Page 45 of Taken By the Devilish Highlander
Feya and Holly were doubled over in laughter, listening to Ayla’s most recent exploits with the children of the village. She enjoyed spending time with the villagers, and she had a special way with the children. She frequently had a handful of them following her around as she checked in on patients and made her rounds.
“Those bairns are glad they got ye this morning,” Holly said. “Much better than the old woman they usually deal with.”
“Nay,” Ayla insisted, jumping to Holly’s defense. “The villagers love ye, Holly. They see ye as one of them.”
“Aye,” Holly nodded. “Boring, old, and ordinary.”
They all chuckled at Holly’s self-deprecating humor, but Feya knew how important it was for villagers to connect with theirhealer. She had seen it firsthand when she cared for the people of her own village.
“It was good of ye to go,” Feya told Ayla. “I ken how they love to see ye among them.”
“Well, it was the least I could do after the night Holly had,” Ayla said. She had learned of the stillborn baby early this morning and had insisted that Holly get some sleep while Ayla went to check on the sick patients in the village. Of course, Holly had stayed awake, jumping right from her early-morning planting of her tree to working with Feya on the preparations for the day.
“We ken why Ayla and I were up so early,” Holly said, her gaze settling on Feya. “But why did ye wander down here practically before dawn?”
Ayla’s eyebrows shot up, learning about Feya’s early wake-up for the first time. Feya felt the pressure of their gaze, but she wasn’t about to tell them the truth. What would she even say? Every time I close my eyes, I imagine Archer in bed with me? It was far too embarrassing to admit.
“I couldnae sleep,” she admitted.
“Hmmm.”
Holly and Ayla shared a look, as if they were speaking a separate language.
“What?” Feya protested. She didn’t like they way they seemed to diagnose this sleeplessness all on their own.
“It’s interesting,” Ayla said. She was mixing soap over the fire, and she walked over to stir it, carrying an air of knowing. “The last time we saw ye, ye were headed to see me brother. Something about forcing him to have treatment?”
“I wouldn’t sayforcing,” Feya said, but then she thought of the way she had pulled him out of his study, had forced him into his bedchamber, where the bath had been waiting for him.
“I’m not criticizing,” Ayla told her. “In fact, I’m impressed. There aren’t many who can stand up to me brother and live to talk about it. I only hope he wasnae cruel.”
She pictured him at the end of the bed, staring up at her.
Now it’s my turn to treat ye.
“Nay,” Feya said. Her voice squeaked on the word, and her cheeks grew warm. She kept her eyes on the table in front of her. “I think we found an understanding.”
She was too nervous to look up, but she could imagine Holly and Ayla sharing another amused glance.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Ayla said. “When ye dinnae come to dinner last night, I was worried Archer had done something to upset ye.”
On the contrary, Feya thought, but she wouldn’t reveal that to Ayla and Holly, no matter how comfortable she felt with them.
“Speak and he appears,” Holly announced, and Feya looked up to see the very man she had been dreaming about, now in the flesh. He stood in the doorway, hesitating.
“Come in, brother,” Ayla called. “We were just speaking of how ye scared Feya from the dining table last evening.”
“Nay,” Feya cried out, eager to make it clear she had said nothing of the sort. She caught Archer’s eyes and shook her head. “I was only tired.”
Archer smirked, and it suddenly felt like they were the only two in the room. Feya’s whole body went hot, and she could feel her heartbeat in her ears. She looked away and gripped the edge of the counter, forcing herself to breathe.
“Exactly why I came here,” he said, sweeping his gaze around the room to address all of the women with a confidence Feya envied. “Ye missed out on one of cook’s best last night.”
His eyes settled on Feya again and she looked at him. It was impossible not to feel nervous under his gaze, not to question whether she stared too much or blinked too often.
“Ye must let me make it up to ye.”
“It’s alright,” Feya started, but Archer interrupted.
