Page 83 of Highland Hero
“Good.”
While she had been gone, Rory had scooted toward a rail and used it to pull himself up. He gingerly put weight on his wounded leg and took a step. His face went from grey to white, and she moved instinctively to drape his arm over her shoulder, trying to support part of his weight. “Lean on me.”
“I doona need—”
“Just. Do. It.”What is it about men? They can’t ever be anything but strong?“It is all right—”
“I can walk.”
“Gabh air do shocair,” Juliana snapped.
Rory blinked. “Are ye are telling me to shut my mouth?”
“I am. You need to conserve your energy.”
They hobbled a few more steps before he frowned. “When did ye learn Gaelic?”
She didn’t answer until she had, rather unceremoniously, plopped him on the cot in the stable master’s room. She didn’t have enough strength to talk and assist at the same time. “There are a few words and phrases I like. That’s one of them.”
“I can teach ye more.”
“Right now, you need to tell me what to do.” She straightened. “In English.”
He tried to smile, but it turned into a grimace as he slid back against the wall and started to tug off a boot.
“Let me.” Juliana bent to put one hand under the heel to wiggle it loose, but it wouldn’t budge. “How do you get these things off?”
One of his brows rose. “Ye have never taken a man’s boots off?”
She frowned. “Of course not. Why would I?”
He gave her a long look. “Never mind. If ye will turn your back to me and straddle my leg—”
“What?”
He sighed. “’Tis the easiest way to get a boot off.”
“But it…does not seem—”
“I need to get the boots off, lass.”
She snapped her mouth shut. It might be an awkward position—at least for her—but she doubted he had anything lecherous in mind, given that his pallor was near ghostly. Doing as he asked, the boot did come off fairly easily. However, she almost changed her mind about lechery when, as she pulled on the second boot, his stocking-encased foot came in contact with her derriere and nudged her. Startled, she jumped, the boot coming loose in her hand suddenly, and she lurched forward to fall on her hands and knees.
From behind her, Rory made a strange choking sound.
Trying to muster some dignity, she turned on him as she stood. “Was that called for?”
“Aye. ’Tis the easiest way to get the boots off. I dinna mean to send ye flying across the room.”
“I did not fly…” She clamped her mouth closed once more and set the boots aside. “I will go and get our supplies.”
“Light the fire first in the brazier. We will need it for the knife.”
She swallowed hard. “You expect me to cut your leg open?”
“Nae. I hope ye can just grip the end of the shaft and pull the arrowhead out.”
“Then why do I need a knife?”
