Page 59 of Wedded to the Devilish Highlander
Oh God, please help her. What is happenin’?
“I—” she started to say, but it came out more like a gasp. “It’s Mack!” she nearly screamed.
Calum was inside the room in less than a second.
“What?” Archer asked, his eyes wild, still searching for an injury but also flickering with confusion. At the foot of his bed, Calum stood still.
“Archer,” was all he heard his man-at-arms say, and it was all he needed to feel a sense of calm wash over him.
“I’m goin’ to be ill,” Eileen moaned, sitting up suddenly with her arms outstretched.
Archer instinctively tore the plant on a nearby table from its pot and placed it in her hands. She retched into it, heaving and gasping. Tears rolled down her face.
“The healer,” Calum said.
Archer nodded firmly.
Figuring out what Eileen meant by “It’s Mack” was going to have to wait. He stood next to Calum and watched as the healer and her assistant got to work, cooling her down and tending to her.
“Archer,” Calum muttered, motioning for him to follow.
The two men walked out of the bedchamber and sat opposite each other in front of the hearth.
“Mack?” Calum asked.
“I have nay idea what she meant by it. I hadnae asked her anything; just wondered what happened.”
“Is she sayin’ that Mack is the cause of her illness?”
“I sure hope nae, but I dinnae ken. I need him under lock and key until I ken for sure.”
“Is that wise?” Calum asked. “He’s a councilman. If we lock him up without any evidence of wrongdoing, it will set the wrong tone.”
“Aye, ye’re right,” Archer conceded. “Have him watched closely.”
“We found Harold McDoon,” Calum said sadly.
“Aye?”
“He didnae go home after the funeral. Looks like he went out into the woods and hung himself from a tree.”
“Och, nay.” Archer rubbed his forehead. “That makes it three deaths.”
“He must be the one behind the forgeaccident,” Calum concluded. “Probably the one who killed yer guard. We willnae get anythin’ out of him now.”
“That’s fortunate or unfortunate dependin’ on what he might have said.”
“What are ye sayin’?” Calum asked.
“I’m sayin’ that it’s a little too neat. I talk about gettin’ vengeance, and right after, we’re gifted the supposed perpetrator. I want ye to keep yer eyes and ears to the ground, but do it under the guise of us havin’ our man. I dinnae believe this is the end, and I want them to get nice and comfortable so they dinnae see us comin’.”
“Aye,” he said, then left immediately to carry out his duties.
Archer waited until the healer emerged from his bedchamber.
“Me Laird, I believe she only had a fright. She is stable and well now, but I recommend rest. She will need to be watched just in case she has another fit.”
“She will remain here. I’ll watch her,” he declared firmly.
