Page 85 of Highland Hero
“Press your left hand around the puncture and hold it down while ye grab what’s left of the shaft with your right. Count to three so I can ready myself, then yank hard. It has to come out all at once.”
She took another fortifying breath. She could do this. Shemustdo this. There was no other choice. Doing as he asked, she counted aloud. “One. Two.Three.” She pulled, trying not to squirm as she felt flesh tear, but she held up the arrow. “It is out.”
His face had gone white as the snow outside. “Pour the whisky on it.”
She did, watching as his jaw clenched and his lips formed a tight, pale line. “I do not want to hurt you.”
He shook his head, then gestured to the brazier. “The…knife…next.”
Dear Lord. How am I going to do this?How was she going to place red-hot steel against his skin when just the alcohol had such a horrible effect? “I do not think—”
“Ye…must.”
She looked down and saw, to her horror, blood was flowing down his leg. Quickly she went to the brazier and wrapped the wash cloth around the handle of the knife before picking it up and bringing it back to the bed. She stopped just inches away.
“You are sure?”
“Aye. Do it.”
Juliana bit her lip, then closed her eyes as she pressed the hot metal down. The sound that came from Rory was neither human nor beast, but it was a sound she would never forget for the rest of her life… Nor the smell of searing flesh.
She lifted the knife away quickly, opening her eyes at the same time. Rory lay slumped over, unconscious, for which she gave thanks. The pain would be excruciating if he woke any time soon.
Laying the knife on the cobblestones to cool, she slowly loosened the tourniquet, keeping it tied until she was sure the cauterization had stopped the blood flow, then she wrapped a clean bandage around the leg. It was all she could do for now.
Suddenly, exhaustion overtook her. The events of the day—the ambush by the Camerons, Rory lying wounded on the ground, the attempted abduction, her own attack on Neal, the escape, and then the long, bone-chilling ride here.
She desperately needed sleep, but there was only the one cot. A hysterical bubble rose in her throat as she thought of the argument they’d had over the one bed at Spean and how she’d offered to sleep on the floor, only to have Rory leave instead.
It was obvious he would not be going anywhere tonight. Nor did she want to sleep on the floor. She eyed the cot. It might be big enough for two if she didn’t mind nestling against him. The thought should have been unsettling, but it wasn’t. Taking care not to bump his injured leg, she rolled him to his side, then she quickly removed her boots and outer clothing to crawl in beside him.
Her last thought before she fell asleep was how ironic that she felt safe now.
…
When Rory woke the next morning, his nose was practically against a wooden wall and he wasn’t sure where he was. The room smelled vaguely of hay and horses. A stable? Why would he be in a stable? His thigh hurt like hell, and he was stiff and sore.What…?Memories began to drift back. He remembered being shot with an arrow, and then something had hit his head. There’d been some kind of skirmish, too. Juliana had galloped away like the devil was behind her, and he’d followed. Except he wasn’t the devil. That would have been Cameron. Cameron had ambushed them, and he and Juliana had managed to escape to Dalnacardoch. He hoped that’s where they were.
At least his leg didn’t feel like it was on fire any longer. He’d somehow rolled on his good side—which was why he was looking at a blank wall—but that had probably helped as well. He needed to thank Juliana for the job she’d done. Not just in patching him up, but for having managed by herself to get them to safety after he’d passed out on Baron yesterday. She had been quite clever to tie him to his horse.
Slowly, so he wouldn’t disturb the bandage or cause further injury to his leg, he began to turn over and then realized he was blocked. Had Juliana rolled something behind him to keep him on his side? He raised his head to glance over his shoulder and blinked.
Julianawas blocking him. She lay with her back to him, but she was definitely up against him. Quite solidly. For a moment, his disoriented mind wondered if they’d done anything the night before, since she was in his bed. He didn’t think he was capable of doing much, but his cock hadn’t been injured. Then, as his thinking cleared, he chided himself. There was only one bed. That was the reason she was in it.
Carefully, he turned on his back and eased an arm behind her head to make her more comfortable. As he moved his hand down her arm to tuck her closer, she turned again, her breast, beneath the tunic she’d left on, filling his hand. Instinctively, his fingers squeezed gently, feeling the soft plumpness.
The next minute his ear was boxed and the she-devil flew out of the bed.
“What do you think you are doing?” she shrieked.
“I’m sorry.” He rubbed his ear. “’Twas an accident.”
“An accident?” Juliana pulled on her breeches and wrapped her cloak around her. She looked around as though she might want to put more of a barrier between them. “You touched my breast.”
“I ken.” Rory looked at his offending hand. “I was only trying to make ye more comfortable.”
She glared at him. “I was not uncomfortable. You…took…advantage.”
“I dinna!” Rory sat up, ignoring the pain shooting through his thigh as he swung his legs over the edge of the cot. “Ye just happened to turn as I was moving your arm…” He let his voice trail off. His fingershadsqueezed her breast, even if he had not intentionally meant to do so. “I am sorry. ’Twill nae happen again.”
