Page 16 of Trapped By the Wicked Highlander
The room was simple, yet comfortable, with a large wooden table at the center and a window that allowed the faint glow of the evening light to filter in. A large hearth with pots and cauldrons made available as well.
Cassandra set her bag down on the table and looked around, taking in the space she’d be working in for the time being.
"Aye, this'll do," she said.
"I'm glad to hear it," he said.
She appreciated the effort Hunter had put into making sure she had a place to work, though it was hard to ignore the knot of frustration that still lingered in her chest. She needed to focus on her work, not her emotions.
"I'll be startin’ right away. If ye want to return when-" but he stopped her before she could finish.
"Nay, I will stay right here," he said.
She quickly got to work, her hands moving with practiced ease as she unpacked her supplies. Her mind went over the ingredients she’d gathered earlier, mentally organizing the poultice she needed to prepare. It would require a careful balance of herbs and careful preparation, and she couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. The thought of the patients waiting for her treatment pushed all other thoughts aside as she concentrated on her task.
As she ground the herbs in the mortar, Cassandra’s thoughts briefly drifted to Hunter. His presence had been commanding, yet there was a quiet protectiveness in his actions that she couldn’t quite ignore. She could see why the villagers trusted him—there was something about him that made people feel safe. But she also reminded herself that she couldn’t afford to get distracted by him, not when there was so much at stake with the illness spreading through the castle.
"Ye have everythin’? I shall send for a maid if ye need more water, or anythin’ else," he said.
"Nay, I have everythin’ for now. Thank ye," she said.
She carefully mixed the ingredients, making sure each one was prepared properly before adding the next. The poultice would take time to create, but she was confident that it would help ease the patients’ suffering.
She lost herself in the rhythm of her work, the task a welcome distraction from the confusion and tension that had been building inside her. It wasn’t the first time she’d found solace in the simple act of preparing medicine, but it was the first time in a long while that it had been accompanied by such a sense of urgency.
"I’ll leave ye to it, lass, and return in an hour," he said, his tone softer now, though there was still a hint of concern in his eyes. "Ye’ve all ye need, aye?"
Cassandra nodded without looking up, focusing on the final steps of the poultice. "Aye, I'm settled," she replied, her voice steady, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
Hunter gave a short nod before turning to leave, the sound of his boots fading down the hall. Cassandra breathed a small sigh of relief once she was alone again. The quiet of the room allowed her to focus entirely on the task in front of her. She could feel the weight of the responsibility on her shoulders, but it was a weight she was familiar with, one she had carried many times before.
Her hands worked with precision, and soon enough, the poultice was ready. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do. Cassandra couldn’t afford to waste time second-guessing herself. She had patients waiting, and she wouldn’t let them down.
CHAPTER NINE
Hunter checked on Elena once more. Then after an hour, returned to check on Cassandra. He stood by the open door, his arms folded across his chest as he watched Cassandra work. She moved with precision, her brow furrowed in concentration as she carefully prepared the poultice.
"All well in here, lass?" he asked.
She jumped. "For God's sake. Ye frightened me," she said.
"Apologies, lass."
"Aye, all is well. I just need more time," she said as her gaze returned to the work.
There was something captivating about the way she threw herself into the task, the way her hands seemed to dance with the rhythm of the work. It wasn’t just her skills as a healer thatcaught his attention, but the way she seemed so at ease in her element, her focus unwavering.
I must confess, I admire the lass.
As he observed her, Hunter found himself struck by how beautiful she looked in that moment. The intensity on her face, the slight furrow of her brow, and the way her hands worked so deftly—all of it made her seem more than just a healer. He told himself it was foolish to think such things, that he was seeing her through the lens of his own desires, which were better left unacknowledged.
She's a healer, nothin’ more, and me focus should remain on the immediate task at hand.
Hunter felt a pang of unease in his chest as memories of those he had lost over the years flashed before his eyes. The thought of getting too close to someone again was a dangerous one—one that had cost him dearly in the past.
Anyone who grew close to him, who learned to trust him, ended up gone in one way or another. The faces of his past—his parents, his wife, his comrades—haunted him, each one a painful reminder of the consequences of allowing someone into his life.
He shook his head, trying to banish the thoughts that threatened to consume him. He had been living with this burden for years, and it had made him cold, distant, and unwilling to let anyone get too close.
