Free The Campbell Trilogy by Monica Mccarty Page A

through the gate, stopping midstep when she caught sight of her father speaking with Jamie Campbell across the
barmkin.
From the tense expressions on both men’s faces, she could tell it was not a friendly conversation.
    When Jamie disappeared into the keep, her father seemed to sag a little, his face visibly distressed.
    She ran toward him and hurled herself into his strong embrace, feeling like a child again. How many times had she done the same after a scrape or bruise or some particularly cruel brotherly teasing? Her father had always been there to wipe her tears and soothe the hurt.
    Unbidden, another of Jamie’s accusations came back to her. He was wrong. She had never prevented her father from remarrying. He had loved her mother so desperately.… But her father was still a handsome man, and she knew there were many women who would be eager to take her mother’s place.
My place.
    Her chest tightened, and she rested her cheek against the warm, scratchy wool of his plaid, feeling precariously close to tears.
    She hated Jamie Campbell for making her feel like this. For making her fear that she was the most selfish daughter in the whole world. “I’m sorry, Father.”
    “What’s this, lass? What has upset you?”
    “I saw you talking with that horrible man.”
    Her father pushed her back so he could look at her, his face as fierce as she’d ever seen it. “Has Campbell done anything to offend you?”
    She shook her head. “No, nothing like that,” she said, putting the kiss out of her mind. “Everything about him offendsme. He’s a Campbell. And Argyll’s bloodthirsty cousin to boot.”
    Her father sighed and shook his head. “You’ve been listening to gossip, Caiti Rose.”
    She pushed up her chin, hearing the censure in his voice. “It’s the only way to find out anything around here since you and Malcolm and Niall never tell me anything.”
    “There’s no reason for you to worry.” He patted her on the head as he always did, but this time it bothered her.
    Jamie Campbell had made her feel foolish, made her feel as if she didn’t know what she was talking about. “I know all I need to know about Jamie Campbell. He’s Argyll’s Henchman, no better than a hired killer.” But even as she made the accusation, she knew it rang false.
    “Hush, child,” her father said harshly. “Have care for what you say. Jamie Campbell is not just a hired thug or Argyll’s strong arm. He’s far more dangerous: a man of great physical strength coupled with cunning political acumen. He is a powerful and influential man in his own right. And a dangerous man to cross.” He gave her a long look. “He has spoken to me about you.”
    Caitrina’s cheeks flamed at the man’s arrogance. “He had no cause. I told him as much not half an hour ago.”
    “Well, whatever you said did not dissuade him.”
    “But I’m sure you did.”
    When he didn’t say anything, her eyes widened. “You can’t seriously expect me to consider him,” she said, aghast.
    “Aye, lass, I do.” He cut off her protest. “I did not say wed him, but consider him.”
    “But he’s a Campbell.”
    “Aye, and Campbells are no friends of ours. But I can’t ignore the benefit of an alliance with such a powerful man. It would be an end to the feuding.”
    She didn’t miss the twinge of anxiousness in her father’s voice. Again, Jamie’s words came back to her, and thesqueezing in her chest grew a little tighter. The feuding was taking its toll. How could she have been so unaware of what was going on around her? Her father didn’t want her to see, but that was no excuse. “Has it been so very bad, Father?”
    He pulled her against him and stroked her hair. “Ah, lass, it’s nothing for you to worry about. I’d never force you to wed a Campbell, but I want you to consider him. Make your own judgment of the man.”
    “But—”
    He staved off her protest. “That is all I ask. Jamie Campbell is a fierce warrior and a hard man, but