“You’re prepared to pay a ransom?” Harkirk appeared surprised at the offer.
“For our brother, yes. But as for your other prisoners, you risk the wrath of their kinsmen by holding them captive.”
Harkirk signaled for one of his men to come forward. Hamish reached into the bag and withdrew a few of the silver coins for inspection. The servant eyed them then nodded to his overlord.
The English baron seemed to deliberate for several moments before replying, “Bring me Cairnross’s prisoner.”
Nairna was waiting inside the courtyard when they returned. Her heart soared with thankfulness when she saw Bram and, most of all, the man they’d brought home with them. She didn’t doubt it was Callum MacKinloch, for the man held the look of his brothers, despite his captivity. Yet he was different from Bram. Though he walked with a slight limp, it was the emptiness in his gaze that worried her.
Nairna rushed forward to Bram, but he made no move to greet her. His expression was angry and all he would say was, “Pack our belongings. We’re leaving immediately.”
She couldn’t understand what was the matter. He’d rescued Callum, hadn’t he? “What’s wrong?”
Bram kept walking, and she struggled to keep up with his pace. Nairna saw Callum enter the keep, leaning upon Alex for support.
“Wait for me,” she begged and ordered one of the serving maids to bring food and fresh clothing to Bram’s brother.
In the meantime, her husband had already disappeared into their chamber. When Nairna arrived, he was pacing across the floor.
“What is it?” She couldn’t understand what had brought about his frustration.
“It was too simple, Nairna. I don’t trust them.”
“Are you angry about the coins I sent with my father?” she asked, her face reddening. “Did he have to use them?”
“He paid the ransom, aye. But when they learn that the money at the bottom is false, they’ll—“
“The top layer wasn’t false,” she admitted. “Only the remainder. It’s still worth a man’s life.”
Bram took a breath, leaning his hand against the wall. “I pray they don’t find out until we’re gone.”
She saw the immense guilt mingled with his confusion and frustration. Though she’d hoped that Callum’s safe return would alleviate her husband’s guilt, it didn’t seem to have made a difference.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they attack us on our way back to Glen Arrin,” he said. “We’ll leave at nightfall, when it’s more difficult for them to track our path.”
He didn’t feel safe, she understood. Not even here, among her father’s men. “All right,” she said softly. “We’ll go tonight.”
Nairna moved closer, sliding her arms around him. “Something else is troubling you.” Whether he wanted her or not, she needed to offer him some form of comfort.
“Callum hasn’t spoken once, not since we left Harkirk’s fortress.” Bram drew her tightly against him, his hand clutching her hair. “Not a word. It was as if he didn’t know us.”
“That will change when he’s home,” Nairna predicted. “You’ll see.”
“I left him there too long.”
While she held Bram, the burden of guilt pressed down on him so hard that she wished she could shoulder it for him. “He’ll heal. Give it time.”
But he let go of her, his face growing stoic. “I hope so.” He walked to the door, and reminded her, “Prepare our belongings. I’m going to see my brother now.”
He didn’t wait for a reply but closed the door behind him. A hard lump formed in her throat, but Nairna knew she could do nothing more. Bram had returned home to her unharmed, with his brother safe, and that was everything she’d prayed for. Yet, as she waited alone in her chamber, she feared that the demons of her husband’s past were not at all gone.
They didn’t stop to sleep on the journey home, nor did they take more than a few minutes to rest or eat. Nairna thought her legs would drop off from the grueling pace, but the men were convinced that Harkirk would follow them. She’d nearly fallen asleep on horseback, once they’d reached the area surrounding Glen Arrin.
Tall green mountains rose up, while a light rain fell down upon them. Rivulets of water creased the mountains, while fir trees skirted the lower hills. Nairna’s clothing was completely soaked, but she hardly cared anymore. It had done nothing but rain since they’d left.
Bram hadn’t spoken to her in that time, either, staying near Callum. Now that it was daylight, she took a moment to study the young man. With long dark hair and a bearded face that hid his features, he looked a great deal like his brothers. It was only the emptiness in his expression that made her understand that he had endured far more than Bram. Though she’d sent fresh clothing to Callum, he still wore the stained, ill-fitting clothing that he’d worn during the years of his imprisonment.
When she’d tried to question why he’d refused the clothing, Bram wouldn’t answer. He’d ignored her attempts at conversation, spending all of his time at Callum’s side.
