Page 3 of To Charm a Highlander

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The lass in his arms, Callum hurried up the stairs after one of the warriors to the first floor.A large mon thundered down the corridor, almost shaking the several hundred-year-old stone floor and wall loose.The size and presence of the mon had to be Laird Haydon Sutherland.“Christ’s toes, what the hell is going on?Who screamed?”

After glancing at Callum and the lass in his arms, he shouted, “Ainslee!”His roar bounced off the walls.

“I’m here, Haydon, no need to scare the animals in the stables with yer bellowing.I just heard a scream and came as fast as I could.”

“’Twould be helpful if someone can tell me where to lay the lass down and then send for a healer,” Callum shouted.

Haydon’s eyes narrowed.“Who the hell are ye and why are ye holding the bleeding lass?”

Ainslee, who must have been the laird’s wife, waved at her husband.“Stop, husband.Ye can see the lass is injured.”She turned to Callum with a slight lift of her chin.“Ye can bring her in here.”She turned and led the way.

Callum followed Lady Sutherland into a bedchamber a few doors down from where they stood.The laird followed them inside.Lady Sutherland whipped the bedcovers off in a flash.“Lay her down here.”

Once Callum had easily placed her on the bed, another woman carrying a basket came bustling into the room.“What happened to Donella?”

Three pairs of eyes fixed on him.The laird with a great deal of suspicion, Lady Sutherland with concern for the lass and the other woman with raised brows, obviously waiting for someone to tell them what had happened.

Callum cleared his throat.“I was leaving the keep—” he looked at the laird—“as I was ordered to do, and I heard a scream.The lass had slipped on the stone steps.She grabbed for the wall, but was unsuccessful and tumbled down, smacking her head on one of the stones.I was able to catch her before she landed on the floor to keep her from worse injures.”

The laird ran his hand down his face.“Are ye the Gunn Conall told to leave?”

He nodded.“Aye.”

“Wait for me downstairs in the great hall.Have one of the lasses bring ye some food and drink.”

The woman with a basket over her arm filled with cloths and jars moved past him and began to examine the lass.“Ainslee, ye will need to help me remove her clothes so she will be more comfortable.Plus, if she tumbled down the steps, she may have scraped herself in various places.”

Callum turned and left the bedchamber and headed downstairs.

He had no idea who the lass was, but apparently with the fuss being made, she must be a family member.Perhaps wife to one of the Sutherland men.

After taking a seat at one of the long tables, a serving lass came by and asked what he wanted.He asked for anything that was hot and was pleased to receive a warm bowl of fragrant stew and fresh bread and butter.A large glass of ale washed it all down quite nicely.

It felt good to merely sit in the room.There were several older men gathered in a corner.They appeared to be playing a few games.And drinking their ale.Most likely warriors too old to train and fight.

During the half an hour that passed while Callum watched the men, he glanced occasionally toward the stairs, waiting for the laird to come down and formally toss him out.At least he would leave with a full belly and quenched thirst.

He also spent time considering the poor lass upstairs.Hopefully she wasn’t badly injured, but head injuries could be dangerous.The sound of heavy footsteps drew his attention to the bottom of the stairs, as the laird moved toward him.The mon nodded at the lass clearing one of the tables.“An ale for me and one more for—” he hesitated, “—our guest.”He added, “Who isna staying.”

The laird remained silent for a few minutes until Callum was so edgy, he planned to just hop up and leave.Except he was concerned about the lass who fell.Finally, drawing on his strength and confidence as a mon and warrior, he said, “How is the lass?”

The Sutherland looked over at him.“I want to thank ye for saving my sister, Donella, from more serious injuries by catching her when she fell.If it were not for ye, I am sure we would be planning the lass’s funeral right now.”

Callum nodded.

“What was so important for ye to speak with me that ye went through giving up yer armor—except for the knife tucked into the belt behind ye, hidden by yer leine and jerkin?”

Callum was not surprised the laird kenned he’d kept one weapon on him.The Sutherland didn’t get the reputation he had by letting things like that slip.

He looked him in the eye and said, “I am offering my skills in exchange for a place in yer clan.“

The laird crossed his arms over his chest, looking both curious and skeptical.“And what skills would that be?”

“I am a warrior.I have been trained by the best, worked as one of two seconds-in-command to my da, Laird Gunn, acquitted myself in many battles, and trained others in my clan.”

Based on the laird’s expression, Callum had a feeling this was no’ going to get him a place in the clan.He should down the rest of his ale and be on his way.But one thing plagued him.“Ye dinna answer me before.How is the lass who fell down the stairs?”