“Nay, that was just rude.” She ignored him when he laughed.
“That if I dinnae hear from him in a fortnight, the men who wish to hurt Cathan will still live.”
“Oh. And he will probably be dead. Aye?”
“Aye, but I suspicion we soon hear that young Cathan is free.” He took her by the hand.
“And then ye will let them take him home?”
“Then we shall see what Cathan wants to do,” he said and she nodded. “Now let me get ye back to your bed. Ye are beginning to look weary.”
She felt it too so did not argue. It would be good when Cathan was no longer in danger but she hoped he would ask to stay. In such a short time with them, he already felt like part of her family. Men fostered their sons out all the time. They would just offer to foster Cathan, she thought, and inwardly nodded, pleased she had that settled. Now all she had to do was get her own life settled, she thought with a peek at Callum. Unfortunately, she knew it would not be so easy.
Chapter Nineteen
“Are ye sure about this, Callum?”
“Verra sure. Ye are healed, we got word that the kinsman responsible for trying to kill Cathan is quite thoroughly dead as are several of those who worked with him. They even sent Tippy back to Cathan. Ye need to speak with a Murray, Bethoc. Payton said Gillyanne might be visiting too. Ye can learn a lot about your gift.”
Bethoc smothered a sigh as she rode beside him through the streets of the town with Margaret settled comfortably in front of her. She was not sure why he thought she needed to learn about her gift. It was something she had always had and she understood it as well as anyone could. She also usually had enough sense to not tell anyone about it. Something she had slowly learned, especially when she had spoken so freely about it in front of him and Uven, but Kerr’s horrified reaction had started her on the path of caution. Uven and Callum had had good reactions but had told her quite clearly that that was decidedly unusual.
She glanced at Callum and started worrying again, just as she had consistently since her stitches had been taken out. That had been almost three weeks ago and he still had not made love to her. Bethoc was increasingly afraid he had lost all desire for her. She knew it could be that his hesitation was all due to her being stabbed but that excuse did not hold back the hurt any longer. There was only one other reason for him to not make love to her. He was done with her but did not know how to say so.
It was the hardest thing she thought she had ever done but she pushed that unhappiness aside as they halted before a big town house. It had a surprisingly large piece of land around it. She would find out whatever Callum felt she needed to know about what he called her gift and then they could go back to Whytemont via her home so that she could see Colin and Bean and perhaps even Robbie and Laurel.
Margaret patted her hands and Bethoc suspected she was clenching them. Her body had gotten taut as well. Bethoc took a couple of deep breaths and let them out slowly. It helped only a little as Callum came to help her and Margaret down. He took her by the hand and led her up to the door only to have it open before he knocked. A young man stood there grinning at him.
“Jesu, David, cease growing,” said Callum as the two hugged.
He laughed then turned to look at her and Margaret. Callum took Bethoc by the hand and brought her closer. “This is David. He was one of us rescued by Kirstie and is now Payton’s man, Strong Ian’s and his wife, Wee Alice’s son. David, this is Bethoc Matheson and her sister, Margaret.”
Bethoc shook the young man’s hand and watched as he shook Margaret’s hand, delighting her with the adult treatment. Then they were escorted inside. She was impressed. It was not overtly rich but it was elegant. When they entered the great hall all of her nervousness returned.
The man at the head of the table stood up, his reddish-gold hair gleaming. There was interest in his golden-brown eyes and she had an urge to hit Callum for not telling her what the man looked like. The other man who rose was also breathtaking, big, blond, blue-eyed, and harshly handsome. The two women were a definite contrast. The one next to the man at the head of the table was of a build like hers, slender and short, but she had thick black hair and gray eyes. The other had hair that was a reddish brown and eyes that did not match. She, too, was a small woman, made to look even smaller by the size of the man beside her.
Introductions came next and Bethoc began to relax. Gillyanne was the one with the large, blond husband and she knew that that woman was the one Callum felt could tell her the most about her strange skill. Then she met Payton and his wife, Kirstie. She could see where Callum got his strength and wished she could openly thank the man for all he had done for Callum the boy. The way they all greeted Margaret in much the same way they did Callum pleased her almost as much as it did Margaret.
Once food was served, she listened as Callum told Payton all that had happened to him. Gillyanne hurried to Callum’s side and insisted on checking on his leg. Before she did so, she looked at Bethoc. Bethoc readily nodded for she still worried she had committed some error, that Callum might not be telling her about some ache or pain he had.
“’Tis fully healed,” said Gillyanne, smiling at Bethoc as she stood up. “Ye did a fine job.”
“I told ye it was fine,” said Callum.
“Aye, but ’tis good to have it confirmed as men can be, weel shy about admitting something hurts.”
“Och, I always tell Gillyanne when something hurts,” Connor said, then shrugged when everyone looked at him. “Why shouldnae I? She fixes it. Of course, I whisper it and only when we are alone.”
Bethoc joined the other women in laughing. A few moments later, Gillyanne stood and gently encouraged the women to come with her. Although uneasy, Bethoc collected Margaret and followed Gillyanne and Kirstie into the gardens. Margaret pulled free of her hand to explore and then she sat on a bench next to Kirstie. It was then that Bethoc suddenly realized the woman was with child.
“Oh, Lady Kirstie, congratulations,” she said.
Kirstie smoothed down her gown, which made the rounding of her stomach even more noticeable. “Our last, I am thinking. I am also praying it will be a girl.”
It was faint but Bethoc could smell lavender. She had discovered that, if a woman was with child, a scent of lavender meant a girl. It was difficult to say nothing, but she kept quiet. This might not be the right time to reveal herself.
“What is it, Bethoc?” asked Gillyanne.
“’Tis naught. Really.”
