Legacy of the Mist Clans Box Set (102 page)

“I . . . I feared for ye.” He stared at her, his blue eyes growing as tempestuous as the storm that raged outside. He still leaned against the door, but he reached up and gently cradled her face in one massive hand. Without another word, he lowered his head and captured her mouth.

His kiss was powerful and primitive. He would not let her back away as his tongue plundered her mouth, but she didn’t want to back away. She felt the heat from his body. It enveloped her just as his arm enveloped her and pulled her even closer. He dizzied her senses, and the world turned upside down, but she returned his kiss with all that was within her, and that only seemed to encourage him. She thought about how close he had been to making love to her this morning if Adam hadn’t—Adam . . .

He had stopped crying but was grunting and fussing in the sling. She thought he would not like being trapped between him, but now he was warm and sheltered. What was she doing? She needed to see to him and to Connell before he collapsed. Reluctantly, she ended the kiss, stepping back slightly.

Connell tried to pursue her, but his seizing muscles stopped him. He froze, his eyes still glazed, but his body continued to tremble. “Nay,” he growled hoarsely, trying to pull her back.

“Ye need tae get back tae bed.”

“Nay . . .”

“Connell, if ye collapse on the floor, I willna be able tae help ye.”

His long blond hair tumbled wildly around his face, a muscle jumped in his jaw that was clenched entirely too tightly, but he seemed to pull his senses together and looked to the bedroom. “Hand me my sword, please.” His voice was still nothing more than a deep growl.

“Connell—”

“My sword, please, lassie. I canna pick it up.”

She grabbed the hilt and handed it to him, wondering what he was about. He took it, and using it like a cane, shifted his weight from the door and took an unsteady step for the bedroom. So that was how he had managed to walk from the bedroom to the front door. He reached out with his left arm and draped it over her shoulders, but most of his weight he bore himself, using his sword. One agonizing step at a time, they slowly returned to the bedroom. He didn’t even protest when she helped undress him, but she could not help but notice he was in a state of half arousal. A blush heated her cheeks, but she fought to ignore it, knowing that pain could sometimes do odd things to people. And he was in pain, that much she was certain of. The color still had not returned to his face. Finally, he was in bed, but sweat still dampened his skin, and he fought to catch his breath.

“Lassie,” he said tightly, “please dinna do that again. My heart canna take it.”

“Forgive me,” she said, smoothing his hair back from his face. “I vow I didna mean tae worry ye.” His concern warmed her heart.

“I didna mean tae undo the work ye have done, but please, ye must be careful when I am no’ with ye. One man escaped, remember?”

With his words, her fear tried to return, but she shook her head stubbornly. “We either live here or return tae running again. I’m done running, Connell MacGrigor. I’m done jumping at every little thing, and I’m most certainly done looking over my shoulder.”

He gazed at her a long moment, then his lips tugged upward. “What happened tae the sign ye thought ye had hanging about yer neck?”

“I threw it away.”

He chuckled and winced. “Och, lassie, dinna be making me laugh. It hurts.”

“I think ye be needing yer medicant. The apothecary adjusted the dosage.”

“Aye, but methinks ye need tae make it a mite stronger this time. After my foolishness, I can hardly move.”

“Let me take care of Adam, and I’ll see what I can do. Try tae rest for a bit.”

“Aye.”

She stepped for the door but hesitated and looked back at him. “Connell?”

“Aye?”

“Thank ye.”

“For what?”

“For coming tae my rescue even when I didna need rescuing.”

He flashed her a bright grin, the beautiful smile that was so very precious because it was so very rare. “Anytime, lassie, anytime.”

HHH

Connell discovered that he could tell by the taste how strong his medicant was. And the cup Mairi gave him was quite foul. But this time, he was grateful for it. His quest to get out of bed, dress himself, fetch his sword, and then travel from the bedroom to the front door had been an epic adventure indeed. It had also exhausted him. But he was grateful to note he only dozed, rarely slipping into a deeper sleep. He was keenly aware of Mairi as she worked. The soft sound of her humming reached him, and he allowed his worries to wash away with the rain that pounded on the roof. What was more, he enjoyed listening to the sound. Now that she was home and safe, the raging storm outside could not compete with the pleasant sounds coming from the kitchen.

Home.

It struck him how quickly he had come to think of this place as his home. Perhaps it was the medicant making him barmy again, but the comfort he took in the sound, the smell, and the warmth in their small home didn’t escape him. He had worried so terribly that he now savored the peace he felt knowing she was here and safe. Adam, now dry and warm, burbled happily in the other room. No doubt he was on his blanket, playing with his toys. The lad didn’t have many, but Connell resolved to get him some more as soon as he was able. Christmas was coming, and he could use that as an excuse to see that the lad was just as happy as his mum in their new home.

Aye, perhaps it was the medicant making him barmy again, but Connell wouldn’t trade the peace he had just discovered, not for all the treasure in the world.

HHH

The storm lasted all that day and into the night, waking Connell several times. He began to worry over the roof as the torrents of rain pounded against it. He marveled that it hadn’t started leaking yet. He wasn’t sure if the smith had built it or had someone do it for him, but whoever had put the roof on this place had done their job ten times over. They stayed warm and dry while the storm raged.

Finally, dawn arrived and Connell awoke in much the same position as he had yesterday morning, but he managed to curb his desire, although he now questioned why he did so. Mairi had not rejected his advances. Of course, he’d be a fool to start something he could not finish. He had absolutely no desire to bring things to a fever pitch only to have every muscle lock on him. Nay, he would wait until he recovered completely, then he would know for certain this was his own decision and not something the medicant had induced.

Bright sunshine streamed through the closed shutters as Mairi rose from the bed. She opened one and peeked out, then inhaled deeply and opened it wide. The air was chill but smelled so fresh and clean that Connell understood immediately why she had done so.

“How does it look outside?”

“The storm did its damage,” she said. “There’s debris in the smithing yard, but none of it appears tae be from the shop. Although there be enough of it that I can tell some roofs didna fair as well as ours.” She paused, a frown blurring her brow. “Looking past the back of the smith’s shop, there’s enough of a gap in the buildings down the hill that I can see a wee bit of the port in the distance. One of the tall ships appears to have a hole in its side just above the waterline.”

“It probably wasna tied properly and slammed into the dock.”

“Most likely. But the sky is a brilliant blue, and the air is so fresh. Would ye mind if I opened the other shutters a bit? There be a chill in the air, but it’s beautiful outside.”

“Aye, lassie, go right ahead. The season be changing, and it willna be long before we be shuttered and barred against the snow. We may as well enjoy the fresh air while we can.”

“My thoughts exactly,” she said with a grin.

She opened the house and took care of Adam. But as she worked to prepare breakfast, Adam grew fussy and had Mairi jumping. He would settle when she paid attention to him, but the moment she tried to devote herself to any sort of work, he would start fussing again. Connell was feeling much better this morning and eyed his leggings that Mairi had draped over the edge of the bed. Did he dare tempt fate? If he was wrong and made himself worse off, Mairi would be fit to be tied. But he was already sick of being stuck in bed and staring at the same four walls. If he could get out of bed, for a time at least, he could probably entertain Adam and keep the lad out of her hair.

Summoning his courage, he once again battled to rise from the bed. To his surprise, he was able to pull on his leggings with a minimal amount of pain. The furniture was placed in such a way that he could lean against it and reach the bedroom door. He padded silently on bare feet and didn’t bother with his tunic. He reached the door just as Adam started to fuss and whine again.

He was sitting on his blanket but looked at Mairi in the kitchen, growing more cranky as she worked. He started to screw up his face to wail in earnest when Connell’s movement at the door caught his eye, and he stopped.

Connell held his finger to his lips, knowing the lad wouldn’t understand but hoping his movement would keep him distracted. He stepped slowly into the main room, and just as he had hoped, Adam was completely interested in what Connell was doing. If Mairi noticed, she didn’t make any indication, continuing to work in the kitchen. Connell moved a little too quickly and stopped, grimacing as his back gave him a warning twinge.

Adam though it delightfully funny and giggled.

“Oh, really?” Connell murmured and made another face at him.

Adam giggled again.

“Well, at least I ken how tae keep ye entertained.” He continued to move forward slowly until he was able to sink onto the divan.

Holy hell! That was a mistake he belatedly realized. Sitting on the divan made every muscle in his back clench painfully. He barely bit back a groan of pain.

Adam laughed and waved his arms.

Connell rolled his eyes at the lad. “Thank ye for the encouragement,” he muttered. Then he eyed the blanket the lad sat on, an idea niggling at his brain.

He had no idea where his bedroll had wandered off to and had no doubt Mairi had something to do with its disappearance, but Adam was quite content to play on the floor when he didn’t want attention, and Connell decided that if it was good enough for the lad, it was good enough for him. Slowly, he moved until he joined Adam on his blanket. Instead of sitting, which seemed to send his back into greater spasms, he lay on his side and slowly turned until he was flat on his back.

Unlike sleeping on the floor in the bedroom, it was warm here, and Connell found it far more comfortable than the divan. As he relaxed, the pain eased quite a bit. He looked at Adam, who was still watching him intently. “Now, this be more like it, laddie.”

HHH

Mairi worked in the kitchen as rapidly as she could, knowing Adam would start howling at any moment. She waited, but when she didn’t hear anything, she grew concerned. He had been wanting her attention and seemed determined to get it, and Mairi knew when he was in a mood like this, he rarely gave up on anything easily.

He was getting to the point where he was growing more adept at crawling. He was also using objects to pull himself into a standing position, and Mairi found herself growing more and more concerned over the hearth. She had resolved to ask Connell about making a guard of some sort to keep the lad out of it.

She still waited to hear Adam cry but was startled when she heard Adam’s delighted laugh instead.

What had caused such a change?

Adam’s giggle turned into a full-blown belly laugh followed by an elated squeal.

What in the world? Adam’s squealing grew. She couldn’t ever remember hearing him laugh so.

She stepped from the kitchen and peered around the corner.

Connell lay on his back before the hearth facing away from her, holding Adam to his chest. He slowly lifted the bairn straight up until his arms were fully extended and held him there. Adam laughed and squealed while Connell made faces at him. Then Connell bent his arms until Adam returned to his chest. After a moment, he repeated the action, much to Adam’s delight.

Adam looked up and saw her watching them. “Mu-mum-mu.”

She battled to keep a straight face and failed miserably. A giggle escaped her.

Connell tilted his head backward until he was literally looking at her upside down from the floor. “What?”

Mairi started laughing so hard she had to grab a chair so she could sit down.

Connell didn’t move, continuing to watch her while she chortled. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, she saw it. He grinned at her, that bright, beautiful smile of his fair lit the room.

“I ken he was driving ye daft, lassie. I had tae do something tae make myself useful. Now, he’s having fun, and this actually feels good on my back. My arms are no’ near so stiff.”

She shook her head, still chuckling. “Connell, how do ye plan on getting up?”

His smile never wavered. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get tae it.”

HHH

After a sennight, Connell returned to work, opening the shop before the smith arrived. He was moving normally, although he still had to be careful when he lifted anything or turned sharply.

It wasn’t long before he heard the smith whistling his familiar tune.

“Good morrow, Connell. How are ye?”

“I be—”

The smith gave him an arched look.

“Better,” Connell said, a smile tugging at his lips. “Much better.”

The smith winked at him. “Good lad.”

Connell was not so reckless as to throw himself back into his work. He had definitely learned a painful lesson. He did not shy away from the physical labor, but he approached it a bit more cautiously, at least until he was certain he had his smithing legs under him again.

What had truly caused the problem, at least before the disaster of unloading the crates, was that he had been trying to return to duties he had not performed in a long time and then was sleeping, or trying to sleep, on a cold hard floor.

But now he was sleeping in a warm, comfortable bed, and he awoke every morning holding Mairi in his arms. The desire to have her was still there—there were a few times he had been forced to battle it down with all of his might—but no longer being alone when he awoke was proving a greater tonic than anything, and that surprised him.