Page 35 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
Lennox held her while Eli sliced into her painful wound. She’d been leaning back against him, seated on his lap, and she’d turned her head into his chest, letting the tears flow as Eli did what needed to be done. It hurt worse than a tangle of bees when you tried to dig out the honey, or so her mother used to say.
He’d held her softly but tightly, his hands as gentle as anyone’s. Rough but gentle. His chest had felt like leaning against a stone wall, but the warmth of his arms around her had made her wish to never leave. It made her think on how long it had been since she’d been warmed by an embrace.
“You’re awake?”
She had thought she was alone, so she searched in the dark for the speaker.
“Lennox? You’re still here?” She scanned the area lit with a small torch by the door. It had to be the middle of the night.
“Of course. How is your finger?”
She picked it up, studying the bandage Eli had wrapped around it, moving it gingerly. “It is much better. And I think the fever is gone.”
“You still look a wee bit flushed, but not as bad as you were earlier.”
“And I’m hungry. Is that not a good sign?”
“Aye. I’ll find something for you when you’re ready. The castle has been busy this eve, so there’s still bread available, and ale, even though most have taken to their beds. Mayhap some wine. Do you have a preference?”
“Nay, no ale or wine. The broth was fine. It felt good on my throat. None of us had much to drink while we were hidden away.” She glanced up at him. The scruffy beard covering his face was now as dark as the starless sky, and it was oddly appealing to her.
Lennox was a handsome man.
Then something occurred to her. “Lennox, where are my things?” Frantically searching around the cot, she nearly stood up, swinging her legs out, but he stopped her.
“Lass, you have not eaten anything. I don’t wish to see you fall. What exactly are you looking for? Your axe came with you. I saw that bag.”
“My bracelet. The one my sister gave me. Please…” She swiped at the tears, trying to break free. “I must find it. Tamsin said…”
“I’ll look. Was it in your sack?” Lennox moved over to a chest where her bag with the axe sat. “Is it in this bag?”
“Nay, I had a small bag attached to my belt. It’s blue.”
Lennox searched the area, then pulled something out of the larger bag. “Was it in this one?” he asked, bringing it to her.
“Aye,” she said, taking the bag from him and opening the ties. She reached inside and felt the soft yarn. She let out a deep sigh. “It’s here. I found it. Many thanks to you.”
“Shall I put it back?” he asked.
“Nay,” she replied, too sharply, but she kept it in her lap.
“Why don’t you wear it? Naught will happen to it here. I’ll help you tie it on. What is it made of?”
“I cannot wear it. I promised my sister I would only wear it when she was wearing hers. I’ll keep it close.” She returned it to the small bag and closed the ties, then glanced back up at him, suddenly lost in the blue of his eyes. Had she ever seen eyes that blue before? The torch gave them an odd glow.
“Look, Meg. I don’t know how much you recall, but thanks to you, we have returned with Magni, Tora, and Rowan. Lia is still missing. Everyone is grateful for all you did for the bairns, but they are seeking answers.”
“And they should be grateful for what you did, Lennox. You helped us all get to Oban. I couldn’t have gone any farther.” She meant that. Now that her mind was clearer, she could recall how sick she was, how her mind had begun to turn fuzzy. Could she have made it to Oban? Probably not without food and water first. This man was her hero.
“I think you would have if you had to. You’ve proven your strength to us all. But we still have many questions and are seeking your help in this. We need to know who stole them away and why.”
“I don’t know.” She wasn’t sure exactly what had happened, bits and pieces trying to connect in her mind.Thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven… Her fingers clicked as she counted. She had to recall something.
He got up and sat on the bed next to her, taking her uninjured hand in his and cocooning it until his warmth suffused into her skin. This man did things to her that were unknown, confusing, but pleasant.
This close, his eyes entranced her even more, a most unusual shade of blue. His hair was nearly black, curling a wee bit at his neck, his entire aura so appealing that she had trouble payingattention to his words. Had she ever been this close to a man, other than her father?
The ugly baron did not count. She’d only wished to push him away, far away.
