Chapter Thirty-Two
At first, Arabella questioned whether she lived or died. One moment, the waves trapped her in a dark, frozen abyss as water stole into her lungs. Now, she blinked to clear her blurry vision, focusing on the icy blue of Calum’s gaze.
Was he simply an illusion? Her mind granting one final glimpse of the man she loved before she ceased to exist altogether? Moisture leaked from his eyes, sending a frisson of alarm through her. Why was he crying?
She tried to rise but her weary limbs refused to obey. She opened her mouth to speak, only managing a croak and series of bone-rattling coughs. Pain swept through her limp body, towing her into complete awareness. Breath after breath, she sprawled on the pebbled shore, filling her needy lungs with sweet, blessed air.
Alive—she was alive.
Tears of utter relief pricked her stinging eyes. From somewhere deep inside, a low sob escaped her raw throat. The next instant, Calum hauled her onto his lap and crushed her against his hard, bare chest. He enfolded her in the safety of his arms, swathing them both in furs.
Starved for his touch, she pressed her forehead against the lukewarm skin of his neck, savoring the steady thrum of his pulse—proof they both survived. Moments ago, she never expected to feel his comforting embrace again. Now, she never wished to leave it.
“For Christ’s sake, boy, you’re squeezing out what little life she has left.”
The familiar gruff reproach brought a smile to her dry lips. She leaned away from her husband’s chest to glance up at her uncle. Frowning, he stood over Calum’s shoulder, grasping the hilt of the sword at his side in a white-knuckled grip. Without muttering a word, his hard-set features spoke of his worry.
Calum framed her cheeks in his palms, drawing her gaze. “I thought I’d lost you.”
Lines of distress creased his hardened countenance, while his intense stare held her captive. How strange ’twas this same face, so harsh and unyielding when she’d first met him, that had fast become the center of her world. She lifted her uninjured arm to brush her fingers over his old wounds.
How foolish she’d been to doubt his love when ’twas so plain to see.
“I thought I’d lost you, too.” She winced at the ache in her throat.
“I vow I could not bear…” Brows pulled with a frown, he swallowed hard.
Arabella pressed her cracked lips to his. “Then you shall never have to.” She leaned away and offered a slight grin. “You saved me, Husband.”
A deep chuckle rumbled from his broad chest. “For once, it would seem.”
“What of Longford?” she asked with a note of apprehension.
He shook his head. “He shall trouble us no longer.”
Swamped with relief, she wrapped her arm around his middle, hugging him close. A hiss slid past his lips and she jerked away. “What is it?”
He shrugged. “’Tis naught.”
Unconvinced, she shifted in his lap and pushed the fur aside. She tried to lift his arm to examine him but he resisted. “I said, ’tis naught.”
Arabella scowled. “Let me see.”
Rolling his eyes, Calum reluctantly raised his arm and she spotted the nasty gash along his side. Blood seeped from the cut and her heart flew to her throat.
She glanced at him in alarm. “You’re hurt.”
“Naught to fret over.”
“But the blood,” she insisted.
He grabbed her chin. “’Tis but a scratch. Naught Aunt Elena’s salve cannot remedy.” Tugging her face closer, he placed a gentle kiss on her mouth. “I’m fine. I promise you, Sweetness.”
“So the two of you shall live then?” Liam asked.
Arabella craned her neck to glance at Liam, who knelt a few feet away. His usual roguish grin split his lips. ’Twas then she noticed scores of men and horses gathered on the shore.
Surprised, she turned to Calum. “How did you know?”
“A few of the guests noticed the MacRaes had taken flight soon after you and Mairi went missing. My first thought was Longford. I suspected he was somehow involved.” He hesitated then added, “A visitor arrived who confirmed my suspicions.”
“A visitor?” She frowned at the information. “Who?”
“You shall see when we return home.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Why can you not just tell me?”
He chuckled. “’Tis a surprise.”
Before she could continue to press him, furious feminine shouts erupted further up the beach, drawing their attention. Mairi shoved away from Patrick and ran toward Connor and his brother. She fit her arm beneath Connor’s shoulder to help Aaron support the young man.
When Arabella spotted Calum’s sister and Connor, alive and walking, albeit with help, a weight lifted from her chest. She’d worried so for the pair of them. Especially after her last view of Connor, lying lifeless and bleeding on the cave floor.
Calum stiffened beneath her and slid a secure arm around her waist as they watched the trio push through the crowd.
He pinned his sister with a hard stare. “Have you forgotten my warning so soon?”
“Christ, Calum,” Mairi argued. “Just spare them a moment, will you?”
“Spare them?” he repeated in disbelief. “I’ve spared their damned lives.”
Disregarding him, Mairi dropped to her knees beside Arabella and tugged her away from Calum into a constricting hug. Arabella clung to her friend, grateful Mairi had come to no harm.
The other woman leaned away and searched Arabella over. “Are you all right? Are you hurt? Is your arm any better?”
“Arm?” Calum exclaimed. “Let me see.”
Arabella shrugged off his concern and recited his earlier words. “’Tis naught but a scratch.” She ignored his scowl and grabbed Mairi’s cold hand. “Are you all right?”
“Aye.” Mairi nodded and motioned to the MacRae brothers behind her. “Connor wished to see you were well for himself.”
Arabella glanced at the young man, who leaned against his brother. His dark, solemn gaze warily met hers, as if he regretted intruding.
“I’m so glad to see you, Connor.”
Flushing, he limped forward to kneel beside Mairi. He bowed his head and placed a hand over his heart. “My lady, I’m truly thankful you are alive. Forgive me for not protecting you. I wish I could’ve—”
“I do not know what I would’ve done without you.” Arabella reached for his hand, squeezing it tight. “I would not have survived without your help.”
Arabella aimed a pointed look at Calum, silently pleading with him to offer the boy praise for his brave actions. He narrowed his eyes and the muscle along his jaw ticked as he ground his teeth together. Grudgingly, he shifted his gaze to Connor.
“You have my thanks for protecting my wife. ’Tis your courage that has spared you and your brother’s lives.”
Connor mumbled, “Thank you, Laird MacGregor. Aaron and I are in your debt. We shall not trouble you any longer.”
Aaron tipped his head at Calum. “MacGregor.”
He paced forward and helped Connor to his feet. After a few steps, Aaron paused and turned around. His dark gaze lingered on Mairi, as if committing her features to memory. “If things could’ve been different…” A faint smile lightened his worn features. “Farewell, Mairi.”
What did Aaron mean? Curious, Arabella glanced between the pair, noting the silent tears coursing down Mairi’s pink cheeks as she watched the brothers walk away. Something flared between the two, some spark of affection. Arabella was certain of it.
She laid her hand on Calum’s chest. “Will you not help them? They have suffered at Longford’s hands as much as we have.”
He shook his head. “MacRae must live with the consequences of his actions.”
“But, why?” Mairi interjected. “Why can you not—”
“Enough!” His annoyed growl silenced her. “What would you have me do? Honor a man who stole away my family? By God, he’s fortunate I let him live. Rejoice in that. Do not push my goodwill any longer, Mairi.”
Arabella was torn. She longed to persuade her husband to accept the MacRaes for Mairi’s sake, but she understood Calum’s reluctance. Whether he wished to or not, he took every step necessary to safeguard his family. That included from a man, no matter how honorable his intentions, who’d delivered her and Mairi into the hands of their enemy.
For now, she would let the subject pass. But later, she would work on softening her husband’s heart toward the MacRae brothers.
Suddenly overwhelmed from her ordeal, Arabella leaned into Calum’s chest and rested her cheek on his shoulder. “When will we leave?”
He dipped his head to peer at her. “I thought you might wish to rest a day or two before we make the journey.”
“Nay, I wish to go home now, Husband.”
Enclosing his arms around her, he pressed his lips to her temple. “As you wish, Wife.”