A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) (6 page)

The young servant hurried to assist him. Andrew put his arm
around the
gille’s
neck and tried to stand. Colin bent under the weight.
Andrew fell back onto the bed.

“Saint’s blood, help me stand, mon,” he grumbled.

“Yes, M’Laird, but you’re heavier than I can hold.”

“Then go get some help. I must get out of this bed now,” he
yelled at the lad, then felt ashamed. Colin didn’t cause his wound. In a
quieter voice, he said, “Go get help, Colin. See if you can find my brother.”

“Yes, M’Laird.” The lad backed away from him, turned and
rushed out of the chamber.

Andrew lay back on the bed, and looked down at the bandaged
wound. A fresh spot of blood stained the bandage. He had no covering on the
lower part of his body. A fine scene he made for the lady if she should return.
He would frighten her away for sure. She seemed afraid of him and his
coarseness, he could tell.

This was not the time to be thinking of a woman’s beauty.
Besides, he made a promise to himself to forget about any binding relationship
with a woman. He didn’t need the pain. Andrew pulled the sheet over his exposed
body and waited for Colin.

Chapter Five

The bedchamber door opened and Gavin
entered, followed by Colin. His brother rushed to the bedside. Gavin looked
freshly washed and shaven. Andrew smelled the fragrance of chamomile.

“What are you doing, Brother? Trying to aid the Camerons in
their quest to rid this clan of our chief?” Gavin asked with disgust in his
voice.

“I’m trying to get out of this bed, is what I’m doing, and I
want you to help me.” Why did he have to expend energy to answer such foolish
questions?

“I’ll help you get back into it, but no’ out of it. Look, you’ve
started the wound to bleeding once more. Maidie will be put out to see fresh
blood on the bandage.”

“Ah, so ‘tis Maidie now.” For some reason, a feeling of
jealousy flashed through Andrew with his brother’s mention of the lass’ name.
The woman meant naught to him except as healer of his wound. Gavin had his eye
on her, for certain.

Gavin lifted Andrew’s feet and helped him back into the bed
while watching his face. “’Tis a wee spark of interest there when I mention the
lass’ name.” A wicked smirk crossed Gavin’s mouth.

“I care no’ for the woman, except to tend my wound.” Andrew
knew the words to be a lie when he spoke them, but he would never admit his
interest to Gavin or to his own heart.

“’Tis hard to believe from your reaction to her name.” Gavin
plumped the pillows under Andrew’s head, leaned down, and sniffed his hair. “You’ve
had a head washing this morn. Now who could’ve done such a thing? And with soap
smelling of roses.” The wicked smirk grew wider. “So she only tends your wound.”

“Enough of your jesting. I’m tired.” Andrew’s eyes closed. He
could not keep them open.

“Before you drift back to sleep, I need to tell you that I had
to speak to Angus. The mon bled you this morn.”

“I’m well aware of the painful bleeding. Angus said ‘twould
balance my blood and make the fever leave.” Andrew rubbed the arm with the
three small gashes. “How long have I been sleeping?”

 
“’Tis the third
day, this,” Gavin answered, and Andrew shook his head. Gavin continued, “Maidie,
I mean Madam Munro, had a small fit and asked that the physician be forbidden
to touch you. She also got her ire up about Alan. I told Angus to leave the
care of the two of you to her.”

“What happened to Alan?” Andrew asked from the edge of black
sleep.

“She stitched a gash in his leg after the battle. Angus told
him this morn he could get up and about with the other warriors. The lady got
overwrought with the lad using his leg. I sent him back to bed.”

“How did Angus take such news?”

“With much angst. He’s fightin’ mad to have his place in
caring for you to be taken by a woman.”

“What of Alan? How does the lad fair?”

“His leg is mending quickly under the care of Nellie and Madam
Munro. He’ll be back fighting soon enough.”

“Angus will get over his rage. You did the right thing. Send
the healer to me,” Andrew said before closing his eyes.

As Gavin straightened his cover, Andrew heard him whisper, “God
in Heaven, if there is a God in Heaven, dinna let this mon die.

***

With emotions astir after washing the
chief’s hair, Maidie made her way through the great hall to the kitchen. The
thought of running her fingers through his coarse, thick hair, and the feel of
his head under her hands gave her pause. How could her thoughts about the man
take such a turn in just three days time? He was her patient, naught more.
Maidie shook her head, angst rose within her. She must get her wayward thoughts
under control.

Sven should be foremost in her mind, and he needed looking
after this morn. She had neglected her small son long enough, hardly seeing him
through the day. The two of them would leave Fàrdach Castle and return to their
home in the village. But first, she must make her way to the small bedchamber
behind the kitchen where Nellie and Alan slept to care for his wounded leg.
Maidie had thanked the tanist for sending Alan back to his bed after Angus told
the warrior to get up and continue his daily routine. The wound looked angry when
she and Nellie changed the bandage last. She would need to make more paste from
the kitchen’s molded bread to spread on it.

The great hall was empty of the wounded. Those who lived in
the castle had been taken to their bedchambers, and those who lived in the
village to their homes and families. The villagers needed her. She should
return to them today. Although empty, and with male servants lining the hard
dirt floor with fresh straw mixed with sweet smelling heather, the great hall
held a sinister feeling. Mayhap too much bleeding and death had happened within
the cold stone walls. She walked faster. A movement at the far side of the hall
caught her eye. Angus stood talking with a servant. Maidie felt the physician’s
eyes follow her across the room. Prickly bumps rose on her arms and legs. A
spirit of darkness invaded her mind. She shook her head to be rid of the evil
and vile thing.

Maidie smiled when small voices in laughter reached her ears.
She relished in the sound. Sven and his two friends, Effie and Dan, played with
a small puppy. The mother dog, a large deerhound, lay in a corner nursing three
pups.

Her son looked up from his play when she entered. “Mam, Dan
said I could take this small pup home with me.” Sven had a happy look on his
face, but she couldn’t feed a large dog, and surely the pup would grow as large
as his mother.

“I dinna think we can feed a large dog, Sven.” She stood over
the group and looked down at the wee hound that sported a coat of reddish brown
fur. Her heart melted when Sven looked at her with large, sad eyes.

“But Mam, he can have some of my food,” the trembling voice
pleaded.

“I dinna think so. You must get ready to leave. ‘Tis time for
the two of us to go home.” Maidie could not think about Sven’s request.

The lad stood and reached for her skirt. “I dinna wish to go.
I must stay and care for this pup that Dan gave me.”

“Sven, you can come play with the pup most ever day. We will
be retuning to Fàrdach Castle to care for the chief and Alan.”

Tears welled in the green eyes of her son and the freckles
across his nose stood out in protest. Her heart broke when he cried into her
skirt over leaving his friends.

“Sven, you can play while I care for Alan’s wound, then we’ll
be leaving.” She must be firm in this decision. Neither of them would do
without food for the sake of a hound. Sven wiped his eyes with her skirt, then
with stooped shoulders returned to playing with the pup. Maidie’s heart broke
as she made her way to Alan’s bedchamber. Hopefully, Nellie would be there
also. She didn’t like tending Alan alone. The gossips were fierce around Fàrdach
Castle.

Maidie turned back to ask Cook to accompany her in case Nellie
was busy elsewhere. “Cook, will you go with me to care for Alan?”

“Certainly, Madam.” The woman put the heavy wooden spoon she
used for stirring food in the large iron kettle over the fire on an oak cutting
block. She wiped her hands on her apron.

Gavin entered the kitchen. “Ah, Madam Munro, glad I found you
here. My brother wishes your presence in his chamber.” He smiled and made a
slight bow with his head. Maidie noticed the tanist’s hair had been recently
washed and combed. Strands of dark red and amber shone in the sunlight washing
across the room.

“I’m on my way to care for Alan. I’ll come when I’m finished.”
She would not put Alan off to run back to the chief.

“Please make haste, Madam. The chief wishes your presence
immediately. I’ll wait here to accompany you.”

“No need to wait. I’ll be along soon.” She didn’t want to
encourage the attentions of the man.

“All the same, I’ll wait for you.” Gavin smiled. “I take
pleasure in Madam’s company.”

Cook looked from Maidie to Gavin and then shook her head.

“Come, Cook.” Maidie removed the hot kettle from a rack over
the fire using a quilted pad and turned to leave. Cook took the hot kettle from
Maidie, following her down the narrow, dark passage.
 

“A mighty fine hunting dog you have here.” Gavin’s voice
sounded behind her.

Maidie heard Sven’s sad voice, “I want to keep him, but my
mither wanna hear of it.”

She didn’t hear Gavin’s answer, but felt certain she would not
agree with him, and he would make matters worse with her son. Angst rose in her
throat. She became more determined to leave Fàrdach Castle and return home.
Upon entering Alan’s bedchamber, Maidie and Cook found a young warrior named
Seumas sitting in a chair beside the bed where the injured man sat propped up
on pillows. The two were conversing and immediately stopped their conversation
upon seeing the ladies. Maidie looked from one to the other.

Finally Alan smiled. “So my physician returns to tell me I can
leave this bed and return to duty.”

“First, I must examine your leg to be certain ‘tis healing
properly,” Maidie said, moving to the side of the bed. Seumas rose from the
chair and stood across the room.

Cook poured hot water into a bowl on the table beside the bed
and stood beside him. “What are you doing in here, Seumas? Dinna you have
better to do than sit around a sick room?” she asked.

“Master Gavin gave me charge to stay with Alan ‘til Nellie returns
from her duties. He said none but the healer should touch his leg.”

Maidie made quick work of removing the old bandage from Alan’s
wound. The angry red color surrounding the stitching seemed fainter. She took
up the soap and a rag lying beside the bowl of hot water, wet the rag, and
lathered the soap into it. Alan winced when she touched the area around the
injury.

Continuing the washing she said, “You should’ve stayed off
this leg. I’ll have Angus’ head if the wound festers.”

“My, you talk big for such a small lass.” The deep voice came
from the doorway.

Maidie looked up to find Gavin watching her. Must he follow
her everywhere? She didn’t answer, but reached into her skirt pocket and drew
out a roll of fresh bandage and a jar of salve. She made haste in completing
the dressing, feeling very uncomfortable under Gavin’s piercing gaze.

Alan’s forehead felt warm to her touch, but not hot with high fever.
She smiled at the injured man who watched her every move intently. The loss of
a leg to a fine warrior such as Alan would be the loss of his reason to live.
She knew his mind. Alan’s purpose was the same as her husband’s. If he couldn’t
fight for the protection of his family and clan, the very thing he had been
taught from a small boy, he would rather die. Fighting was his life.

“Your leg looks better this day.” Her words brought a smile to
Alan’s handsome face. Nellie and he made a fine, loving pair—her with
deep dimples in bright, rosy cheeks and him with dancing, cerulean eyes and the
stubble of his beard matching the light color of his hair. They would have
healthy bairns that Maidie would be happy to bring into the world.

“I’ll be back in the morn, unless you need me before. Send
Seumas or Nellie at any time. I may be in the village, but I’ll come.” Maidie
patted the warrior’s strong hand.

He grabbed her hand before she could pull away. “I have no
words to thank you for saving my leg.” His eyes glowed with the warmth of
sincere gratitude.

“You’re welcome. ‘Tis my honor to treat such a fine warrior.”
So you can fight again, and mayhap lose your
life the next time.

Maidie removed her hand from Alan’s, rose and made her way to
the doorway, where Gavin stood. Cook followed her, kettle in hand. Seumas took
his seat beside Alan. The two men resumed their conversation. Gavin moved out
of the way for Cook and her to pass, then followed them down the dark passage.

When they reached the kitchen, several scullions busied
themselves preparing the noon meal. The three children played with the puppies.
Each child carried one.

Sven ran to her. “Would you like to pet the puppy, Mam?”

Maidie reached out her hand to stroke the soft coat of the
small dog. The wee animal whimpered. “He’s needing his mither, I think.”

Sven smiled up at her and then put the puppy next to the
mother dog. The pup began nursing fast and furiously. “He sure is hungry.”

“Most men have hearty appetites,” Gavin spoke from behind her.
She turned to face him. “May I walk with you to the laird’s chamber? He did ask
to see you.”

Maidie patted her son’s head. Her heart went out to him
because of his love for the wee dog, but she could not give her consent to feed
another mouth. She left with Gavin, and Sven turned back to his friends.