Sorry.”

  It took clearing his throat before Callum could speak without laughing. “I will sort out something.” The moment Agnes and her husband, George, took the boys away, Callum crouched down in front of Margaret. “Ye must nay growl at people, Margaret. Ye are nay a dog. If ye dinnae like or want something just say nay.”

  Margaret nodded and moved to stand beside Bethoc and take her hand. Callum stood up and a heartbeat later a little girl with wild red curls raced up to him. She hugged his leg.

  “Da?”

  Bethoc felt a pain tear through her chest. The child had to be Margaret’s age. She wondered where the mother was and why Callum had never mentioned he had a daughter. Bethoc did not know what hurt most, that he had a child or that he had not told her. Or, even worse, he had brought her to a place where that child’s mother still lived.

  “Sorry, Callum,” said Uven as he rushed over and picked up the little girl. “She got away from me.”

  “Not to worry.” Callum kissed the girl’s cheek. “Shona? Would ye like to meet another girl? She is your age.”

  Callum carefully set the girl in front of Margaret. “Margaret, meet my niece Shona.”

  The two little girls just stared at each other until the little redhead pointed to herself. “Shona.”

  Not to be outdone, Margaret pointed to herself. “Mar-gar-et. Clever lass.”

  Turning around so the children could not see him, Callum quietly laughed. He sensed Bethoc come up beside him and smiled at her. She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.

  “That child is going to be trouble,” she said. “She just informed Shona that she is also a smart lass and a good lass.”

  “Is Shona impressed?”

  “Struck speechless, I think.”

  He laughed and took her by the hand. “We had best get inside.”

  With Uven’s help Bethoc got the girls inside. Callum showed them to a very nice room where they could wash up. She shooed Uven away as she washed the little girls then herself. As she brushed out Margaret’s hair she had to marvel at the quarters they had been shown to. It was a big bedchamber with a huge bed facing a huge fireplace. Rugs warmed the floor and heavy drapes cut the draft from the windows. There were two doors aside from the one she came in, one on each side of the room. A quick look told her one led to another bedchamber and one led to another room obviously used to do business in. That was when it hit her. Callum had had them taken to his quarters, to the laird’s own chambers.

  Bethoc was frozen with panic. She took deep, slow breaths in order to calm herself dow
n. She could not understand what the man was thinking. He was a laird, a fairly new and young one. His people had to be wondering what was happening. Their laird had placed a strange woman who arrived with five children into the laird’s own chambers. Bethoc knew what they all thought; that she was his mistress.

  Horrified by what he had inadvertently proclaimed to the people of Whytemont, it took Bethoc a long time to calm down enough to go face everyone in the great hall. As she led the little girls to the hall, she struggled to think of what she should say to him. She had no trouble being his lover, but she did not really wish their relationship to be so blatant, so well known by one and all. How could she face the people every day? How could she make a place for herself? And she did not think Callum would understand much of that worry.

  “I think your lady has realized ye have put her in your rooms,” said Uven when Bethoc entered the hall.

  “Ah, I cannae tell how she feels about it though.” Callum studied her face as she approached. “I will have to ask her after we eat and retire for the night.”

  “Oh, dinnae think ye will have to ask. Think she will be telling ye clearly as soon as may be.”

  That sounded ominous and Callum frowned at his cousin but then Bethoc and the girls arrived. He assisted her in settling the girls at a table with other children then escorted her to a seat next to his at the laird’s table. It was a quiet meal, almost too quiet, and it began to make Callum uneasy.

  Most of the people had left and the remains of the meal had been cleared away when a tall, thin man stepped up to the laird’s table. Relieved for something that might take his mind off why Bethoc was so quiet and what that meant for him, Callum smiled at the man. He had the feeling one of his strays was about to be leaving him.

  “Weel met, Thomas,” he said, and stood to shake the man’s hand. “What can I do for ye?” he asked as he retook his seat.

  “Me wife and I have taken a real liking to young Michael,” he said, the faintest of tremors in his voice the only thing revealing his unease.

  “Ye do ken what that means, aye?”

  “Aye, we do. We only have the one lass, ye ken, and there is nay much reason to think that we will be blessed with another child. Met young Michael and thought there be the answer. Like him, too. He is a good lad.”