Page 52 of Reviving Her Highland Spirit

Maggie chewed her lip nervously. It was a habit she tried to avoid, but lately her lower lip was sore and raw, chewed incessantly. She hoped that now things were settling down, she’d be able to get on top of the habit.

“What if Uncle James executes him?” Maggie whispered.

“He won’t,” Ian said with certainty. “Ye know that your uncle is a fair man. Callum will get a fair trial, and Rufus will get what he deserves.”

Maggie found herself remembering how Rufus had described spitting on all of the McAlisters’ heads on the keep walls. “Will Uncle James kill Rufus?”

“I don’t know,” Ian said honestly. “I don’t know if the laird could kill his brother. But one thing I can tell ye is that it will be a fair trial. Now ye just need to go along with the justice system. Hold tight, Maggie. I know that ye are fond of Callum, but we need tae take him back tae the keep tae sort this out, eh?”

Maggie looked nervously up at Ian. “I… I care for him, Ian.”

“I know. Ye know, when I met my wife, Greer, I was a spy in her land, too. She was shocked when she found out who I was. But she loved me even so. That meant a lot tae me. Ye and Callum haven’t got off tae the best start, but…” he paused, collecting his thoughts. “But I think he cares about ye, too.”

Maggie smiled weakly up at him. “What will happen when we get back tae the keep?”

“Rufus and Callum will go tae the dungeons. They’ll stay there while Laird McAlister decides what tae do with them.”

“But I can talk tae Uncle James about him, can’t I? I can make my case?”

“Aye, ye can do that, lass. Ye can do that.”

* * *

By the time the horses clattered back into the courtyard, Maggie was bone-tired and ready to drop. Her mother and father came rushing out to meet her, pale-faced, and Maggie knew that her absence had been noted.

“I need tae talk to Uncle James,” she said, dropping neatly out of Stardust’s saddle and into Bryce’s arms.

“Ye need tae change into something more suitable, brush your hair, and get some food and drink down ye,” Sola said tartly. “Then we can think about ye seeing your Uncle James. Ye are a sight, lass.”

Maggie allowed herself to be pushed and pulled up to her room, shoved into a clean, dry dress, and otherwise primped and washed until her mother judged her to be in a fit state to leave.

All the while, Maggie could only think of time passing for Callum. He was languishing in the dungeon while Sola was brushing and re-braiding Maggie’s hair.

Rufus and Callum had been whisked away as soon as they’d entered the courtyard. Maggie didn’t know where they’d been taken. She could think of nothing else but Callum. Was he safe? Was he comfortable?

He was in a dungeon, so probably not.

Maggie hurried along the hallways, her boot heels ringing out on the stone. She had an awful feeling that she would arrive and it would somehow be too late.

Too late? Too late! Taunted the voice in the back of her mind. Uncle James might have had them both executed. You wouldn’t be able to save Callum, even though he saved you.

When Maggie burst into the council room, she was greeted by Uncle James, Aunt Lyla, Perrin, and Ian bending over a map, murmuring something or other. They glanced up when Maggie came racing in, breathless.

“Am I too late?” Maggie gasped.

Aunt Lyla raised her eyebrows. “Too late for what?”

“Too late tae save Callum.”

Uncle James chuckled. “What is it that ye think is going tae happen tae him? They’re in the dungeons right now. I’m happy to let my faithless younger half-brother languish in there for a little while now. What is it ye want tae tell me about Callum? He betrayed us, and ye, ye know.”

Maggie took a breath. “That’s just it, Uncle James. Callum stood up for us at the last minute. He saved me from Rufus. He realized that Rufus was mad, and only out for revenge. Staying here at the keep made him see that ye are best to hold the title of laird.”

“That’s all very nice, Maggie, but I can’t trust the man.”

“I trust him. Please, Uncle James. He saved me. Rufus would have cut my throat, wouldn’t he, Ian?”

Uncle James looked to Ian, who nodded slowly.