Page 13 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
Thankfully, Eliza began speaking. Saving his racing mind from spiraling any further.
“Alright,” she said, albeit her voice was reluctant. “He can be me guard,” she whirled on Eliot. “But daenae ye go interferin’. If ye’re gonna be around, ye’ll be stayin’ out of me way unless I ask ye for help.”
Eliot gave her a quick nod. “Ye willnae even notice I’m there. I’ll be quiet as a mouse.”
Eliza glared at him. “I doubt that. But I willnae go makin’ problems for ye if ye daenae go doin’ it for me.”
A flicker of amusement lit within Conall as he watched this exchange. It wasn’t often that he’d seen a lass go toe to toe with him or with his man-at-arms. But Eliza had been doing it since the moment they’d arrived at her cottage.
A lass with more guts than some soldiers.
The thought made him smirk just as the healer had turned her attention back to him.
“What are ye smirkin’ about?” she hissed. “Likin’ the fact that I’m now bein’ watched over like a wee lass?”
Conall raised his hands before him in mock innocence.
“I daenae ken what yer talkin’ about, lass,” he said, but his words were undercut by the smirk still lingering on his face.
“I’m talkin’ about ye bein’ a beast and a wallop.”
Irritation flashed through him at the insult, snuffing out any amusement he’d held just moments before. He narrowed his eyes on the woman before him, taking several steps forward to close the distance between them.
In all his time as the Laird, Conall had almost always been able to use his size to intimidate people. He relied on it.
But Eliza seemed to refuse to be intimidated. She glared at him, somehow finding a way to look down her nose at him even though he towered over her.
Conall wasn’t sure if he was impressed by it or if it only made him angrier.
“I ken where ye come from, lass,” he said as they stared each other down. “I ken the war that’s happenin’ there. But ye’re in me castle now. And while ye’re here, I’ll be protectin’ ye. Nae just because I willnae allow a lass to be harmed on me watch, but because I need ye. For them.”
He pointed toward the door, indicating the children that lay beyond it. Eliza just stared at him with her chin held high. Something stirred deep within Conall’s belly at the look of defiance in her gaze.
Same thing that stirred under yer kilt earlier. Get control of yerself.
Conall refused to give in to the thought and tried to banish it from his mind as they continued to glare at each other. Finally, Eliza looked away, and the Laird fought against the urge to heave a sigh of relief.
“Take me to me rooms, then,” Eliza barked, not at Conall but at Eliot. “I’ll be needin’ me rest if I’m goin’ to save all these bairns.”
Conall’s eyes flicked to his friend, finding amusement glistening in Eliot’s gaze. But his man-at-arms didn’t say anything as he turned and led Eliza through the castle.
He watched as the pair disappeared around a corner, the sound of their footsteps fading into the distance.
“Do ye think she’ll really be able to help?”
The sound of Kate’s voice shocked Conall, as he’d forgotten entirely that anyone else had lingered in the corridor with them. He turned to the maid, finding her eyes lit with the same amusement that Eliot had had just a few moments before.
“Aye,” he admitted with a nod of his head, turning to stare in the direction Eliza and Eliot had just disappeared. “I think God himself would have trouble stoppin’ her from whatever that woman put her mind to.”
CHAPTERSEVEN
Everythin’ is too damned hot.
Eliza threw the blanket off her and rolled onto her side for what felt like the thousandth time that night.
The wind whistled by the windows, filling her chambers with an eerie sound. Its whispers became the calling of ghosts – people whom Eliza had failed to save.
A wandering breeze came through the window, causing her lantern to stutter. The shadows of her room were now transformed into reaching, grasping hands.
