“We both know Chattan will have no further use for me. And we both know I will not be joining you on your journey to retrieve Lady Annabella.” Though he looked worn out, clearly his father’s mind was as sharp as ever.
“If Chattan wishes to do you any harm, he will have to come through me.”
“I am an old man, Angus. I have lived a full life and I only seek now to atone for my sins. If I am granted more time in this world, I will spend it on Iona praying for my soul.”
“You have many more years in this world, Father. And I will see to it that all of your remaining days will be spent in the comfort of your own home or wherever else it is you wish to be.”
“You have served your clan well, my son. I am proud to hand the lairdship and all land and title over to you. You are strong and brave, and worthy of it all.”
Angus had longed to hear these words from his father for many years. But he would not wish his father back in the form of the man who had been capable of ordering such cruelty upon innocents. At least his father was alive, and well enough to realize his errors and beg forgiveness. Angus admired that greatly. He would do everything in his power to live up to the honour of being called Lord of the Isles, and what that meant to the people who lived on Islay, Iona, Mull, Jura, and all of the Inner Hebrides.
Angus’s father turned his head to the left just as Angus heard a low sound coming from outside. He waited a few moments to be sure, then a second sound joined it, and then a third. Angus would know that sound anywhere. His men had come, and were outside at this moment plotting a way to rescue them.
He wished there was some way he could know immediately if Annabella had made it safely to them. The howling outside grew, and Angus could detect at least six different bays. He should know—he had trained all of them. He could tell right away that Graham, Neville, Stephen, Robert, and Geoffrey were among them.
Probably Iain, too.
Angus looked at the Cameron clansmen inside the cottage and watched them pass glances among themselves. When not gauging their response, he kept his eyes downcast so as to give nothing away.
The howling grew louder still. The men inside the cabin shuffled and place their hands on their swords, obviously feeling very uncomfortable with the idea of being surrounded by a pack of wolves. It was almost funny.
The door opened and one of the Camerons entered. “Do you hear that?” he asked. “There must be a dozen or more wolves out there.”
“Take a couple of men and go and slit their throats,” one of the men inside said. “The men are spooked and all want to come inside the cabin. If you want them to go hunting wolves this night, you go ask them.”
“I have no intention of hunting wolves. I did not want to enter into any agreement with this Chattan in the first place, but you insisted and assured me that this would cause little trouble and yield a great reward.”
“I did not know it was the McDonald he wanted. Had I known that, I would have never agreed to his proposal.”
“Then you are more daft than I ever thought you were. I plan to take my men and leave here before Chattan returns.”
“‘Tis unlikely Chattan will return, if the rumours are true.”
“What rumours?”
“That MacIntosh has heard of his escape and hunts for him, to satisfy his vengeance.”
Angus kept his gaze downward and tried to gather all of the information he could, though it was difficult as the men were practically whispering. Perhaps he didn’t need to do anything besides wait, and mayhap the Camerons would leave. “I say we leave now before Chattan returns, and let these men deal with him on their own.”
The other man turned towards Angus. “If we leave you, do you swear not to retaliate for this mistake?”
Angus wondered if it was that simple. Their clans had been feuding for centuries.
Surely there would be an excuse for them in the future to engage in another great conflict. But he had to admit he was impressed that they realized holding him and his father was not lucrative or sensible.
“Aye, I swear I will not hunt you down like the dogs that you are, if you leave here right now.”
“I do not need any more encouragement than that. Farewell, McDonald. I sincerely hope I do not ever see your face again.” With that, the men gathered up and went outside.
Before long, the howling died down and the Camerons were gone. Angus looked at his father to gauge his reaction to what had just transpired.
“You displayed the appearance of forgiveness, Angus. Will you follow through? Or will you do as your forefathers have mistakenly done before you and retaliate at first chance?”
Angus didn’t have to think twice about it. He couldn't care less if he ever saw them again during his life. All he was concerned with right now was ensuring that his father and Annabella were safe. He did not have to wait long. Moments later, the door opened, revealing Graham and his clansmen, followed closely by Iain and Annabella. The smile on her face took his breath away.
Angus’s clansmen all rallied around his father, revelling in his safe return. All Angus could process was her.
“We must leave here before Chattan returns,” his father said.
