Page 34 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
Kenneth slammed his hand on his desk, drawing the man’s attention. “Get to the point,” he commanded.
“As I was sayin’, me Laird, we must have everything ready for the council meeting. The rooms are already prepared, and it would be wise to order additional food for the afternoon snack. Last time, some councilmen prolonged the meeting enough to delay dinner,” Jonas grunted.
Kenneth knew well that if there was one thing his man-at-arms hated, it was going hungry.
“Right. Organize everything and make sure we have enough room in the stables for the grooms and the visitors’ horses. The previous stable boy made a mess of things during the last visit.”
“I will make sure everything is in order, me Laird,” Jonas assured.
Kenneth stood up. He felt anxious and uneasy, and he understood perfectly well that he would not be able to deal with any urgent matter until he finally found the object of his distraction.
“Leaving, me Laird?” Jonas asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I have an important matter to attend to. I must make sure that the healer’s tonics help me braither and doesnae make his illness worse,” he grunted.
That was, of course, a lie. Leana Beaton might be haughty, talkative, and demanding, but she was certainly competent, and Kenneth knew he was right to trust her.
That did not make him any less nervous. However, his nerves had more to do with wanting to end the argument he had with Leana in the early hours of the morning and less to do with being suspicious of her healing methods.
Still, he justified leaving and putting aside his immediate duties by saying he needed to monitor his younger brother’s health.
“Take care of everything,” he ordered.
Jonas nodded once. “I will, me Laird.”
Kenneth left the study soon after and headed to his brother’s room, where he knew he would find Leana, and hopefully a satisfactory conclusion to their earlier argument.
One in which she would use her mouth for something other than talking and complaining.
“What is this?” Hunter asked, frowning slightly as he held the bowl of steaming brew in his hands.
“A magic potion that will cure yer illness,” Leana said, affecting her best forest witch’s voice.
Hunter chuckled and shook his head. “I daenae believe ye. Witches in stories are evil, and ye’re too pretty and kind to be one.”
Leana’s heart swelled at his words. “Well, in that case, it’s a cure. It will make ye feel better.”
At first, the boy didn’t look too sure about drinking the brew.
“I promise it’s not bad. Look.” Leana took a sip of the brew after blowing on it a little and then handed him the bowl again.
Hunter looked at her dubiously. “What’s in it?” he asked, sniffing the infusion.
Thyme, to clear congestion in the lungs; mint, to soothe coughs; red onion, to reduce inflammation; and honey, to soothe the throat…
Instead of listing the names of plants and their medicinal properties—which Hunter would not have understood—Leana simply answered, “I put a lot of love into the infusion, and special plants from far away to help ye get better. All together, they will make ye feel better.”
“Well, if ye say so…”
Hunter shrugged and took a small sip, then another. A few minutes later, he finished the infusion, much to Leana’s relief.
She studied him. “How are ye feeling?” she asked.
“Better.” Hunter took a deep breath as if he hadn’t been able to for a long time.
As he exhaled, Leana placed the palm of her hand on his chest. “Do that again, please,” she requested.
Hunter obediently took another slow, deep breath and then exhaled.
