Page 50 of To Charm a Highlander

Two days later,Donella reached over in the bed and felt the empty space.‘Twas no longer warm, which meant Callum had arisen a while before.

She thew off the covers and shivered as the cool air hit her skin.The early fall weather was making its presence known.

Quickly dressing, she pulled on warm stockings and leather shoes and left the room.She grabbed her wrap on the way out.

She found Callum pacing at the bottom of the stairs.He looked up and granted her an amazing smile.“Be careful coming down, lass.As much as I enjoy holding ye in my arms, I doona wish to repeat our first meeting.”

Donella reached the last step and Callum drew her close to his body.“Good morn, wife.”

“Good morn, husband.”

They grinned at each other and then he took her mouth in a toe-curling kiss.

“Enough of that, we must get ready for our meeting.”Haydon walked past them, nudging Callum in the arm.

“If ye wish to break yer fast before Fraser arrives, I suggest ye do it now,” Haydon said as he headed to the great hall.

“Is he close?”Donella asked.

“Aye, our rider returned about a quarter hour ago and said he and his party were about half an hour away.”

Donella and Callum took a seat at a table in the kitchen and ate bread and cheese and sipped on warmed ale.

“Riders have arrived.”The call echoed around the great hall and reached the kitchen.Callum stood and reached out for Donella’s hand.

Fingers linked, they walked to the great hall where Haydon stood, his hands behind his back, with Conall and Malcolm standing next to him, slightly back.

Callum studied her face with concern.“Mayhap ye should go to Ainslee’s solar and wait there in case this gets rough.”

“Nay.I want to look the mon in the face who tried to cheat my husband out of his due.”

With a great deal of flourish, the mon who Donella assumed was Lord Gunn walked into the great hall, three men behind him.He removed his helmet and pushed his hair back from his forehead.

Donella covered her mouth and her scream echoed around the keep.

Haydon, Callum and Conall all stared in her direction.

“What is it, lass?”Callum said, grasping her shoulders.

Without saying a word, Donella pulled herself free of Callum’s grip and raced forward, using all her weight to throw herself on the mon, taking him unaware, so they both tumbled to the ground.She began punching and hitting him as the tears ran down her face.

“I killed ye!!How can ye still be alive, ye bastard?”