Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
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 setup by the Aitkens. We’re partially to blame. They suspect us in the death of one of their men.”