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Jack is exaggerating. My accident wasn't that serious.
Kate runs onto the pitch, pushing past men who are much larger than she is, seeming desperate to reach me. She drops to her knees beside me. I've just sat up, but when I move to stand, she slaps a hand on my chest to stop me.
"I need to examine your knee," she says. Then she throws her arms around me. "I was so worried you got hurt even worse this time."
"No, I'm all right,mo leannan."
Knowing she cares that much makes me feel like I could lift the whole bloody castle on my shoulders, just for her.
But Hugh needs to pay.
Chapter Thirty
Kate
I palpate Callum's knee to test how bad his injury might be, but he barely flinches when I do that. Hugh had slammed into him so hard. I can't believe Callum's knee didn't get blown out completely, but I almost cry when I realize he can still walk. His brother and one of his cousins help him get to his feet, but he manages to move okay without their help. I ask him to keep walking back and forth so I can assess his gait.
He limps at first, but that eases up the more he moves.
The relief I feel seems incongruous with what just happened. When men play sports, they get knocked down. They get injured. It's par for the course, but I nearly screamed when I saw Callum go down. My heart is still racing, and I feel slightly nauseous, but I resist the impulse to pull him into my arms and order him to stop this match right now. Me panicking? I've never done that before. Well, except for the time years ago when a weatherman on TV announced that a tornado was heading straight for the street where I lived. My husband, now my ex, had called me an idiot for trying to make him go into the basement with me. The tornado missed us, but to this day I feel justified in freaking out back then.
Callum would never call me stupid. He would go into the basement with me and not even ask why we were doing that. God, I love him.
Holy shit. Did I just realize how I really feel about Callum? Yeah, I did. I'm in love with him. Don't care that we haven't known each other long. I refuse to overanalyze my feelings. As a therapist, I know that I need to allow myself to experience every emotion without trying to talk myself out of accepting each one before I've even taken time to process things.
Callum halts in front of me. "Well? Do I have my therapist's permission to continue the match?"
"Yes. It doesn't look like you seriously injured yourself." I can't stop myself from hugging him and kissing his cheek. "Good luck. And be careful."
He chuckles. "Ye donnae understand the MacTaggart way of playing shinty."
"Fair enough. At least try not to break any bones or snap any ligaments."
"I'll do my best."
Damian and Lachlan approach us.
"We've decided to end the match," Lachlan says. "With two caveats."
"That's right," Damian says. "It seems only fair to let Callum have the last try at a goal. Hugh's last one has been invalidated, and only the two of them will play the last round. Whichever one gets the first goal wins."
Hugh marches over to us. "Invalidated? That was a bloody fantastic goal."
Damian shakes his head. "You trampled your opponent to make that shot. The MacTaggarts might not have many rules about shinty, but Lachlan assured me that taking advantage of another player's injury is one of the rules they enforce."
"Only because you lot are all on Callum's side."
I stomp over to Hugh. "You're being a monumental jackass. Stop it before you lose every friend you've made here, not just Callum. His entire family wants to help you. That's what all this craziness has been about—saving your friendship with Callum. Don't burn that bridge, Hugh, please."
He stares at me for a moment, like he can't decide what to do. Then he rubs his eyes and exhales a long sigh. "I know you're right. I've behaved horribly ever since I got here. If I'm honest with myself, I was glad when these people kidnapped me. I don't want to ruin my relationship with my best mate, but I got caught up in…those things you and I discussed earlier."
"Yeah, I get it. End this match honorably. Please."
He nods and walks into the center of the pitch. "I'm in if Callum is."
Callum strides up to Hugh. "Just the two of us. Whoever makes the first goal wins."
They shake hands.
