It still amused him how hard she tried to fight him.
“I hope ye plan on pickin’ up that kindlin’ when ye are done.” Fiona glared at him as she stepped into the cabin with her raven on her shoulder.
Coming to his feet at once, Callum swept the mess aside with his boot. “Aye, I will feed the fire when I am done. Was there a letterfor me?” He placed the half-whittled snake on the table in front of him, along with the dirk, before dusting his hands together.
Nodding, Fiona came toward him with the note in her hands, passing it to him with a curious glance. “I hope it is good news.”
Callum fumbled slightly with the edges, almost dropping the note in his haste to read it. Relief flooded his body almost as soon as his eyes darted down the page.
Men are loyal. No need to meet at the stones. Awaiting your return.
Crumpling the piece of parchment in his fist, he tossed it over his shoulder and smiled at the healer. “We shall be takin’ our leave then, Fiona. I will write me reply and have yer raven send it, but then Eleanor and I should leave.”
“And just where are ye headed?” She narrowed her eyes at him and pursed her lips. “Callanish with yer bride-to-be?”
“Nae, there are men at Castle Fraser who remain loyal to their Laird. I shall ride home with Eleanor and settle her in. There is still a lot that remains to be done.” He pushed past her, heading toward the table of ink and parchment that housed the raven’s perch.
Fiona folded her arms as she turned to him, pursing her lips even further into an impossibly thin line. “And ye are sure that ye can trust every man at the castle?”
His hand froze above the rolls of parchment, recalling what had happened to his father. “Nae every man, but Iain, I can trust.” He shook off feelings of a bad omen and began to write out his carefully laid out plan for the man-at-arms of his castle.
It had been years since he had pushed the tragedy of his father’s death to the back of his mind, yet somehow, people seemed to remind him when he least expected it. His father had died after being betrayed by one of his very own bannermen. The scandal had shaken the clan, and Callum was not sure if they would ever recover from it, but he had made a way and forged ahead.
He stood with the letter in his hand, allowing the ink to dry before he handed it over. “I daenae ken who I can trust for the most part, but I would trust Iain with me life.” He held her gaze, noting the look of affection in the older woman’s eyes. She had been the castle healer for many years, but things had happened that neither of them could have foreseen.
Taking the note from him, Fiona began to roll it. “I am glad that I can count meself among the people ye can trust, me Laird. Just be certain that ye keep up yer guard.” She finished rolling the letter and attached it to her raven’s leg, giving him a piece of fruit from the table as a reward.
Ignoring her warning, Callum walked out the door in search of Eleanor. He found her by the horse, brushing out the mare’s coat with a brush that Fiona had provided. “Ready yer things, we are headed toward Castle Fraser. We should leave now if we are to arrive before nightfall.”
Eleanor stopped and looked at him with her mouth slightly agape. “Right now?”
Stopping beside her, Callum began to check the saddle. “Aye, that is what leavin’ now means.”
Bristling slightly, she glared at him. “Daenae take that tone with me, me Laird.” She continued to glare at him as Fiona came out of the cabin carrying a satchel.
“Are ye two already bickerin’ like an old married couple?” She smirked, handing the satchel over to Callum.
Eleanor blushed, looking away as she drew her lips into her mouth.
“There is food and wine in the satchel. It will keep ye both goin’ until ye reach the castle,” Fiona chuckled and reached into her cloak, retrieving the snake and dirk that Callum had placed on the table. “Now, I will be askin’ the two of ye to leave. It has been a pleasure to help, but I must admit that I miss me privacy. And a clean house.” She looked over her shoulder at the pile of wood chips still on her floor and sighed.
“Are we gettin’ another horse?” Eleanor seemed to panic as she looked from Callum to Fiona.
“Worried, are ye, lass?” Callum smirked, patting the back of the saddle.
“I…” she stammered, blushing again to his great enjoyment.
Her reaction made him chuckle under his breath as he placed his foot in the stirrup and swung the other over the saddle with ease. His ribs and arms still ached, but it was a little better than when he had first arrived at the cabin. Once he was firmly in the saddle, he looked down at her and smiled before winking. “Just remember, lass, I shall nae bite ye unless ye ask.”
Fiona laughed this time as she took her raven off her shoulder and lifted him above her head. A slight flick of her wrist had him flying away at incredible speed. She waited until he was a good distance off before turning back to Eleanor. “Daenae pick up any more men beside the road, lass. This one is trouble enough.” She thrust a thumb in Callum’s direction and shook her head before making her way into the house and slamming the door behind her.
Eleanor turned to him, her face almost defeated as she made her way toward the horse and placed her foot in the stirrup.
Holding out his arm, Callum offered her a hand, but she shook her head and climbed up on her own, positioning herself firmly behind his back.
“I am nae a bairn, me Laird, and may I remind ye who brought ye here in the first place? I can ride just as well as any man in Scotland.” She scoffed from behind him.
Smirking to himself, Callum lifted the reins and eased the horse forward, enjoying the way she bristled at every word. “Aye, those are strong words for a lass; we shall soon see about that.”
