Page 53 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
Suddenly, Conall was a lad again, his tutors admonishing him for getting his letters wrong. He was filled with the illogical urge to shrink away from the iron-forged woman before him.
I daenae shy away from crones. I daenae shy away from anyone.
He drew himself up to his full height, meeting Marissa’s gaze and refusing to back down. He met her gaze, holding it with unshakable confidence.
The corner of her mouth ticked up in a smile, and Conall knew that whatever test she had just setup for him, he had passed.
“It is a healer’s job to help,” she said simply. “It doesnae matter who they are. It is nay matter who their Laird is. We help. Whoever denied ye are sorry excuses for a healer. And they’re cowards.”
Conall snorted at the blunt way she spoke, but he found that he appreciated it. He nodded, an idea popping into his head.
“Would ye like to join us in the castle?” he asked, his eyes turning to land on Eliza.
Her cheeks had flushed with surprise the moment the offer fell from his lips. Was it a good surprise, though? He couldn’t be certain.
“I’m certain Eliza would like yer help,” he continued, watching Eliza closely as he spoke. “As would Kate, the maid who was attemptin’ to heal them before Eliza agreed.”
Marissa’s gaze fixed on her daughter. “Is that what ye want?”
Eliza nodded vigorously. “Aye, I would love for ye to join us.”
Marissa nodded as if the matter was considered settled.
“If ye go to the Thistlewood,” Conall explained, “tell them that ye’ll be stayin’ and to put the room under me name. Everythin’ that ye need while ye’re here will be covered by me.”
Eliza shot him a grateful look before turning her attention back to her mother.
“Go the inn,” she advised, “get yerself settled. I’d like some time to check in on me patients.”
Conall could tell that Marissa wanted to argue but seemed to decide better of it. She nodded, giving her daughter another quick hug before turning and walking in the direction of the inn.
The two of them stood in silence, watching her as she disappeared from view.
“Why did ye offer for her to come to the castle?” Eliza asked, and when Conall glanced at her, her face was unreadable.
He shrugged one shoulder, not wanting to be questioned further.
“Two healers is better than one,” he grunted before redirecting the conversation back to what he’d asked earlier. “Ye still dinnae tell me the truth of why ye lied. Why did ye cover for me?”
She rolled her eyes. “I told ye, if she kent the truth, she would have gone barmy. It wasnae worth it.”
Conall shook his head. He could sense that he wasn’t getting the full story, and he didn’t want to keep wondering about it.
“Tell me the truth, Eliza,” he ordered.
She stared at him. He stared back. He put all the force of his iron will behind it, knowing that he would not be the one to bend first. He couldn’t be. Not on this.
Finally, Eliza sighed.
“Alright,” she began, tone sounding resigned. “I dinnae tell her the truth because it doesnae matter. Daenae misunderstand me, ye kidnapped me. And I’m still angry as a hornet about it. But I understand why ye did it. And I’m glad that I could help the bairns.”
She pointed to the medical tent where the sick still lay just feet away.
“And Marissa knowin’ the truth?” Eliza continued. “Well, it would nae have been good for anyone.”
Satisfied, Conall nodded. She said nothing else as she turned away from him, walking into the tent to check on her patients, just as she said she was going to.
He stood and watched her, studying her as she tended to them. She had seemed so simple when he’d first thrown her over his shoulder.
