Highland Chieftain by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online

took a deep sniff. “Verra nice. Verra pretty.”
    Bethoc watched them for a little while, her sister babbling away, and Callum patiently responding. He had a way with children. There was a kindness in him she could not ignore but she knew she had to, should not place too much worth on it. She hated to end it but she had to get back home. Fortunately, Margaret only protested a little when she picked her up.
    â€œI am nay sure when I can return, which is why I brought ye so much food,” she said as she settled Margaret on her back. “My father noticed I was gone last time. He accused me of meeting with a mon.”
    â€œWeel, ye are,” Callum said, and returned her brief smile.
    â€œNay as he thinks. I will return before ye have need of more food, even if it is only to dash in and leave some. Rest, Sir Callum.”
    â€œâ€™Tis about all I do,” he grumbled.
    â€œBecause ’tis the best medicine.”
    Then she was gone and Callum sighed as he leaned against the wall. It was going to be a very long few weeks. He worried about Cathan but knew he could do nothing about the boy, and all his instincts told him the boy was in good hands. Despite her father’s tendency to hit, the boy was still safer where he was than trapped in a cave with a crippled man.
    He glared down at his leg. Despite what Bethoc said, he was sure he would be useless for a few months at least. It was a wretched time for such an injury. Callum shut his eyes and sighed. He would have to put his faith in Bethoc. She was the only thing that kept him alive. Since he did not think that was much to count on, he also prayed his friends would find him soon. He was going to need their help.

Chapter Four
    â€œWhere is the food?” demanded her father as he marched into the house followed by the boys.
    â€œNear to ready,” said Bethoc as she turned to the meat on the spit.
    â€œDamn weel should be,” he grumbled as he moved to clean up, all the boys waiting patiently as he used the water first.
    A flash of anger went through her but she forced it down. He had no right to complain about the meals, the timing or the quality. That made no difference to him, however. Criticizing was what he did best.
    Bethoc looked at the boys. They all wore the tight, blank expressions she knew hid strong emotions. Cathan looked as if he fought tears but she saw no visible bruises on him and suspected the boy was just not accustomed to such constant tension and alarm. Her father needed to be more careful, however. He was losing his workforce but she doubted he took much notice.
    By the time everyone was seated, and after her father had taken his share first, they began to eat. Bethoc was wondering how he could not sense the anger the boys were holding in. She could and could barely eat because of it. Something had happened and she wished she had the freedom, and courage, to just demand to know what was wrong.
    Kerr Matheson was pushing too hard, she thought. The boys had never been so unified in their anger. She was going to need to have a talk with them, she decided. They were still too young, too weak, to go up against the man. Bethoc did not even want to think of what would be the result of such a confrontation. They were also too young to just leave and face the world.
    There was no talk over dinner and that was different. It could be because he had been in the fields with the boys but she suspected it was because the boys were intent on being silent. Her stomach was tied up in knots as she waited for something to happen, for the confrontation that was so obviously brewing. She prayed her father was not in the mood for a fight. He ended that hope with his next words.
    â€œAre ye going to sulk for the whole night?” Kerr asked, his attention still on his food.
    â€œYe destroyed weeks of work,” Colin burst out.
    â€œYe shouldnae have wasted precious time on planting berry bushes.”
    â€œFood is ne’er a