Page 19 of My Scarred Laird

He took a tiny step forward, “Who are ye that ye care about the Laird when most couldna be bothered?”

She studied his eyes, trying hard to read them in the darkness of the hallway, the only light coming from the crack under Callum’s door.

“I am nobody.”

Callum snorted, “Ye are not nobody. Ta me, ye are my aingael.”

Hearing the Gaelic word for angel spill from his lips caused hers to part in shock.

She looked down at her hands, “Ye doona even ken who I am. How can ye call me an angel?”

Callum surprised her when he touched her chin gently, forcing her to look up at him.

“Because. In my years as Laird, and the years I have had pains, no’ once has anyone cared. Only my brother. He isna here ta help me, so I suffer alone. I never thought tha’ anyone would help me.”

Islay’s heart went out to the man, “Ye were in so much pain. I doona understand how anyone can ignore that.”

Callum seemed to study her, “They believe me ta be cursed.”

“Are ye?”

“Am I what lass?”

“Cursed? Like they say?”

“No. I’m no’. I doona have magic powers, and I canna hurt anyone. I’m no’ a demon as they say. I do honestly believe tha’ I am cursed ta live in this broken, scarred body. Tha’ is the hardest thing of all.”

She wanted to say more, but he pushed past her, going into his rooms and shutting his door behind him.

Why did that bother her? Why did it hurt her heart to know he believed himself broken?

After that, he seemed to disappear.

No matter how much she looked for him, he was nowhere to be found.

She didn’t hear the noises coming from his rooms, and she wished that she knew why.

But it was a mystery. Along with who the Laird was.

* * *

Over the next fortnight,she was no closer to finding out any more about the Laird.

It frustrated her. Callum seemed to avoid her at every turn, and she couldn’t figure out why.

She hated that he avoided her. Hoping she hadn’t done anything wrong.

She had seen him with the members of his clan, how he listened to each person with respect, and how he took care of their pains or suffering.

How he made certain that everyone had more than enough food, and that they all prospered.

She had even seen him helping a few of his warriors as they repaired a small hut that was just outside of the keep.

It had rained, and the roof had collapsed, causing the family to have to come to the keep for shelter.

The next morning, bright and early, Callum and his men were fixing the damage so that the family had their home back.

He even made certain the father had his wounds cared for, and that their small babe was comfortable while Roberta gave the mother some food.