Page 43 of Highlander's Rebellious Affair
“She escaped and I found her hidin’,” he replied her, then touched her arm as they entered the chamber. Rhea gasped when she saw Hope lying on the bed unconscious, and she lifted her shaky gaze to Ian’s. “I need to bring Orlaith here to treat her, I want her to have the best.”
“I will send word to Callum,” Rhea said immediately, and Ian stopped her.
“I think Callum has betrayed us,” he voiced his concern just as the Castle’s healer came in, bowed to him and walked over to the bed to begin treating Hope. “I will go get Orlaith myself,” he said to her. “I need ye to stay here with Hope, and the servant who helped her escape, she is being treated in another chamber as we speak.”
“Aye,” Rhea replied, and Ian nodded before walking out of the room.
He strode out of the Castle in quick steps again, aware that the spies loitering around would have sent word to Lyall about Hope’s return. He didn’t care what his uncle would do next, he was ready to fight to keep Hope safe and if that meant losing a man he trusted with his life, then so be it.
As he rode to Callum, he thought of his friendship with the man, and how much his betrayal hurt.How much has he told Lyall about our plans? Why would he do this? Why would he betray me? Or was he never on our side?
He didn’t know what to assume or believe anymore. A part of him hoped what the servant with Hope said was false and they were mistaken, because he couldn’t imagine Callum betraying him, but as he approached the cottage where his friend lived, the sinking feeling in his gut doubled.
Ian found Callum pacing his front yard as he dismounted his horse, and walked over to him with long strides. Callum turned to him, and Ian crossed his hands at his back and stopped when he got to him.
“Any news on yer wife?” Callum asked, and Ian fought the urge to throw his fist into his face. How could Callum stand before him and pretend like he hadn’t betrayed him and caused his wife harm? Where was his loyalty?
“Aye,” Ian replied and saw the shock that flashed in his eyes. “I found her, scared and runnin’ from Lyall’s men on the plains, and I have taken her back to the Castle.”
“Thank goodness,” Callum breathed out, sounding relieved, and Ian’s hands moved to his sword sheathed by his side. He cocked a brow when the door opened, and Orlaith came out of the house holding a basket.
“I have come for Orlaith, she needs to treat Hope as she is the best healer I ken off.”
“All right,” Callum said and was about to turn around when Ian asked.
“Why did ye betray me?” Ian saw him tense, and he slowly turned back to face him. “Hope came to seek help with ye, and she saw ye order Lyall’s men to find her and bring her to ye.”
“Ian–” Callum began, but Ian shook his head. His throat tightened and anger surged through him. He felt sick, just looking at Callum and he wondered how his father had trusted this man all these years.What if he had also betrayed my faither?
Callum dropped to his knees, and bowed. “I am loyal only to ye Ian,” he said in an attempt to plead. “I have been a loyal friend of yer faither’s and ye for years now, and my loyalty hasnae shifted.”
“Then why did ye betray me?”
Callum hesitated. He raised his head, and Ian saw a scared look in his eyes. It softened him a bit, and Callum said. “A man came here, and threatened to kill my wife and bairn if I dinnae help him get yer wife.”
Callum swallowed, and he bowed his head again. “Ye have to believe me, Ian. They took my bairn and returned her to me only when I helped them take Hope. I dinnae ken where they took her, or what they did to her. Ye have to believe me, Ian.”
“Ye betrayed me. Why should I trust ye? The only reason why ye are still before me is because I honored the friendship we shared, but ye betrayed that.”
Ian’s voice resonated the betrayal he felt, and he didn’t think he could believe Callum’s words. “I almost lost my wife because of ye,” he growled, and Callum pleaded again.
“Then let me prove to ye that I am on yer side. Allow me to prove my loyalty to ye one more time, Ian.”
“It is nay necessary,” Ian replied as his jaw tightened. “I am here for Orlaith, and I dinnae want to ever hear from ye again,” he said and walked past him to where Orlaith stood on the front porch watching them quietly.
When he got to her, she stared deep into his eyes, and asked, “Is Hope all right?”
Ian shook his head, unable to speak for a moment. “She needs ye,” he finally said and Orlaith nodded. Minutes later, they rode away from Callum’s cottage without glancing back.
* * *
The next day at the Castle, Ian paced the chamber where Hope slept and watched as Orlaith forced broth through her lips, then wipe her forehead with a damp cloth.
“What do ye need me to do? I need to do somethin’,” he said to Orlaith who was now focused on wiping off the ointment she had applied to Hope’s bruised feet earlier. She applied another, then sighed and rose from the bed.
“It is another night, and she is yet to wake up. What is going on?” he asked in a concerned voice, and Orlaith gave him a weak smile.
“She is getting better, I can tell, but we need to give her time to gather the strength to wake up.”
