Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

T he healer turned out to be a kindly woman in her fifties, with a lined face that once might have been beautiful, graying hair, and bright green eyes. She had a plump, matronly figure that reminded Alana of her mother's. She felt an instant connection to her.

"Lady Alana, is it nae?" the healer asked when she entered the infirmary, her eyes wide with surprise as they landed on Alana. As if remembering herself, she immediately bobbed a small curtsey.

"Aye, but please, plain old just Alana will dae. I'm nae used tae bein' called ‘lady,' nor havin' folks bowing' and curtseyin' tae me," she explained, eliciting a beaming smile from the woman, which she immediately returned.

"Very well, plain old Alana," said the healer, nodding and coming closer. Her eyes searched Alana's face as though she were seeking something there. "I'm very pleased tae meet ye. I'm Moira, the healer here at the castle."

"How dae ye dae, Moira? I'm very pleased tae meet ye too." They pressed their hands together in friendly greeting.

Then, Moira's expression turned more serious, and she said, "Now, ye seem in rather a rush. What's the matter? Is it somethin' I can help with?" Her lively eyes were full of concern and curiosity which Alana found reassuring.

"Aye, I am rather. I'm sorry tae burst in on ye like this, Moira, but 'tis a

bit of an emergency, and I need yer help," she explained, full of anxiety over Tadhg.

"Och, an emergency, is it? Of course, I'll help if I can. That's what I'm here

fer. What's happened?" the healer asked in her soft throaty voice.

"'Tis me husband Tadhg," Alana told her. "He's been hurt, and I need some

salves and a few dressings and such like tae treat his wounds. And maybe some willow tea if ye have it."

"I'm sorry tae hear about yer husband. He's the big braw fella, is he nae? A fine figure of a man fer sure," she said, her eyes twinkling.

"Aye, that's him," Alana replied, feeling a flash of unaccountable pride in her handsome so-called husband, which she knew was ridiculous and instantly crushed.

"How did he get himself injured?" Moira inquired, tilting her head in a birdlike manner.

"Och, the fool decided he and Blaine should go head tae head in a sparrin' match," Alana explained what had happened as briefly as she could, leaving out what had sparked the fight.

"Oh, and did he lose, yer man?"

"Nay, he won." Alana replied. Again, she felt that stupid flash of pride in Tadhg. Again, she deliberately squashed it.

"Mmm," Moira murmured thoughtfully. "That means the loser will be along shortly tae have his wounds seen tae as well then." She sighed and shook her gray head. "Well, that's the men fer ye, eh? Always lookin' fer an excuse tae fight."

"Aye, ye're right there, Moira," Alana agreed. "I told him nae tae dae it, but he wouldnae listen. So, could ye give me some supplies?"

"Mayhap it would be best if I came and looked at his wounds mesel', bein' a healer and all," Moira suggested.

Alana smiled. "'Tis a very kind offer, but that will nae be necessary. Ye see, I'm a trained healer too."

Moira's eyes widened in surprise. "Ye're never!" she exclaimed.

"Aye, I am, just as me maither was before me. I work fer Laird Lennox, at Lennox Castle further north from here."

"Well, the Lord be praised!" Moira cried, clearly delighted by the discovery. "What a coincidence. I'm always ready tae help a fellow healer." She turned to the crammed shelves lining the walls and made a sweeping gesture with her arm. "Take whatever ye need, Alana. Everything's clearly labeled, so ye should be able tae find what ye want quite easily. While ye're doin' that, I'll make yer man and Blaine some willow tea tae help with the pain and make them sleep."

"Thank ye, Moira, I'm very grateful."

Alana went to the shelves and set about gathering the few things she required to clean Tadhg's wounds. Moira prepared the tea, bending over the fire in the hearth, asking how Alana was finding her stay at the castle. She reminded Alana so much of her mother, she felt like spilling the whole sorry tale and confessing that she and Tadhg were not man and wife. But she stopped herself. Tadhg had told her he trusted no one in the castle, and neither should she.

Just as she was leaving the infirmary, carrying a tray full of the medical supplies she needed, Moira stopped her and added a large, covered beaker full of the hot willow tea to her load.

"Come and help yersel' tae more if ye need it," she said with a warm smile. "And make sure tae come back and have a wee talk with me when ye have time. I ken yer faither very well, and I'm very worried about him. I'd like tae have the chance tae talk more with his daughter."

"Thank ye, Moira. I'd like that very much. It's been a pleasure tae meet ye," Alana told her, a little taken aback by the older woman's invitation. It sounded as if the healer was fond of John MacIver, whereas she herself felt the opposite. Nevertheless, as she hurried back to Tadhg, she thought she had found a friend in Moira and that anything the old healer had to say about Laird MacIver would prove interesting.

When she got back to their chambers, she saw Tadhg had stripped off his shirt and was holding it balled up against his chest wound as he sat at the table, waiting for her. Seeing him half naked again made her blush, but she put her embarrassment aside out of concern for his injuries.

Hurrying over to him, she set down her supplies on the table and handed him the beaker of steaming tea. "Drink that. It'll help with the pain."

"Aye, I ken what it is. That bloody awful willow tea that ye're always trying tae make me drink whenever I cut mesel'," he grumbled before obediently sipping the hot brew anyway.

She went to the washstand, filled a bowl with clean water from the jug, and brought it back the table. "I'd hardly call gettin' shot in the shoulder with an arrow a cut," she said as she bustled about, referring to one of his many former injuries she had treated over the years.

Rolling up the sleeves of her gown, she commanded, "Let me look at yer chest." He moved the balled-up shirt aside and dropped it. She saw it was soaked with blood, and more blood was coming from the gash on his upper chest. The tip of Blaine's blade had caught him and sliced through the center of one of his tattoos, a cluster of beautifully inscribed Celtic circles. Blood was welling from the lip of the wound and running down over the elegant indigo curlicues, spoiling their symmetry.

"Ach," she tutted, thinking it a shame, "ye'll have a scar there now."

"Aye, another tae add tae me collection," he murmured, his eyes still on her.

"Ye say that every time," she reminded him, beginning to feel hot as he continued to watch her every move. She tried to ignore it, paying attention to what she was doing. Using a clean cloth, she staunched the bleeding as best she could and inspected the wound. "Well, 'tis a clean cut at least. Hopefully, the fact that ‘'tis bleedin' like that means there'll be nae dirt left in the wound, but I must clean it well just the same."

"D'ye ye think it'll heal all right?" he asked, with only mild concern.

"Looking at it, I'm slightly—slightly, mind—reassured ye have a good chance of recovering with nae ill effects, but we'll see."

"I trust ye," Tadhg said as she tore up the clean cloths she had brought from the infirmary and, after dipping them in the water first, began the painstaking process of cleaning him up.

He gave a rueful chuckle as she dabbed gently at the wound. "It seems like only yesterday ye were doin' this fer me hand," he observed, holding up the hand where the red slash across his knuckles was already showing signs of healing nicely.

"Aye, it was only a few days ago, though it seems like longer with all that's happened," she murmured as she worked. It was very hard to focus on what she was supposed to be doing with his warm, half naked body just a hairsbreadth away. Why did he have to be so braw when she was trying so hard to keep her distance from him? It did not seem fair.

"Ye're always puttin' me back together, eh, Alana? Ye must have saved me life many times with yer healin' skills," he told her with a half-smile, never taking his eyes off her face.

"Aye, too many times. But that's what happens when ye keep takin' risks and getting' yersel' cut tae pieces all the time," she scolded him mildly, trying to ignore the beguiling scent of musk and fresh sweat coming off him. She really was getting overheated now and had to wipe the perspiration from her brow with the back of her forearm.

"I dinnae mean tae, but when ye're a scout, it happens sometimes," he replied with a matter-of-fact shrug.

"But ye dinnae have tae pick fights on purpose like ye did today and get yersel' all cut up again." She hated the way she sounded as if she cared, but could not seem to help it.

"I had tae fight him, Alana, ye must see that. The man was takin' advantage of ye when he thought I couldnae hear him," he replied softly.

"I'm nae so sure about that," she admitted, managing to staunch the bleeding at last.

"What? D'ye think he did it on purpose then?" he asked, suddenly alert.

"I think he daesnae believe we're married. Maybe he wanted tae see how ye'd react. Maybe he has other reasons fer wantin' tae provoke ye. Maybe he's just a hothead who cannae resist a challenge. I dinnae ken. I've only just met the man."

She reached for a pot of salve, looking him straight in the eyes as she did so, wanting to impress her words upon him. "But I wish ye hadnae done it, Tadhg, because it can cause naethin' but bad feelings. And now, here we are, as ye say, with me puttin' ye back together again."

He smiled at her in a way that made her knees feel like jelly. "Are ye nae just a wee bit proud that I beat him?" he asked slyly.

Alana tried not to smile, but she felt the corners of her mouth turning up just the same. "Maybe. Maybe nae."

"Ha! That means ye are," he said, a gleam of triumph in his eyes. He looked so happy for a moment, her heart softened towards him a little more.

"I said maybe. I owe ye me thanks fer protectin' me," she relented at last, covering her blushes by opening the salve and dabbing a cloth into the pot.

"Ye dinnae ken how good it is tae hear ye say that," he murmured, surprising her by reaching up and brushing his fingers across her cheek in a gentle caress. A shiver went through her body at his touch, and she froze in place, the cloth poised in midair as they stared into each other's eyes, their faces inches apart.

All I have tae dae is lean over and put me lips tae his…

She pulled herself out of his gaze and began applying the salve, but her heart was racing, and she wondered how much longer she could hold out without giving into her desire to be his once more.

"I hope Blaine's nae gonnae start any more trouble," Tadgh murmured as he entered the great hall with Alana on his arm and they made the laird's table.

"Aye, I dinnae want any more fightin' between the two of ye. We're his guests, so can ye try tae be gracious towards him and nae lord it over him because ye beat him, please?" Alana replied, plastering a smile on her face for the benefit of the other diners.

"Look, ye said ye think Blaine daesnae believe we're wed, and maybe that's why he acted the way he did. He wanted tae see what I'd dae. It would have looked suspicious if I hadnae challenged him," Tadhg insisted.

Alana sighed through her smile. "I suppose so, but I cannae help but feel nervous about comin' face tae face with him over dinner. I can feel mesel' blushin' with embarrassment already," she confessed as they took the low steps leading up to the laird's table.

Tadhg squeezed her arm, wanting to reassure her. "It'll be fine."

"So ye keep sayin', but what if Blaine's a sore loser? Who kens what he's capable of?"

"Well, we'll soon find out. Now, smile. And remember tae show affection tae

yer husband at table. Ow! Would ye mind nae pinchin' me like that? I'm already injured and ye're addin' tae me pain."

"I'll give ye pain," she whispered through her bright smile, making him grin as they came up to the table.

Tadhg was pleased to discover that their worries seemed to be groundless, for Blaine greeted them both with his former warmth, all trace of anger vanished.

"When I said ye beat me fair and square, I meant it Tadhg. 'Tis nae shame tae lose tae a warrior such as yersel'. I hope yer wounds are nae too bad. Sorry about that." He held up a bandaged wrist. "If 'tis any consolation, this is killin' me."

"I'm sorry tae hear that," Tadhg replied with what he hoped was a hearty laugh. "Aye, I've plenty nicks as well tae show fer it. I'm sorry about yer wrist. I hope it heals all right. But ye fought well. Luck was on me side. It could easily have been me on the losin' end." He figured that a little humility would not go amiss in pouring oil on troubled waters.

"Och, that's good of ye tae be so humble, but ye were the better man, I admit it," Blaine said magnanimously, slapping Tadhg on the shoulder. "Maybe we'll spar again some time while ye're here?"

"I'd like that very much," Tadhg answered, "but only if ye promise tae go easy on me next time." He glanced at Alana and then continued. "I'm sorry for overreacting, but bein' a new husband as I am, I sometimes still cannae believe me luck and control me emotions for me wife…"

Blaine burst out laughing at that, and many of the others joined in. Tadhg glanced over at Alana. She was listening intently, still wearing her smile, the smile he fancied only he could tell was fake.

The meal passed pleasantly enough, though he kept his eyes on Blaine. But the man's good mood did not seem to change. Indeed, after dinner, he approached Tadhg and invited him and Knox to join him in his study, "Fer a wee dram or two," he said.

Curious as to the man's reasons for inviting them and wanting to learn more about him, Tadhg agreed at once, and so did Knox.

He told Alana where he was going. "Be careful," she warned him under her breath, worry in her eyes as she looked up at him. It warmed his heart to see it, for it was yet another hint that, despite insisting otherwise, she might actually care about him more than she let on.

"I always am," he replied, kissing her cheek in a husbandly manner before leaving with Blaine and Knox.