The leader’s piercing blue eyes flashed menacingly as he smirked at Andrew. “Do ye really nae recognize me, Laird Fraser?” He dragged out the last two words as if he were spitting venom. He ran his filthy fingers through his mop of red curls that matched the stubble on his chin.
Callum narrowed his eyes, looking from the scars across the man’s cheek to the torn and tatty clothes. He carried himself with dignity and pride, yet his clothes suggested that he was no man of means.
“Nae, state who ye are and have done with yer plan,” Callum growled, growing tired of the game.
The man’s sneer only widened as his eyes once again flashed. “I wouldnae have expected ye to remember me. Why would such an important Laird as yerself ever recall someone who is beneath him? But then again, we were just bairns ourselves.” His voice grew darker with every word.
Racking his brain as far back as he could, Callum struggled to place the man in his past. He was almost certain that he was mistaken somehow, but there was an air of familiarity about the man’s figure. The pit of his stomach churned with unease as he adjusted his footing and kept a firm grip on his blade.
Shaking his head, the man began to laugh, a nasty, futureless sound that only worsened the dislike gnawing at Callum. “Me name is Donald Kincaid, but ye may know me as Donald Stewart.”
Realisation dawned on Callum as his eyes grew wider and his breathing deepened. Why had he not made the connection before? The palms of his hands began to itch as he pieced everything together. Donald Stewart was the man who had signed all the deeds, but Stewart… Stewart Kincaid was the name of the man who had slain his father and betrayed the clan.
“Ye are his son…” Callum breathed the words as knives of bitter anger pierced his chest.
“Aye,” Donald slowly began to smile as he nodded.
The men on either side of him began to laugh as Donald spoke again. “I was hidin’ in plain sight all these years using mefather’s name. And now? Ye walked right into me hands, just as I planned.” His eyes darkened this time as he fixed Callum with a glare.
How did I nae see it before?
Callum took in the mop of red curls and sharp features. He was not the spitting image of his father, but he bore a resemblance to the clansman who had betrayed Callum’s father. “And what business do ye have here now that yer father is dead?” Callum barked as bitterness colored each word. Never in a million years had he thought that he would ever have to face his past again.
Yet here was the son of the man, standing in front of him with a prisoner at his feet.
It was then that Callum caught the flash of torn blue cloth beneath the opening in Donald’s coat. The colors and mark of a fallen clan.
“I am surprised at ye, Laird Fraser. How could ye nae have ken that it was me? I falsified all of the land deeds and bribed yer men. I must say, it was only too easy to win them over with promises of land and wealth once I am laird.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
“Laird? Is that what ye have been after all this time? Ye want to be laird of Clan Fraser?” Callum was almost shocked.
“Aye, Laird as me father should have been Laird. I want ye to pay for the anguish I had to suffer all these years. Me father should have been Laird with me as his successor. We are far better at runnin’ the clan than ye or yer father ever were. How do ye think I have half yer clan in me pocket? Yer line will end in blood, Laird Fraser, and I shall start with the less useful members and allies of yer clan.” Donald reached down and gripped Andrew’s hair, yanking his head back as he drew his sword.
A sharp scream pierced the air, making them all look up as Eleanor came running from the forest.
“Daenae kill me brother!” she screamed at the top of her lungs and reached Callum’s side in no time at all.
Callum quickly reached out and stopped her, pulling her to his side with one arm as she fought to reach her brother. “Stop, lass!” He pulled her tighter to his side as relief and worry flooded his body at the same time.
Still holding on to Andrew’s hair, Donald began to laugh as he yanked Andrew’s head back even further, making the man cry out with pain. “This is interestin’,” Donald sneered. “I was wonderin’ when the famous Eleanor Whitacker would make her appearance. I had heard that ye found a bride, but the fact that it is the sister of yer land agent is just luck smilin’ down on me.”
The men all began to laugh again as they set their gazes on Eleanor, making Callum’s blood boil with fury.
“Please, daenae hurt him,” Eleanor whispered as she finally stopped struggling and clung to Callum’s side.
Donald looked from Callum to Eleanor as his lips curved into a triumphant smile. “I have a deal for ye, Laird Fraser. Lay yer arms down and sign over the rights to the clan. If ye go without makin’ a fuss, I will promise that yer death will be quick and yer lass will have a home for the rest of her days.”
“Ye leave her alone, ye bastard!” Callum spat at the man’s feet, pushing Eleanor behind him as he once again lifted his sword in the air.
Laughing louder this time, Donald shook his head as the men joined in the mirth. “I cannae believe it! The mighty Laird Fraser has gone and fallen for this wee lass!” His words were mocking, unraveling the truth that Callum knew was building in his chest.
“Keep yer filthy mouth to yerself, ye bastard. Ye ken nothin’ of what ye are sayin’,” Callum growled and reached for Eleanor behind his back, gripping her hand in his.
The warmth of her skin seeped into his, making him realize that he would die for her in that moment if that is what it would take.
The man continued to laugh and sneer as Donald let go of Andrew’s hair and pushed him forward into the mud. “I thought I needed yer dog to lure ye away, but I never thought that ye would provide an even greater piece to be bargained with.” He nodded toward his men.
Feeling the anger build in his core, Callum pushed Eleanor further back, letting go of her hand as he lunged toward the oncoming men.
