Chapter 24

Recovery

Two Days Later

Holly waited patiently outside the room as everyone else visited with the Laird before her. He had been asleep for two days and had finally awoken. She had gone straight to find the healer, and as soon as she returned, the healer instructed her to stay outside while she treated the Laird. Then, Eric had shown up and barged in with no respect for the Laird’s rest.

Holly paced up and down the hallway, wanting to storm in there too, but she didn’t want to trouble her husband when he badly needed rest. She did not want to crowd him.

The door opened, and Eric strode out.

“How is he?” she demanded.

“He’s awake,” he replied, striding past her.

Something snapped within Holly, and she could take it no more. She ran after Eric and grabbed his shoulder. She spun around as if he might punch her after being accosted, but he kept control of himself. He glared at her.

“I have a right to ken what is goin’ on,” Holly demanded. “I’m his wife, and I’m the last person who gets to go in there! I ken why the healer gets to go in, and she needs to treat Ragnall, but why are ye botherin’ him?”

“Och, away and boil yer head!” Eric shouted.

She thought he would turn and flee, but he stood before her, putting on a front of solid stone. But there was something more behind it, something broken. Holly didn’t know whether she wanted to push him away or take him in her arms.

“I love him,” she admitted.

She didn’t know why she told Eric before telling her husband, but she knew Eric loved him, too.

“He’s an eejit!” Eric boomed. “I’ve told him a hundred times nae to leave the castle by himself, and he went and did it anyway. I should have been there to protect him, and I nearly lost him. We all nearly lost him.”

“And I suppose ye think it is me fault!” Holly almost shrilled.

“Nay. If ye think that, then ye are an eejit, too.” Eric looked like he would break down and cry, but he was made of tougher stuff and would not show that weakness. “He told me what ye did.”

He stepped forward, and she took a small step back.

Eric didn’t stop. He stepped forward again and grabbed her hand, shaking it firmly.

“I thank ye for savin’ his life,” he said. “He told me about ye stayin’ and fightin’ with him, and aye, it was foolish of ye, but he might nae be here if ye hadnae. I really dinnae ken what I am to do with the pair of ye.”

Holly felt tears well up in her eyes, her fear for her husband washing over her. She still did not know what would happen to him.

“I should hug ye,” she mumbled.

“Och, save that for yer husband,” Eric said, shaking his head and waving her off.

“When Fraser’s dead, I want to hear a song from ye, Eric,” she demanded.

Eric smiled, and Holly was sure he blushed a little.

“Now, how’d ye hear about that?” he asked.

“I cannae reveal me sources, but it wasnae just one person.”

“Aye, I can guess,” Eric said. “Listen, I ken ye are annoyed about nae gettin’ in there first, but I ken ye’ll be the one lookin’ after him for the next while. Take care of him, all right?”

“I will,” Holly sighed. “Eric, afore ye go, I want to ken about Fraser. Ye went in there to talk about him with the Laird, and I deserve to ken where we stand.”

“Aye, ye do,” Eric relented. “I sent men out as soon as ye got back to the castle, and they found his hideout in one of the villages just outside MacPherson lands. Three of his men were killed, and the remainin’ three surrendered. Those who were helpin’ him have been imprisoned and will be dealt with when the Laird is back on his feet.”

“Ye didnae mention Fraser. He got away, did he nae?” Holly asked.

“He’s lost the last of his power. If he kens what’s best for him, he’ll be on his way to the English border.”

“Do ye think that will happen?” she asked.

“Nay. He’s lost just about everythin’. He’ll wait for another chance. Dinnae worry, nay one is gettin’ to Ragnall while he is in the castle, and I will make sure he willnae go out alone again. We are almost at the end of this.”

Holly touched Eric’s arm. “Thank ye.”

“Aye, Me, Lady,” he said, before turning and leaving.

Holly went back to the room just as the healer was leaving. She was an older woman, perhaps in her sixties. She must be familiar with the Laird by now, having patched him up multiple times over the years.

“How is he doin’?” Holly asked.

“He’s askin’ for ye,” the healer replied. “I’m nae worried about the wound in his shoulder, nor any of the other superficial ones, but the one in his stomach is bad. He’s awake, and that’s a good sign, and he’s as strong as they come. He’s suffered worse, but nae by much. There’s only so much I can do for the pain. He needs rest, and I’ll ken more in a couple of days.”

“Thank ye for carin’ for him,” Holly said.

“Me Lady,” the healer replied, touching her bonnet.

Holly watched her go, and she was afraid to enter the room. She had nothing to be afraid of, but she didn’t want to see her husband in pain. She had spent almost two days by his bedside, unable to sleep, and he had been unconscious the entire time. He had barely moved. Now, he was awake, and it felt more terrifying. She did not want to see him weak.

Holly pushed the door open and stepped inside. The Laird lay in the bed with his eyes open, looking up at the ceiling. He managed to move his head and look toward the door as she entered. He stared at her for a second before he smiled weakly. Holly smiled, too, and ran to the bed.

She dropped to her knees by the bed and reached for him, but she drew her hands back when she worried she might hurt him. She looked into his eyes and saw all his beauty laid out before her. She saw her future laid out before her. She rested her head on the spot beside his hand and looked up at his face.

Ragnall brought a hand to her cheek, wincing a little as he moved.

“I was so worried,” Holly choked out. “I thought I had lost ye. Ye collapsed when we got to the castle, and they couldnae wake ye.”

“I’m awake now,” he said.

“How are ye feelin’?”

“I was in a lot of pain not a minute ago,” Ragnall admitted. “Then, I saw yer face, and all that went away. I’m glad ye are here. Ye cannae leave me side again. I’m the only one who can protect ye.”

“Ye dinnae have to worry about that,” Holly assured him. “Eric is takin’ care of it, and Fraser is almost defeated.”

“If he comes in here, ye must hand me me sword, aye? It’s under me pillow. I had the healer put it there for me because Eric wouldnae do it.”

Holly pulled his hand from her cheek and kissed it. “Ye are safe now. I’m safe now.”

“Nay, nay one is safe until he is dead. I’m goin’ to stick me sword in his heart.”

Holly didn’t like how her husband was speaking, and he was getting a little too excited when he was supposed to be resting. She knew he wanted to defend her, and she had seen him do that. He had stood before four men, putting his life at risk so she could escape, and even though he had been wounded badly, he had still chased her down and freed her from two more men.

She had had a lot of time to think about it over the past couple of days as she had sat by his bed, and she had come to a pleasant conclusion. She might not have had time to tell him, and he had not said anything to her, but it was obvious he loved her. He would not have put his life at risk if he did not.

He could have chased down Fraser and left her for dead, but he chose her over the enemy he had been chasing for a dozen years.

“Ye willnae leave me side, right?” Ragnall asked, his eyes glistening.

“I willnae,” Holly promised him.

She needed to do all she could to keep him calm. He didn’t have to worry about Fraser any longer.

“I have somethin’ I need to tell ye,” she added. “I meant to tell ye when we were on our picnic, but I didnae get the chance. I love ye, Ragnall.”

The Laird stared at her, the look in his eyes shifting between delirium and wild rage. “He hurt ye! He would have killed ye!”

Holly gripped his hand tight. “Did ye hear what I said? I love ye, Ragnall. That’s all that matters now. We can have a future together.”

“I dinnae have a future,” Ragnall said. He was starting to worry her. “Me future is clothed in blood. I will stick me sword through his chest, and I will set us both free.”

He stared at her intently, and she feared he would get up and go out to try to find Fraser. She had hoped that he would tell her he loved her, but he was still intent on revenge.

“I will kill him for what he did to ye,” Ragnall hissed. “For what he did to everyone.”

He leaned forward as if to get up, groaned, and then he fell back on his pillow.

Holly knew she could not leave his side. If she did, he might go and do something that would likely get him killed.