Page 51 of Taken By the Heartless Highlander
“He was fightin’ with the guards all mornin’ and fell asleep,” Daisy said, giggling.
Keira rolled her eyes. “I hope he doesnae get himself killed in the process,” she said good-naturedly. “I’ll be back later this evening, flower. I’ll see ye later.”
And leaving Daisy to admire her gowns, she set off for the wilds to find the herbs she needed.
The day was bright and sunny now that the wind had blown the clouds away, and she made her way out of the castle and toward the loch in the distance feeling cheerful and content.
She had a mind to collect some foxgloves and try to create the tea that might alleviate Noah’s pain. She was also after some willow bark and sundew flowers, often found beside the water in the Highlands. She hoped it would be a fruitful mission.
She had decided that any type of treatment used in moderation might give her an indication of MacAllen’s predicament. She was not too proud to admit that she was eager to impress him.
She continued onward, her medical bag slung over her shoulder and the sun on her face.
As she turned the corner in the path, she stopped, frowning at a dark shape sitting at the edge of the road. As she walked closer, she realized it was a laborer sitting in a crumpled position, cursing colorfully as he gathered mud in his hands.
“Are ye well?” she called, moving more swiftly as she noticed the blood on his leg.
He turned. “Away with ye, woman!” he shouted, but she knew the look in his eyes was pain, not anger.
“I am a healer, sir; let me help ye,” she said gently, kneeling beside him.
As soon as he saw the multitude of herbs and jars glinting in her bag, he seemed to calm down a bit.
“Sorry, lass, I thought ye were one of the children from the town.”
“It is alright; where are ye injured?” she asked, looking at the mud dripping through his fingers. “And what are ye plannin’ to do with that?”
“Rub mud in the wound; that’s what me maither told me,” he replied as the black mass oozed unpleasantly onto the ground beneath him.
“Let me take a look, and we can see if yer maither is right,” she said hurriedly, pushing his hands gently back to the earth, grateful that she had reached him in time. Heaven knew what foul humors might be lurking in the soil.
She looked down at his leg as he pulled his trews up, and she saw a nasty cut just above the ankle.
“How did ye do that?” she asked as she pulled out the items she needed from her bag.
“Och, I was tryin’ to get up from the bank,” he nodded behind him at a net full of fish, “and there was somethin’ stickin’ out, a nail maybe? It cut into me leg when I fell.”
“Well, it’s nae too deep,” she said, examining the wound more closely. “We’ll stop the bleedin’ and get ye on yer way”.
The man grunted. “Ye are an angel, lass; I wasnae sure if I could walk back.”
“Is it far? I could splint it for ye?”
“Nae, bandage it up, and I’ll be alright,” he said. “Where did ye appear from?”
“I came from the castle,” she replied as she cleaned the wound of grit and mud.
“Och, MacAllen Castle is where me nephew works. He’s a good laird and no mistake.”
Keira glanced up at him with a smile. “He is,” she said quietly, feeling a pulse of secret pleasure even hearing Noah’s family name. “Now—this may sting a little,” she said as she unstoppered a bottle of liniment.
The man had the rudest mouth on him she had ever heard, and she learned some new curse words that day as she applied the liquid to the wound.
After she had bandaged it and helped him to his feet, she asked him to walk a few yards to ensure he could move about alright. Once she was satisfied that he could, she sent him on his way.
“Will ye take nae payment, lass? Can I give ye yer dinner at least?” he asked, indicating the fish.
“That is kind, but nay, I must get to the lochside before nightfall. Take care and rest yer foot when ye get home.”
