Page 56 of My Scarred Laird

Callum shook his head, “I doona care lass. They doona need me ta be angry with them. They need me ta be their Laird tha’ helps them live a stable life.”

“But I hate tha’ the treat ye so.”

“It hasna changed since I became laird, and I doubt it will.”

She nodded, wishing it would change.

He cupped her face, “Doona stress over this. They will come around, or they willna. I care no’. I care for those who care for me. Tha’s all I can do.”

She smiled, and then turned to the men, “Have ye figured out his cipher yet?”

The men shook their heads, “No’ yet. But we will.”

She smiled bigger, and then left them to their devices, making sure everything was ready for dinner.

After they were done eating, Callum took her upstairs, where a bath waited for her in his solar.

He undressed her, then undressed himself as he lifted her into the tub and after washing her, he made love to her slowly with the water splashing all around them.

When she was sated, he lifted her from the tub, and dried her off before laying down with her in his arms.

He told her how much he loved her as she slipped of to sleep.

CHAPTER7

CALLUM

Three days before his wedding, his allies, Tague MacGregor, Tavish MacKinnon, and Malcolm Alasdair, came for the wedding.

Tague was as angry as always, annoyed that he had to leave his keep to come to a wedding, but his older sister forced him to.

Tavish and his mother, Lillian, were graceful as always and Malcolm came alone, with just a handful of his soldiers at his side.

Callum was grateful they all showed up, and each greeted Islay with kisses on the back of her hand and kind words.

Though Tague’s words were clipped, and Malcolm only said two words to her.

Callum was still no closer to finding out the cipher from Angus, and after sending a man to watch the McGavin keep, was left with nothing.

Neither man was to be found at the keep. It frustrated Callum to no end, and he showed his allies.

Tague was pissed that McGavin would try to take even more land from those that it was given to by the king, and Tavish sat back, his eyes shrewd as he said, “If it comes to war, we best have each other’s backs, or McGavin will be tae strong ta stop.”

Malcolm grunted, “He is already tae strong as it is.”

Tavish nodded, “He isna a good man. And if he has his sights set on your woman? I would worry Callum.”

Callum growled, “He willna touch her.”

He prayed it would be so, but little did he know that sometimes praying could only go so far.

* * *

THE NEXT DAY

One of the soldiers on the wall cried out that they had a visitor and Callum walked out to the bailey to see a lone horse and two people astride it.

When they got closer, Callum was shocked to see Culloden holding a girl close to his chest, his face nuzzling into her hair every so often.