Page 54 of A Sinful Night with a Scot
Alisdair smirked at Keane, and Keane smirked back. “Stubborn,” they both said together. Farlan only chuckled and shook his head.
“Now, let’s tak’ a look at this wound, fer I am certain it should be healing nicely by now.”
Alisdair and Elsie both gazed at the wound once the old man had removed the bandage. Watching them, Keane could not help thinking he was on display.
“Well?” Elsie said.
Farlan nodded. “It looks fine, me lady. There are nae signs o’ infection. In fact, he has healed so well, I dae believe the laird can now return tae his own bed.”
Elsie flashed Keane an excited smile, the sparkle in her eyes causing his heart to jump a beat. But she did not linger, and a second later, her eyes were back on Farlan.
“Are ye certain it is safe tae move him? Can he even walk?”
Farlan, as patient as ever, smiled across the bed at her. “Why dinnae we find out?”
Ten minutes later, and after a little wincing, Keane was on his feet beside the bed. After shooing them all away, he took tentative steps. Not that there was anything wrong with his legs, for the worst wound was in his stomach. The other, though not anywhere near as bad, was his upper arm, but that only ached now.
“Are ye all right?” Elsie pressed.
“Will ye stop fussing, woman?” Keane retorted, though he softened his reply with a smile.
She smiled back and watched as Keane took steady strides from one end of the room to the other. He then turned towards them and said, “Ye see? I am fine.” He opened his arms to prove a point, only to hiss at a biting pain that took him by surprise.
“Aye,” Alisdair drawled with a smirk. “Fit as a flea.”
The following morning, Keane called a council meeting. Alisdair had informed him that each member had come to see him in the healer’s cottage, worried for his welfare. Now, he had to address them about what had happened and what they planned to do about it.
The wound was still tender, but whatever Farlan had given him was effective in dulling the pain. Alisdair enquired as to how he felt in his bedchamber.
“I’ve had worse,” Keane replied.
“Aye, I ken, but just because I’ve had worse meals, doesnae mean that any awful meal after that isnae unpleasant.”
Keane smiled. “I’ll be fine. Are the council gathered?”
“Aye. They’re in the great hall, and are all eager tae see ye.”
“Good. Then let’s go and satisfy their morbid curiosity.”
Alisdair chuckled and shook his head.
As expected, the older men were happy to see him looking so well. Keane nodded and thanked them all when they offeredtheir greetings and well wishes. With that done, he was eager to get down to the reason they were all there.
“These men were obviously hiding in anticipation o’ our return. I thus surmise that we were observed leaving the castle, if only from a distance.”
“Ye think Gunn’s men are that close?” Callum said.
“Nae all o’ them. The men who attacked us were only six. Given there were so few, it stands tae reason that they were there fer Lady Mackay.”
“How is Lady Mackay?” Michael asked. “She must have been terrified.”
Keane lifted the corner of his mouth. “I dae believe she was, Michael. But that didnae stop her from jumping on one o’ the soldiers backs and stabbing him until he was nae longer able tae fight, thus, saving me life.”
All the men’s mouths dropped at the exact same time.
“Indeed, gentlemen,” Keane continued. “I am only here by the good grace o’ me wife. The same lass we were eager tae slaughter.”
Michael chuckled then, hearing Keane’s sarcasm. “She’s certainly a force tae be reckoned with, me laird.”
