Page 51 of To Charm a Highlander

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Callum raced to Donella, pulling her up.He wrapped his arm around his squirming, fidgeting wife’s waist and held her as she screamed, kicked, and attempted to fling herself from her husband.He could barely speak, his words roughened by the dryness in his throat.“Fraser is the one who kidnapped ye?”

He turned at the sound of Haydon, Conall, and Malcolm drawing their swords.He walked back with a sobbing Donella and pulled her tight against his chest.

His heart thundered and he felt as if he would bring up the small breakfast they’d just eaten.Fraser was the mon who kidnapped Donella, violated her, beat her, and then was supposedly stabbed to death?He shook his head.The things he’d heard in the last few days were enough to bring him to his knees.

Haydon placed his hand in front of Conall as he moved forward, his sword raised.“Halt!”He nodded to two warriors who had been inside the keep.“Get their swords.”

Apparently realizing he was definitely outnumbered and in danger, Fraser did nothing as one of the warriors took his sword.The three other men with him lost their swords as well.

Haydon looked as white-faced as Callum felt.Conall dinna appear much better.

“What is this, Sutherland?Who is this lass and why is she screeching like a banshee?”Fraser said, his hands on his hips.“And I doona ken why ye would take our swords.I thought this was to be a meeting, not a capture.Are ye declaring war against the Gunns?”He pointed at Callum.“So this is where ye ended up, traitor.”

Callum handed off Donella to Malcolm and stepped forward.“Ye kenned I was here,brother, and doona try to deny it.”

He tried verra hard not to run his brother through but managed to hold onto his temper.“Years ago, my wife, Lady Donella Sutherland was kidnapped and held for a mon’s pleasure for three days before she escaped.The mon was ne’er found and she now says the mon was ye.”

Fraser waved his hand.“Do no’ be ridiculous.I ne’er saw the lass before in my life.Besides which, she’s screaming that she killed whoever that mon was.”He straightened his shoulders and held out his hands.“Think ye I look dead?”

Callum ran his hand down his face.He’d promised himself if they ever found the mon who’d done that damage to Donella, he would tear him apart piece by piece.Now he was looking at his own brother who was being accused, and yet Donella still claimed that she had killed her captor.

He'd ne’er been so shaken and twisted into knots in his life.

“Take them to one of the empty bedchambers,” Haydon barked at the warriors holding the Gunn men.He nodded at Callum.“Bring yer wife upstairs and have Ainslee calm her.Then meet us at the dais.”

Callum left with a shaking Donella on his arm.She kept insisting, “I killed him.I ken I killed him.I stabbed him in the chest with his own knife.”

He hated the idea of leaving her with Ainslee, but the entire thing was such a mess he was grateful to follow Haydon’s instructions because his brain seemed to have frozen.This was no’ like a battlefield.That he could handle with his eyes closed.

This was betrayal, lies, mistrust, abuse… He couldn’t get his thoughts together, but now his main concern had to be Donella.They reached Ainslee’s solar, and Callum knocked and was bid enter.

“God’s toes, what the devil is going on down there?”Ainslee put aside mending she was working on.Maura sat alongside her, mending also crushed in her hands.Both women were white as ghosts.

Callum swiped his hand over his face.“To tell ye the truth, my lady, I’m no’ sure.The laird wishes Donella to stay up here with ye right now.”

Donella pulled away from him.“I doona understand, Callum.I killed him.I ken I did.”Her entire body continued to shake.

He was torn.He really hated leaving her in this state, but he was needed downstairs.If it was his brother who had done that damage to a young Donella, Callum would indeed take him apart piece by piece.If Haydon and Conall hadn’t done so before he returned.

He gave her one more hug and looked over her head at Ainslee.“Take care of her.Send for a warm mug of ale, or a glass of whisky.I will be back as soon as I can.”With a soft, yet passionate kiss, he strode from the room and returned to the great hall.

Feeling a tad sturdier since he’d had time to digest all that had happened a few minutes ago, he joined his family.

Seated at the dais, Haydon, Conall, and Malcolm huddled together, speaking in soft voices.They looked up as Callum joined them.

“How is Donella?”Haydon asked.

“Upset, shaky, but in good hands with Ainslee and Maura.”

He nodded and said, “After we eat, I want to continue this in my solar.Since we are dealing with the Gunn Laird, and so far we have proof of nothing, I willna toss him into the dungeon or otherwise treat him with disrespect.”

He held up his hand as Callum started to speak, enraged that Haydon would forget what Donella had accused Fraser.

“I ken what yer thinking, Callum, but Donella insists she killed the mon who took her.With her saying that, we have to go slow with accusing yer brother of that crime.”

After giving instructions to one of the serving lasses to bring food and drink to Gunn and his men, the four Sutherlands ate their meal with quiet and solemness.