Page 49 of To Charm a Highlander

“Nay.”Callum continued his pacing.“However, it was right after that when things changed between Fraser and me.We no longer played together, and he was put into sword training.Since I was younger, I was not.Shortly after that, he was sent to Mackay to train under their laird.”

Donella turned to Haydon.“Is Callum truly the rightful heir of Clan Gunn?”

“Aye.”Haydon was now the one running his fingers through his hair.“It seems he is.The question is, does Fraser ken this?”He nodded at Callum.”In my opinion, I think he does which would explain why he accused ye of causing yer da’s death and then banning ye.”

“I always wondered what the reason was for doing such a thing,” Malcolm said.

Callum leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest.With all he’d heard that morning, and then remembering things from his childhood, he’d spent the ride back to the castle going back and forth between anger and an odd sort of pity for his brother.

“Since ‘tis almost certes that yer brother kens, how did he find out?”Malcolm asked.

Callum shook his head.“I’m no’ sure.When we returned home, I remembered us going to Mam and telling her about our adventure.Since it meant nothing then, I now realize she seemed quite nervous, and spent a great deal of time asking us questions about our visit.Then she forbade us from e’er going to see the woman again.”

The room grew quiet, until finally Haydon said, “‘Tis yer right to hold the title Laird of Gunn.‘Tis also yer right to take over the castle and rule the clan by whatever means.”

Callum puffed out a breath and looked at the ceiling.“However, one little thing we are missing.I pledged my loyalty to ye, Haydon, and married my wife in Sutherland plaid.”

“Aye, ye did, but ye dinna ken what ye ken now.”

He was so mixed up he felt as if his insides were twisted in knots.He now kenned why his brother did what he did by accusing him and then using that as an excuse to ban him.He must have feared he would somehow discover their mam’s secret.

“You mentioned that yer relationship with yer brother turned when ye told yer mam the story about your visit with Old Marta.That makes me think that afterward yer mam told Fraser the truth and encouraged him to continue to think of himself as the future laird and suggested he break from ye in case he slipped and told ye the truth.”

“How long since yer mam passed?”Maura asked.

“Ten years or so.”

The room grew silent once again.Then Conall looked at Haydon.“What is to be done?”

Haydon looked at Callum.“’Tis yer decision.Ye are the rightful Laird of Gunn.We support whatever decision ye make.However, I suggest we confront The Gunn with this information and hear what he has to say about it.”

Callum thought about the problem.He was happy here, as was his wife.He was ne’er one to crave leadership.That, mayhap had to do with the fact that he’d always kenned he would be his brother’s second-in-command and would only become laird if his brother passed before he did.

No’ only had his mam cheated him out of his rightful position, Fraser had set him up, and then banned from the clan to assure his position.

He looked over at Donella, his beautiful and loving wife.Anger built when he thought about how the mon had tried to snatch Donella away from him by asking Haydon to consider marriage arrangements between him and his wife.After the scuffle in the alehouse, Fraser had to ken that Callum was living here and courting Donella.

‘Twas quite sad to realize how verra much his brother hated him.

“There is no way I can live peacefully with myself if I let Fraser get away with this.I am the rightful Laird of Gunn and ‘tis time I stepped up and took my proper place.”

Haydon nodded at him.“I agree.Now we must decide how to handle it.I prefer no’ to wage war on the Gunn, but if it comes to that, we stand behind ye.”

Callum returned to his seat and wrapped his arm around Donella and pulled her close to him.“What think ye, wife?”

“Whatever ye wish to do.I am with Haydon, that ye should claim yer proper place.”

“I believe ‘tis best to invite Fraser here for a meeting.Maybe have Old Marta present to repeat her story in front of him.I doona want him to ken what is on my mind until he arrives since I have no idea what he will do if he finds out before he comes.”

Haydon nodded.“I will send a missive to the mon asking him to come for a meeting here.I won’t say it, but make it sound like a border issue.”

“Aye, ‘tis better to have him here at Dornoch before I confront him.”

“I shall send a mon out with the message now and suggest a meeting in two days.I doona want to give him too much time to consider why I’m asking, since I turned down his request for a betrothal between him and Donella,” Haydon said as he stood, indicating the meeting had come to an end.

Callum, Malcolm and Conall headed to the lists to put in a few hours before they stopped for the day.Right now he needed the exercise to work off his anger and resentment.

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