Page 47 of Sins of a Scot
“So, ye were bitten by a snake?” the innkeeper said, his eyes wide with interest.
“Aye,” Owen said, sporting a knowing smile. “But Thomas fixed us right up and sent us tae ye.”
“And I’m glad he did too. Ye’re in luck. We have one room left. Phillip is me name, and anything I can get fer ye, ye only have tae ask.”
“Thank ye,” Iseabail said, her tone conveying how impressed she was with his kindness.
“Ye’re welcome, miss. Ye’ll find the village is a friendly bunch. And tonight, we have a celebration.”
Owen nodded. “Aye. Thomas was telling us.”
“Well, be sure tae come and join us. We’ll be in the field beyond the main road. There’ll be music and dancing. ‘Tis me niece who’s getting wed.”
No sooner were they in the room, than Owen turned to leave again.
“Where are ye going?” Iseabail asked in surprise.
“I’m away to retrieve yer mare. We cannae leave her out there all night. Ye stay here and rest that leg. I’ll nae be too long.”
Iseabail nodded, and a second later, Owen had slipped out of the room. Dropping onto the bed she lay back and relaxed. What a day it had been. Between dead merchants and near-death experiences, she had had her fill of excitement, and the day was not yet done.
“I dinnae ken if I can take anymore,” she breathed.
As she lay there, she thought about the madness of the last hour, and recalling Owen sucking the poison from her leg, she sighed, allowing herself to remember it now, without the added pain that had accompanied it earlier. It had been the strangest sensation, and yet, not unpleasant at all. How bizarre that her stomach flipped as she thought about it.
All that had happened since leaving the Sinclair’s castle then came back to her, one circumstance at a time, and as she considered all that Owen had done for her, she could hardly fault him. Indeed, he had made a mistake yesterday, getting into that fight, but it was becoming more and more obvious that the old woman had been right. He had done it for her. Just like he had risked his own life for her today, and then hurriedly made sure she got the attention and care she needed.
Perhaps she had judged Owen Sinclair a little too quickly.
Perhaps ye’re finally giving in tae what ye felt that very first night he saved ye.
Yes, he had taken her breath away. He had also unnerved her. A feeling she was not at all used to. But then, she hadn’t really had chance to think about herself over the last months.
Marriage was hardly a consideration one made when one’s clan was under constant attack by a madman. Owen had asked her yesterday, why she was not married. The question had been unexpected, and thus, she had rushed to answer it. Her tone hadbeen rude, and perhaps a part of that was the fact that she didn’t want him to know what Laird Sutherland had in store for her. She had told him that it was none of his business, but the truth was, she might have to marry far sooner than Owen might think.
When Iseabail blinked her eyes open, she was at first, a little confused. And then realizing where she was, she yawned.
Owen’s voice carried from across the room. “Hello, sleepy head.”
Pushing herself onto her elbow, she squinted her eyes and gazed across at him. He was sat in a chair beside the fire, a book in one hand and a tankard sat on the table beside him.
“How long have I been sleeping?”
“A couple o’ hours,” he replied. “I think that snake bite had ye rattled. Thomas said yer body would be in shock.”
“Good grief.” She yawned again. “I cannae believe I slept that long.”
“Clearly, ye needed it.” He stood and placed his book on the chair before striding over to the dresser. Taking the jug, he poured water into a cup and moved towards her. “Here. Drink that.”
Iseabail pushed herself up in the bed and took the offered drink. “Thanks.”
He returned to his chair, sat himself down again, and after giving her a final glance, commenced with reading the book in his hand.
“Have ye eaten?” Iseabail asked.
Owen looked over at her and shook his head. “Nae yet. Are ye hungry?”
She nodded. “I think I could eat. We never did get that meal earlier. Ye said ye were starving. I thought ye would have got something.”
