The trek to retrieve the body by the sea took longer than he’d hoped. Callum took a handful of men, along with Keith and Grady, who had stayed after Annabella’s feast. When he neared the body, it was barely recognizable. The only thing to give a hint that the body was that of Hammond was the garments he wore and his hair color. He had the same reddish glint to his locks as his father had. Callum tried to discern how he’d died, but because his body was too badly decomposed, Hammond kept the reason to himself.
As they rode toward the keep, he refrained to speak his thoughts. There were two possibilities of how Hammond died. One, which suggested he committed suicide and jumped from the cliff. He couldn’t reason his cousin would do something so drastic regardless of his troubles. And two, someone had pushed him from the ledge. That was more plausible since Hammond wasn’t brave enough to end his own life.
They neared the gates and Clive met him near the iron postern. “Laird, is it him?”
He nodded. “Aye, it is. We’ll prepare for the burials this day. We can wait no longer for Elias. Hawisa and Hammond must be laid to rest.”
“I’ll have the men begin the digging then.”
He walked away from Clive and as he ambled along, he spotted Violet near the keep’s entrance. She held Henry’s hand. The sight of them together tensed his chest. A terrible thought came to him as he watched them. Had Violet changed her mind? Would she return with Henry to England? Was her declaration of love false? Damnation, he wanted to find a jug of the strongest ale and settle in for a bout of wallow.
Violet noticed him and released Henry’s hand. She ran full force at him and threw herself in his arms. The feeling of her against him eased any distress that had come upon him. Why did he think she’d spoken falsely? She loved him and that’s all that mattered to him. He held her tightly and closed his eyes as he set his head against hers.
“Are you…all right? I worried about you.”
“I’m well enough, lass, and glad to be back. I worried about you too.”
She released him. “I need to speak to you in private when you have a moment.”
“Come, we’ll speak now.” He took her hand and guided her to the castle. Henry tried to stop him and approached. “Not now, Henry.” Callum took the steps and was about to enter when Clive called out. He turned and glowered. “Not now, Clive. I’ll meet you at the graves after the midday meal.” Once inside, he continued until he reached his chamber. As soon as he closed the door, he pulled Violet into his arms and kissed her longingly.
She held onto him in a tight grip. “I’m so happy you’re back. I couldn’t take another moment in Henry’s company… You should’ve heard what he told me―”
He pulled her to sit with him on the bed. “I know what’s on his mind. He told you he cares for you and that he wants you to return to England with him.”
She nodded and turned to face him. “How did you know? I told him my place was here and I wouldn’t leave you. Everything I said to you yesterday… I meant every word. I love you, Callum, and I won’t leave unless you want me to.”
“Henry mentioned in his missive that he intended to ask you to be with him. How long does he plan to stay?”
She rushed through her explanation of Henry’s plan to overtake his king and that he awaited word from his allies.
Callum took an exasperated breath. “Well, let’s hope he gets word soon and with good fortune, it’ll come this night. Maybe he’ll only stay one more night.”
“I hope so because he looks at me… It makes me uncomfortable. I only want to be here with you in your arms.”
Callum pressed a hand on her head and sighed. “There’s nothing I’d like more than to be here with you and have you naked in my arms, lass, but unfortunately, I must go. Hawisa and Hammond will be laid to rest this day.”
“So it is Hammond?” She furrowed her pretty brow at his news.
“Aye, it was Hammond. I wish his father would return. Elias should know what happened to his children. Where the hell is he?”
She set her arms around him. “Your uncle will be distraught when he finds out. You’re kind to be concerned for him. Clive tells me that he thinks Elias had a hand in what happened to Gavin and Hammond, and that he was privy to what Hawisa did. If that is so, he is dangerous. I worry he’ll try to harm you too.”
“Until I question him, I won’t hold him in contempt. Until proven otherwise, a man is innocent. And don’t listen to what Clive tells you. He shouldn’t speak of these matters and burden you with worry.” Callum was furious his cousin would speak of clan matters to Violet. He wanted to keep the disheartened matters from her for her own safety. “And Elias wouldn’t harm me. I don’t want you to worry about me.”
She clutched his arm to keep him beside her when he tried to stand. “Is that not what you thought about Gavin? You probably thought your brother wouldn’t try to murder you, didn’t you? If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that regardless of your relations, a knave will take his matters in hand without care for others.”
“What do you mean?”
Violet stood and reached the window casement. “When Sir Nicholas tried to court me, I scoffed at him and disregarded his intention. I caused his anger and he must’ve felt rejected. That’s why he set my father’s barn on fire and murdered him. I should’ve handled the matter better and perhaps I could’ve prevented my father’s death.”
Callum reached her and pulled her back against his chest. “If someone has a wish to bring harm to others, there is sometimes nothing we can do to prevent it. Even if you’d let him down gently, he might have continued his pursuit. As to my uncle, he’s family. He only wanted his son to prosper. Never had he showed or taken his anger out on me. I want to have faith that he is innocent.” He turned and reached the wall where his weapons were displayed. As he studied the objects, he took a long-bladed dagger from the wall and tucked it in his belt. “I will protect myself, worry not, Violet. Now, I must go. I’ll probably see you later this night. You will be here, won’t you?”
“There’s no other place I’d rather be. I shall come to the burial and pay my respects. Hawisa was a troubled woman, but she didn’t deserve to die. I will pray for her.”
Callum hastily kissed her forehead and left. He wasn’t hungry and forwent the midday meal. He trudged outside and walked along toward the back of the bailey. Behind the keep, the ground held the people who had gone before them. Many stones etched with the names of his clan members. He passed his mother and father’s graves, Lydia’s, and many others who he’d cared for. When he reached Gavin’s grave marker, he stopped short.
Keith approached. “All is ready, are you? Do you want to get started?”
He shook his head. “What I want is for that marker to be removed. I want him,” he said and pointed at Gavin’s grave, “to be forgotten. His name will never be spoken again.”
“I’ll do the honor.” Keith knelt and retrieved the heavy stone, and carried it with both arms. He rushed past the graveyard and ambled unsteadily toward a high hill. When he reached the summit, he tossed the stone and it disappeared over the edge of the land, where it landed in a bog and sunk. Keith hastened back to him. “Done, you’ll never see it again.”
“You have my thanks. We should get started.” He motioned to Neil. “Have the bodies brought. We will get them buried. Is Father Fitch here?”
“Aye, Laird, he awaits us over there and will speak the Godly words when we’re ready. I’ll have the men bring them.” Neil hurried away.
Eight men carried the bodies forward and placed them next to the mounds of earthen.
Father Fitch marched forward, followed by most of his clansmen and women. He bid all to gather around. “In the Name of God, our merciful Father, we commit the bodies of Hawisa and Hammond Sinclair into your hands, O Lord.”
Before the men could lower the bodies, a shout came. Callum turned and spotted Elias who ran toward the onlookers. They parted and allowed him through.
“What is going on here? Peter told me there was a burial taking place. My children? Oh, my god, how? Hawisa…? Hammond?” His eyes widened and he yanked at his hair. His eyes filled with tears of grief and anger.
“Elias, we tried to find you and searched everywhere. Where have you been?” Callum approached and tried to pull him away, to give him a moment.
“Nay, leave me be.” Elias yanked his arm away and marched beside the graves. “Oh, God Almighty, they’re…gone…dead. Who did this? Who killed my children?” He turned and glowered at the gathered crowd.
Callum stepped forward and was about to speak when Clive sidled next to him. “Nay, stand back, Callum.” He marched toward their uncle with a harsh glare in his eyes. “You dare ask us that? You did this, you murdered your son. Aye, it was you, you who tossed him over the ledge of the cliff. And Hawisa, the harridan, I had to kill her. She confessed to the murder of Callum’s wife. Aye and you had a hand in that too, didn’t you?” Everyone remained silent as Clive made his accusations.
Elias gasped and sputtered. “Hammond was thrown over a cliff? God have mercy. And I didn’t know Hawisa killed Lydia. Why would she? You speak lies.”
Clive wasn’t done with his assertions. “You murdered our laird, too. Gavin was slain by none other than your hand. Admit your guilt.”
“I admit no such thing. Callum, you must believe me―”
He pulled Clive back and reached Elias. “I don’t have to do anything. Yet, you must tell the truth. We don’t wish it to be true, these claims. Tell us you didn’t murder Hammond and Gavin, and that you weren’t aware of Hawisa’s deed. Give me a reason to trust you speak honestly.”
Elias grimaced and turned about to view those who gathered. “You all know me and I have always dealt fairly with all of you. So I wanted to be the laird. I had a right to the claim, but I wouldn’t kill for it. I wouldn’t have harmed Gavin to take it from him. His death saddened me and as to Hammond, I searched bloody well for weeks for him. Why would I do that if I’d killed him? And my daughter? God is only privy to what was in her mind when she murdered Lydia. But I didn’t instigate her to it.” Elias’s voice pitched and he gazed at the ground as if he disbelieved what he was accused of.
Callum sighed heavily. “You haven’t given reason enough for us to declare you innocent.”
“Damned right, he hasn’t. He needs to be apprehended and tried by the council.” Clive shouted to Neil. “Have him taken to the barrack’s cell. We’ll continue with the burial. On the morrow, he’ll account for his sins.”
Neil motioned the soldiers forward. They took Elias into custody and bodily forced him away. Elias shouted his innocence and damned them all. He yelled that he wanted to say farewell to his children and that if it was the last thing he did, he would find his son’s murderer.
The entire affair sat like a rock in his stomach, but Callum motioned to Father Fitch. “Please, Father, continue. Let us finish this.”
“Lower them,” he said to the men standing near. Once the bodies were settled in the ground, he peered amongst the clansmen and women and bowed his head. “In the Name of our most merciful Father, we pray you accept them into our blessed house.” He tossed in three handfuls of dirt and raised his face. “From dust you came, to dust you shall return. Gracious God, have mercy on us as we grieve for our loss.” He made the sign of the cross and motioned to the people.
One by one, they each took a handful of dirt and tossed it into the ground.
Callum waited until all had left. He stood by his cousins’ graves, remorseful that their discord led to their deaths. As he walked away, the soldiers hastened to fill the holes.
On his way to the castle, he turned and headed to the barracks. There, he made his way to the cell and found Elias sitting on the ground. “Elias, we should talk.”
He scrambled to his feet. “Callum, I’m glad you came. I swear by all that is holy, I did not kill your brother. I was angry, aye that he was named laird instead of me, but I wanted to gain the title by a vote not by deception.”
“If you didn’t slay Gavin then who did?”
Elias gripped his hair. “That’s a good question and it confounds me. It damned well wasn’t me. As to my son, I loved him. He wasn’t a bad lad. We had our difficulties aye, and I won’t speak falsely about that. But I wouldn’t have killed him.”
“Why did you mislead me when you said you would have him attend a meeting with me if he was missing?” Callum paced before the bars of the cell and tried to remember all the questions he’d intended to ask him.
“It was my hope that he’d return. When he didn’t, I went in search of him. I thought he was visiting his comrade Owen who lives on a farmstead near the cliffs. When he wasn’t there, I continued my search of him at other farms, thinking he might’ve gone to visit others. That’s where I’ve been. As to Hawisa, I had no notion she had slain Lydia. But I must say that benefits you, does it not? She was a terrible wife to you. My lass did you a favor.”
“I don’t want to accept that you were dishonorable. The council will be called. I alone will not decide your fate.”
“You must sway them, Callum. Tell them I am innocent. I killed no one.” He held the bars of the cell and repeated his pleas.
“If I can reason a way to, I will. But you might want to come up with an explanation of your whereabouts on the night Gavin was killed. You must account for the days leading up to Hammond’s disappearance too.” Callum left the barracks and walked with hastened steps to the castle. He entered the hall and sat wearily at the table. His comrades sat quietly and none greeted him until Keith broke the silence.
“You look like you need a drink, mayhap two.”
Clive approached, but he held out his hand. “Leave me for now. I need to consider what just happened.” Callum pressed his temples as the hefty problem gave him extreme unease.
“You should set his trial on the morrow. Aye, the clan will want his hanging.” Clive groused his view and stood defiantly in front of him.
“You’re angry, Clive, as am I, but I said I need time to consider this. Let me think for a wee bit and I’ll call the council together on the morrow. We’ll decide then what will happen to Elias and whether a trial is warranted.”
“But―”
Callum’s temper rose. “Am I not the damned laird? I get to decide what’s to be done. Until I consider the matter, I won’t send a man to his grave without proof of his guilt. Now, leave me.”
Clive nodded and marched away.
Callum took the cup offered by Keith. He sat back and drank deeply. The day had gone to hell. It was bad enough they had to bury two of his family members, but then to have their father approach with such vehemence. He didn’t know what to believe.
“I know that look.” Keith poured more ale into his cup. “We should go over this so you can make sense of it.”
“I’d rather not. My head pounds from thinking about it. But you’re right, let us start at the beginning.” Callum nodded to Grady and bid him to join them. As he spoke of the events that led to this day, his ire rose.
Keith’s face was grim when he asserted his view, “If Elias wanted his son to be given a good position in the clan, why would he have killed him?”
“Perhaps Hammond’s death was an accident?” Grady said. “Maybe he had nothing to do with Gavin’s death as he claimed.”
Keith nodded. “If he wanted Gavin dead, wouldn’t he have killed him when he’d been made laird? Why wait so long? Gavin was your laird for at least a year before he’d been slain. That’s a long time to plan retribution or to seek revenge. I don’t deem Elias was dishonorable in that matter.”
“None of this makes sense. I will speak to Elias in the morn. Mayhap he’ll answer my questions and I can get to the bottom of this. For now, I want to seek my bed. I’ve had enough to drink.” Throughout the evening, Callum had at least four cups of ale and it muddled his thoughts.
Grady shoved his arm. “You mean, your bonny lass Violet. Will you offer for her hand? Keith and I have a wager going.”
Callum chortled. “Aye? I want no part in your wager, but I haven’t had time to consider marriage. I should, shouldn’t I? I’d be a fool not to make her mine.”
“Aye, a fool indeed,” Keith said. “Just make sure we’re invited to the wedding.”
He dismissed his comrades and trudged up the steps to his chamber. Inside, the abode was dark. Violet had left no candles burning. As his eyes adjusted to the dimness of the chamber, he undressed and bathed. Violet had left fresh water in the basin and she’d set out a clean tunic and tartan for him. Lord, it was good to be cared for in such a way. When he finished bathing, he reached for the tunic.
“Leave it off and come to bed.” Violet moved aside the bed cover.
He lay next to her and took her in his arms. “You waited up for me.”
“I fell asleep hours ago. Are you all right? I imagine that wasn’t easy, having Elias come to the burial like that. What did you do, condemn him?”
He lay back and peered above him. “You saw? Aye, it wasn’t a pleasant moment. And nay, I haven’t condemned him, and yet, I have to figure out what to do with him. I must call the council together to decide if he is guilty.”
“Do you deem he is?”
Callum rolled to his side to face her. “I am unsure and want to have faith that he is innocent, but what if he is not?”
“You’ll get no answers this night. Get rest, Callum, you look tired. Are you hurting?”
He caressed his shoulder but didn’t discern the tenseness he’d felt for months. His leg though almost forced a grimace from him and he nodded.
“Henry’s healer told him what she’d put in the balm that he gave you. I asked him about it this morning and Gussy mixed a batch earlier.” She reached across him to retrieve the container and handed it to him. “This might help.”
Before he opened the medicinal, he forced her back and kissed her with longing. God how she pleased him. “My thanks.”
She set a light kiss on his lips, yawned, and settled next to him. Within minutes, her light breath sounded and she slept.
He scooped a handful of the medicinal onto his thigh and rubbed it in. Callum closed his eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. He couldn’t get the vision of his uncle from his mind. The day played over in his thoughts and taunted him with questions. Someone knocked at the door and intruded when they opened it without permission.
Clive bounded inside. “Laird, you need to come at once.”
Callum cursed under his breath. He gently moved Violet’s arm from across his abdomen and grabbed his tunic. When he finished dressing, he stepped from his chamber. “What’s wrong?”
“You should prepare yourself, Laird, it is Elias.”
“What about him?”
“He’s dead.”