Page 37 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
Eliza’s mouth popped open in surprise.
“Surely ye daenae mean for us to share a room,” she protested, eyes fixed on his face.
He didn’t look at her, not as he reached into the coin purse attached to the side of his kilt.
“I do mean for that, aye.” His tone was low, almost patronizing, and Eliza bristled.
“Why can we nay get two rooms?” she asked.
The girl behind the counter was staring at them both wide eyed, her gaze darting back and forth between the two of them so fast Eliza wasn’t sure how she was seeing anything clearly. But she didn’t say anything at all as Laird MacKinnon placed two bronze coins on the counter.
“We will be sleepin’ in one room,” the Laird said through gritted teeth, “because ye cannae be stayin’ alone. Not in an unsecured location like this. Until everyone is healed, ye’re too valuable.”
“Surely I have taught enough people by now that harmin’ me wouldnae serve anyone’s cause!” Her voice was high, nearly petulant, but Eliza didn’t have it in her to care. “What will these men be doin’? Roundin’ up everyone I taught today? Will they be ridin’ off to the castle next to abduct Kate after they make light work out of me?”
The barmaid placed a key on the counter without a word, clearly sensing the tension of the moment before she turned and hustled away. From the corner of her eye, Eliza saw her begin to help another customer, but she did not turn her attention away from the Laird.
His gaze turned to her slowly, anger simmering in the depths of his deep, dark eyes. His jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth at her.
“We will be stayin’ in one room,” he glowered. “We will make do with the room they’ve provided us. And I will nae be argued with and condescended to in front of me people. Do ye understand?”
His voice was tense, and Eliza was viscerally reminded that this was, in fact, the Beast of the MacKinnons.
Memories of the stories she’d heard about him came flooding back, the rumors of the carnage this man had caused.
I’ve seen him try to heal with the same hands in which he’s slain men with. I cannae forget that.
She gulped, a flicker of fear washing through her. But she refused to let it show.
Gritting her teeth, she nodded.
“Aye,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Ye willnae be gettin’ any more arguments from me.”
They glowered at each other for a few more seconds, Laird MacKinnon seeming to wait to see if she’d argue with him again. But Eliza did not.
After an indeterminable amount of time, he let out a long sigh.
“We’ll eat before heading to our room, then.” He did not turn to look at her before he began walking to a table.
With the promise of food hanging over her, Eliza was not inclined to object. She followed him, settling into the chair directly across from him at the table that he’d chosen.
The same barmaid as before approached them, smiling tentatively as she approached the table.
“What can we get for ye tonight?” she asked, the cheery smile plastered across her lips.
Eliza could feel the nerves rolling off the girl. And it wasn’t made any better as the Beast of the MacKinnons all but barked at her.
“Ye can give us some stew, bread and cheese,” he ordered. “And two mugs of ale.”
The girl nodded and turned away quickly, rushing toward the kitchen at the back of the inn. The Laird turned his attention back to Eliza, and she couldn’t help but scoff.
“Did ye have to frighten the girl like that?” she asked, shaking her head in disapproval.
He scowled at her. “What are ye yappin’ about? I was only tellin’ her what we want to eat.”
“And she was terrified of ye.”
Laird MacKinnon shrugged. “Mayhaps she should be.”
