Page 45 of Reviving Her Highland Spirit

Maggie’s feet slithered on the smooth marble as she skidded to a sharp halt outside the council room. There were voices coming from inside.

Amilia’s voice among them.

Lungs burning, Maggie heaved down a few desperate lungfuls of air, and stepped inside.

Uncle James and Aunt Lyla stood side-by-side, listening to Amilia speaking. Perrin and Ian were in their usual seats at the table. Bryce and Sola sat beside them, faces ashen, hands clasped.

Everyone looked up when Maggie came in, and Sola gave a cry of relief.

“Oh, Maggie!” she gasped, racing forward to enfold her in her arms. Maggie wanted to speak, needed to speak, but she didn’t have the breath. Bryce came forward too, wrapping his arms around the both of them.

“Amilia knew ye wouldn’t go with him,” Bryce said, his voice hoarse. “But we were afraid he might hurt ye after she left. I should have gone after ye, but I was frozen. It was like I couldn’t move.”

Maggie wriggled, and her parents pulled back, Sola cupping her face. “Are ye hurt, love?”

Maggie shook her head. “Ye don’t understand. It’s not as it seems.”

“And how is it, then?” Uncle James spoke. His face was grim. “Ye know that Callum is not who he says? He’s Red Rufus’ adopted son. He’s our enemy, sent here to find out our weakness. That’s why he was so keen tae be friendly with ye, tae help ye with riding lessons. He was looking for a way tae get under our skin.”

“I should have known,” Aunt Lyla said quietly. “He seemed… well, I trusted him with ye, Maggie.”

“He’s confused,” Maggie said. “He’s been taught that we’re villains, that we all ought tae be killed. But now he knows us, he’s starting to realize that Rufus has lied. I just know it.”

Uncle James and Bryce exchanged looks.

“Maggie, ye know that Red Rufus wants us all dead?” Uncle James said carefully. “All of us. That means ye, your little cousins, all of them. Callum thinks the same.”

“I know that he doesn’t!”

“He supports Rufus. It doesn’t matter if he believes what Rufus does or not - he’s helping Rufus to do those things. That makes him as guilty as ever, in my book.”

“He’s not guilty! He hasn’t done anything!”

“Then where is he now?” Aunt Lyla asked. “He’s run for his life, Maggie. He tried tae take ye with him - probably to use ye as a bargaining chip against us. I’m sorry tae say it, Maggie, but ye were fooled. We all were.”

“No, I…”

“Enough!” Uncle James said suddenly, voice echoing around the council room. Maggie shrank back - she’d never heard her uncle raise his voice at her like that. Uncle James sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “Enough,” he repeated quietly. “We know where Red Rufus is hiding now. He’s in an abandoned croft in the middle of the Angevyn woods.”

Bryce brought down his fist on the table with a crash. “He’s been in the heart o’ McAlister land the whole time, then?”

Uncle James nodded. “Aye. For a while, by the looks of it. We’ll send men at once tae get him. Ian, are ye ready?”

Ian rose to his feet, already dressed for battle, grim-faced and determined. Maggie’s heart sank.

“I’m ready,” Ian said, his voice low but calm. “I take it neither Rufus nor Callum are tae return?”

“That’s right. We can’t risk Callum coming back for revenge.”

“No!” Maggie cried out. “Uncle James, no. It’s not fair.”

Sola hushed Maggie, smoothing back her hair. Maggie ducked away, and Sola backed off, fingers curling into her palms.

“Take Maggie tae her room,” Aunt Lyla said calmly. “She’s been taken in, and it’s not her fault, but we can’t let her go on like this.”

“Ye cannot lock me in my room like a child, Aunt!”

“I can and I will. This isn’t just about ye, Maggie. This is tae keep all of us safe.”