Chapter 18 #2
Nerves flutter in my belly when I realize I need to face his parents again. But I’ll have Leith with me this time. I’m not alone.
Leith reaches over and scratches Bailey’s ears. “Good boy,” he says warmly. “Let’s get you in to see if a staff has a bone for you, eh?”
I pat Bailey’s head. He was a good and loyal friend today. He laps my hand and I kiss the top of his head. I turn to Leith, not trusting my voice, so I grab my phone on the dash.
Can he come and stay with us?
I’m presuming, I know. Presuming that I’ll be with Leith, that the two of us will be together in his home. He smiles and nods. “Of course, my bonnie lass,” he says. He kisses my cheek and tweaks a stray strand of hair. “Cairstina, I’ll give you anything you bloody want.”
I wiggle my eyebrows at him, and he breaks out into a massive grin. “Something tells me I may regret that,” he mutters.
I tuck my head and giggle, the tiniest sound escaping. I close my eyes and give thanks that I’m learning how to do this again. That I’ve overcome what I thought I never would. That I’m learning to be whole.
We go up the big steps that lead to the lodge hand in hand.
“Now, lass, don’t be nervous,” he says. “You left under bad conditions, and I understand. But you need to know that I’m behind you, that I support you in this.
Mum doesn’t blame you at all, she told me herself.
” His voice deepens. “And my father’s lucky he didn’t put his hands on you in front of me. ”
Still, my stomach’s in knots when we open the door and enter the house. His mum’s waiting for us in the entryway, wringing her hands.
“Oh, Leith,” she says, running to him. “Cairstina!” She throws her arms around both of us in an awkward hug, one of us on either side.
Leith gives her a quick hug, then stands back. “How is he?”
“He’s fine,” she says firmly, her eyes shining. “He never should’ve touched her and I feel terrible for my part in this, but the lass was only trying to look out for me.”
Leith puts a protective arm about my shoulders, holding me to his side.
“Where is he?”
My heart thumps in my chest at the look on his face. I would never want to be the one he was after when he looks like that.
“He’s up in bed,” Flora says gently. “The doctor says he’ll be alright, but he needs his rest. We’ve taken him to hospital, but he’s home now, and here he’ll stay.”
I hear the pain in both their voices, as if this night is a culmination of decades. And perhaps it is.
I reach for Flora, touching her arm. She looks to me, her pretty eyes just like her daughters’. “You aren’t to blame, Cairstina. My God, am I happy you came back.” She hugs me, and I close my eyes as she holds me. She doesn’t blame me for what happened. I’m happy to be back, too.
“We’ll go to him,” Leith says. “The two of us.”
Flora lets me go and looks pleadingly at Leith. “Och, Leith. Not now, son. Let him rest, and let’s get you fed, eh? The rest are in the dining room, eating dinner. You two must be starving.”
I nod, patting my belly, giving Leith a pointed look. His father will still be there after we’ve eaten, and I’ve questions I’d like answered myself.
He exhales a ragged breath, and runs his fingers through his hair, before he nods. “Aye. I’m bloody shattered, and so’s Cairstina.” He smiles shyly, his voice lowering so no one but Flora hears. “We had a miracle tonight, Mum.”
His eyes dance at me. I duck my head shyly, drawing closer to him as she waits.
“Cairstina called my name. It’s taken effort, but the lass has found her voice.”
“Oh my God!” Flora exclaims, clapping her hands with excitement as she reaches for my hand. “Did you, lass? I dinnae ken how it happened, and I won’t be forcing you to use it again, but I’m so pleased, lassie!”
Leith chuckles and lets me go so Flora can drag me back over to her and give me another hug.
She isn’t angry at me, then. Maybe she’s forgiven me for what I did.
She whispers in my ear, “I know you’re a sensitive soul and you’re likely blaming yourself for what happened, but you listen to me, wee lass, my husband had it coming to him and it’s damn near sobered him.
” She hugs me tighter. “And it’d be better you than Leith, for Leith would’ve killed him. ”
She says this oddly with a note of pride in her voice. I hear footsteps, and the next moment Paisley joins us.
“Mum, did Leith tell you, then? The Aitkens bastard came after Leith, and he’d have struck him if not for this brave lass who found her voice.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and don’t respond. Her pride makes my heart swell.
It’s an odd evening, as we soberly discuss Bram’s injury and quietly celebrate our small victories.
“We’ve much to discuss,” Leith says. “For now, I’ll pay Dad a visit.”
“No need, son.”
Bram’s voice comes from the doorway. I freeze, loathing the way my belly lurches and my heart smacks in my chest. All eyes go to the doorway, as Bram enters.
Flora stands, gripping the back of her chair, but he waves her off.
He's leaning heavily on a cane as he hobbles into the room, looking older than he ever has before.
His head is bandaged, and he looks as if he's in pain, but he's also determined to come in here and take a seat at the table.
Leith narrows his eyes on him, as Bram sits beside Tate.
“We need to have a talk, son,” Bram says. He looks to me, and nods. “I was wrong, lass. And for that I apologize.”
I don't know if I should believe him. Is he speaking sincerely, or is he trying to get something? I look to Leith, but his eyes are on his father.
“Aye,” Leith says, sitting up straighter. “We do need to have a talk.”
Bram winces at Leith’s sharp tone, and Nan pours herself another glass of wine. She sips it, her eyebrows raised heavenward, then places it back on the table.
“This ought to be interesting,” she mutters. I bite my lip to keep from smiling, but I don’t want to anger anyone. I’ve done enough.
“Today, when confronted by Jimmy Aitken, I was told you’d promised Paisley’s hand in marriage to their Clan.”
Flora gasps. “What?”
Bram frowns. “Make him prove it,” he growls, a bit of the old Bram returning. “Make him fucking prove it.”
Leith takes a sip from his water glass. “I will.”
“Tell me what happened today.”
“Bram, you should be in bed —”
We all watch him as he lifts his feeble hand to his mouth and slurps his soup.
“I was an arse,” he mutters. “I got angry at Cairstina when I thought she was spying. I was a bully. Cairstina pushed me away from Flora, and the Good Lord sought to punish me with this.” He points to his head and mutters, “And if any of you boys’d been around, it would’ve been a lot worse.
I’ve officially stepped down as Clan Captain already but still keep my hand in the pot, so to speak.
I dinnae ken how any of you can respect me after today.
” He looks to me, truly sorrowful this time. “I am very sorry, Cairstina.”
I nod, accepting his apology. I’m hesitant to speak in front of any of them.
“Let’s go over what happened today so we’re all kept abreast,” Leith says. He speaks loudly, his deep voice filling the large dining room, as all eyes come to him. My heart swells. He’s a leader, through and through, no matter what his father may have told him.
“We went into town to investigate what Lachlan told us. The men that Paisley had spent time with were set-up. They were not who they said they were. The place they resided at was abandoned, and we now found out that they were a set-up by the Aitkens. We’re partially to blame.
They suspect us in the death of one of their men. ”
Everyone mumbles to themselves, but Leith commands their attention by raising his hand for silence. They all quiet and look to him.
“I don’t regret what we did. I’d do it again. But today, one of our own was threatened by the Aitkens.”
Bram goes to open his mouth, but Leith shakes his head. “I’ve got this, Dad. You’ll listen to me now.”
Bram closes his mouth. He seems to be wrestling with this, but finally nods and keeps quiet. I squeeze Leith’s hand, letting him know he’s done well.
“Before Aitkens and I could settle things, he was picked up by his men and brought home. Not sure why.” Leith turns to Clyde. “You look into that and keep me abreast, will you?”
Clyde sits up proudly. “Aye, sir. Straight away.”
Leith nods. “Thank you.”
“Father MacGowen’s safe back at the parsonage, but I think we need to make sure that we’ve got a bodyguard with him.” He frowns. “These are dangerous times we’re in.”
He tells them about Dougal’s capture, and they listen in stoic silence. He tells them about finding Paisley in the boot, and how he plans on seeking retribution for their grievances against the Clan.
Mac frowns, and clears his throat. “I’ve an idea of how I can do that, Leith.”
“Do you?”
Mac nods. “Aye. We can fill the others in later, but mind if I speak to you privately after?”
Though his tone is jovial, his body language says otherwise. He’s gripping a table knife in one hand and a fork in the other, but I already recognize that determination in his eyes from Leith. Seems it’s an inherited family trait.
“Of course.” Leith faces the others. “Mac and I will make our plans. We’ll sort things out, and take the necessary steps to avenge our sister.”
“Avenge,” Paisley mutters, buttering a golden roll. “You act as if you’re the Knights of the bloody Round Table.”
“Direct descendants, though,” Leith says.
Paisley looks at him, her eyes wide. “No kidding?”
He breaks into a grin. “Of course I’m kidding.”
They laugh, and the staff pours more wine. Bram eats in silence, slowly, methodically. Flora pours him a glass of wine and hands him a buttered roll. It seems as if she’s forgiven him for what he’s done. I sigh to myself.
Relationships are complicated.
Bram finally looks over at me. “I’m told you can speak after all.”
I lift my head and clear my throat. It still takes monumental effort. “Aye.”