Page 9 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
She was spared any further thought or shame as Laird MacKinnon finally slid off the saddle behind her. Relief filled Eliza as the cool night air rushed in to fill the space where he had just been.
Eliza swung her legs over the saddle, finding the Laird standing off to the side, extending a hand in an offer of help. She stared at it for a moment, considered taking it, and then decided against it.
“Ye’d like to help me now?” She snorted, lifting her nose in the air as she slid out of the saddle.
“I tried to help ye before!” the Laird argued under his breath.
She blinked. up at him. “Aye, a lot of help ye’ve been by stealin’ me from me home.”
“It’s about the bairns,” he growled through gritted teeth.
Eliza turned away from him, facing the castle. She heard an exasperated sigh before the scuffling of boots as he turned his attention toward the steward.
“Take the horses to the stable,” the Laird’s deep voice rumbled through the night as he spoke to the steward. “Eliot and I will take the lass inside and get her settled.”
“Aye.” The steward bowed to him, Eliza watching from the corner of her eye as the man grabbed the reins of both horses and disappeared into the night.
“Follow me,” the Laird commanded, walking past her and toward the house.
Eliza glanced over her shoulder, finding Eliot still standing there and waiting expectantly. He motioned for her to go first.
“I’ll be comin’ after ye,” he said, and Eliza nodded.
She turned forward again, finding the Laird silhouetted in the light of the door. He hadn’t turned to look at her as he strode into the castle, and Eliza got the impression that he was a man who was used to people doing his bidding without question. Something inside of her bristled, and immediately, she wanted to dig her heels into the dirt and refuse to move.
The bairns.
Eliza reminded herself of why she was there, reminded herself of the reason the Beast of the MacKinnons had kidnapped her in the first place.
She’d believed him when he’d told her of how sick they were. Because she knew only sick bairns could make someone desperate enough to kidnap another person. And Eliza didn’t think she had it in her to not care for the sick wee ones.
Besides, Eliot was right behind her. And she was certain that if she dawdled for too long, with one word from the man-at-arms the Laird would march back and throw her over his shoulder once again.
A thrill ran through her at the thought. She banished it with a sigh before following along after the Laird. . The sound of her boots clicking across the stone filled the air as she climbed the steps, Eliot’s echoing after hers a moment later.
The moment she stepped through the door, another woman appeared seemingly out of nowhere. She was short and stout, with a round, kind face. She smiled at them as she approached, and Eliza found herself warming to the woman almost immediately.
“Morna,” the Laird introduced as the woman approached. “This is Eliza, she’s a healer who’ll be stayin’ with us to tend to the bairns. Set her up near me rooms.”
Morna nodded before turning her matronly smile in Eliza’s direction.
“Greetings, lass. Happy to have ye, especially if ye’re lookin’ after the wee ones.”
Eliza returned her friendly smile before Morna turned and rushed away. The space around her became colder with each passing second, marked by the retreat of the matronly woman.
Might as well get started on the reason I’m here.
She turned to face the Laird and Eliot. Standing with her spine straight, she met Laird MacKinnon’s eyes.
“I’d like to see the sick bairns,” Eliza said, still holding her chin high as she met their eyes.
The Beast’s dark eyes flickered with something she couldn’t place as he nodded his head. He turned to Eliot.
“I’ll take her. Go with Morna to make sure she has everythin’ she needs.”
Eliot nodded, grunting his agreement before turning and striding down the hall. Now that they were alone, the Laird’s presence in the corridor seemed to grow. He didn’t move at first, but that didn’t stop him from seeming to tower over her.
“Are we goin’ to see the bairns or nae?” she asked, arching her eyebrow at him pointedly.
