She hung up the phone, and I stared at the wall in confusion. Thank God it was summer. As long as I didn’t stay gone for more than a month, I wouldn’t have to make arrangements with work.
It seemed that by this time tomorrow, I would find myself on a flight headed to Scotland.
Chapter 2
McMillan Castle, Scotland
July 1647
Baodan McMillan glanced in Niall’s direction, the two brothers’ eyes locking at the suspicion he knew they both felt at their mother’s words. She was leaving McMillan Castle, the home she’d known for over three decades.
He could make no sense of it, the sudden announcement. She fell ill nearly a month ago and, with each passing day, she grew weaker. It did not sit well with him that his mother had decided to find a home elsewhere. The people in their territory would not understand it, and he wished to be near her so that he could help care for her during her sickness.
Leaning across the dining hall table, he wrapped his fingers around both her hands, squeezing them gently. “Are ye saying that ye wish to go on a journey, Mother? Ye must know that ye are too weak, but surely it would do ye some good to escape the castle walls for a while, aye? If ye wish, I shall take ye for a ride so that ye may spend the afternoon away from the castle tomorrow.”
Baodan glanced up to see Niall nod at him across the table, showing his approval at the suggestion. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Eoghanan, his youngest brother, whose red hair and pale face were so different from his own dark brown wavy curls or Niall’s ink-colored tendrils. It labeled him as the outcast he was. He looked down angrily, and Baodan knew he would speak up in disagreement.
“No, Baodan. It willna do for her to only leave here for a short while. She needs to reside elsewhere. She wishes it.”
Boadan’s teeth ground together as he gripped the edge of the table with his free hand. “I doona think that is for ye to say, Eoghanan.” He started to continue but stopped as his mother pulled on his hand.
“I willna allow ye to speak to him so, I doona care how old ye are. He is right. I shall be leaving to reside elsewhere for the foreseeable future. I leave in the morning.”
Baodan stood, unable to sit calmly. How could his mother allow Eoghanan to influence her so? Of all her sons, she heeded the words of the one who had betrayed him, causing him to lose the person dearest to him. He paced the room, circling the table where his mother and two brothers sat. He knew he would be unable to change her mind, but he’d be damned if he allowed her to make the journey without him. “Where is it that ye plan on going, Mother? Ye do know how unusual this is of ye, aye? Who will care for ye?”
“I miss me sister. Too much time has passed since I have seen her. She resides in a private cottage on the grounds of Cameron Castle and has done so ever since her husband passed away. She has invited me to live with her, and I shall. She says they have a talented healer in their territory. I suspect she will have me feeling better in due time. Ye doona need me to run the keep, and I will be but a three day journey from ye all. While I am ill and, until I have grandchildren that need spoiling, I doona see a reason to stay here tending over ye three boys like ye are all too young to tend for yerselves, and I doona wish for any of ye to tend over me.”
Baodan hadn’t realized he held his breath until he exhaled, softening his resolve as he moved to sit by his mother once again. His worry for her expressed itself through frustration, and he knew she didn’t deserve such treatment from him. “I appreciate yer confidence in us Mother, but we all still depend on ye much more than we realize. I know that I willna change yer mind, though I canna say that I think it a good idea. At the verra least, I will travel with ye and see ye safely settled.”
His mother spoke quickly, too quickly, and it only served to increase his suspicions. “No. Eoghanan has already agreed to travel with me. There is no need for both of ye to leave here.”
He ignored her, facing Eoghanan. “I canna imagine yer reasons for convincing her to do this, but I’ll be damned if I let ye take her there. I doona trust ye, especially no with the women I love.”
He expected his brother to react angrily, to show some form of self-defense. He’d not directly addressed Eoghanan in months. Instead, the look of pain in his brother’s eyes made him feel guilty for his hasty words. Baodan knew he placed more blame on Eoghanan than was fair but, try as he might, he couldn’t stop the resentment he felt toward him.
“I’m sorry that ye doona trust me, brother, for there is no one in the world that I trust more than ye. If ye wish to accompany Mother, then I shall remain here with Niall, but doona ever again suggest that I would harm her. No matter what ye blame me for, surely ye know I wouldna do that.”