Highland Warrior (Campbell Trilogy #1)(90)
Seeing him again made her chest tangle with conflicting emotion: raw hatred mixed with the knowledge that he was brother to the man she loved. Now that she knew who he was, the resemblance to Jamie was even more marked—particularly around the mouth and eyes. His hair was darker, and though not quite as tall as Jamie, he was similar in stature and possessed the same air of kingly authority. But what was confidence in Jamie projected as arrogance in his brother.
Unconsciously, her hands curled at her sides, clutching the woolen fabric of her skirts instead of the dirk her fingers itched for. Never had she so felt the urge to kill someone. Colin Campbell was fortunate that she did not carry a weapon.
Though from all appearances, it looked as if he’d been locked recently in battle. His hands and face were streaked with dirt and blood. There was a dried cut on his forehead and a larger one on his wrist and right hand. But it was his eyes, wild with rage, that sent a shiver of fear whistling down her spine.
Caution urged her to take a step back, but she forced herself not to cower before him. She found courage in the knowledge that she was his brother’s wife, and Jamie would kill him if he harmed her.
He scanned the hall and then demanded without preamble, “Where’s my brother?”
The flat voice echoed in her consciousness, sending a shudder of horrible memories reverberating through her, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. She remembered with some satisfaction the punch she’d thrown in his face and could see that he remembered it as well.
“As you can see, he’s not here.”
His eyes narrowed at her impudent tone. “When will he return?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where did he go?”
Caitrina felt some of her old spirit rising inside her. How dare he burst into her home and question her as if she were one of his lackeys. Her temper flared. “My husband did not confide in me the details of his travel plans.”
His cold gaze leveled on her. “Watch your tongue, lass. Unlike my brother, I do not tolerate disrespect from women. Even from family.”
“You are not my family,” she snapped, though she realized it was the awful truth. His smile only further infuriated her. Discretion escaped her. “I am the lady of this keep, and I’ll thank you to remember it. Consider yourself fortunate that I don’t have you tossed out of here after what you did.”
If he felt any guilt, he did not show it, but he did moderate his tone. “Your father was harboring outlaws, he knew well the consequences of his actions.” He paused, looking her over with a considered stare. “But I didn’t realize what you were to my brother.”
The concession surprised her. “Would it have made a difference?”
He shrugged indifferently. “I don’t know. What’s done is done. I cannot change the past.”
And as much as she wanted to, neither could she. If she and Jamie were to have a future, somehow she would need to find a way to exist with this man. Though she hoped she would not be forced to endure his company for long. “Why are you here? What is it that you want?”
At first she didn’t think he intended to answer her, but after a few moments he explained, “My men and I were attacked last night as we rode to Dunoon. If not for the timely arrival of some of my cousin’s men, we would have been overwhelmed.”
Caitrina couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment that filled her. She would not mourn Colin Campbell’s death. But disappointment swiftly turned to trepidation when she realized the significance of the timing of the attack. “What does that have to do with Jamie?”
“I’ve reason to suspect that he might have knowledge of the men who attacked me.”
Ice trickled through her veins, but she gave no sign of how his words had affected her. “Why would you think that?”
“Because we followed some of the outlaws to Bute.”
It seemed her fears had been realized: Niall had to be responsible. She dared not ask the question she most wanted to know: the toll of dead among the attackers.
“And why should my husband know about this?”
“Bute is his damn responsibility. He was charged with clearing this isle of outlaws, and if he can’t handle it, I’ll damn well do it for him.”
Dear God, no!
“I’m sure you are mistaken,” she said evenly, trying to calm her rising panic. “There are no outlaws on Bute.”
“Is that so?”
His voice made her skin prickle with alarm. “Of course it’s true.”
“That’s strange, since I swore I recognized one of the men as your brother. Your brother who is supposed to be dead.”
She froze, fighting to control her reaction, but every bone in her body wanted to shake. “My brothers are dead,” she said flatly. “You should know, as you were the one who killed them.”
His mouth fell in a hard, flat line, and his eyes glimmered with anticipation. “I fear not well enough, sister. But it’s a
mistake I will soon rectify.”
Too disturbed to maintain her composure any longer, Caitrina left Colin in the hall and retreated to her chamber to anxiously await Jamie’s return. Colin, she suspected, was preparing to search the hills and caves, and she prayed Jamie came back before he did. If Colin found them first, her brothers and her father’s men would have no chance.