Page 79 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
Over the years, he had endured many losses. But the longer he watched her, the more he realized that he was not willing to give her up.
At least, not without putting up one last fight.
“I love ye,” he confessed.
But Leana did not twitch, deep asleep.
Kenneth trailed his lips over her forehead, her closed eyelids, and her chin, just before tasting her mouth again. “I love ye… and I want to marry ye. I want ye to stay here, by me side.”
He thought that maybe she didn’t hear him, but suddenly, a sigh escaped her lips.
Leana sat up so she could look him in the eyes. “I thought that ye… that ye didnae care whether I left or nae,” she admitted in a tremulous voice.
“The only reason I have thought of lettin’ ye go is because I ken ye give yer body and soul to healin’. And I have nay desire to keep ye from it… unless ye want to stay,” he said, brushing her hair from her face.
Leana bit her lower lip. She rested one delicate, thin-fingered hand on his chest and looked up at him with devotion in her blue eyes.
“I love ye,” she murmured in a sweet tone, filled with affection. “And though I love me work, I think I love ye more.”
“It isnae me desire to make ye choose between bein’ me wife or a healer,” Kenneth assured, kissing her forehead, touched by her words. “Ye can do both, as long as ye promise to stay with me.”
“I will, but only if ye promise nae to kidnap me, or any other lass, ever again.”
A chuckle burst from Kenneth’s lips. “Aye. That’s a promise I can keep.”
“Then I say aye, too.”
“Ye say aye to what?”
“Aye,” Leana whispered, a radiant smile on her face. “I will be yer wife, Kenneth Sloan.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she kissed him slowly.
“I want to be with ye forever,” she breathed.
Kenneth cupped her face in his hands, his heart almost bursting with joy. He took her lips in a slow, deep kiss, and she could not help but let out a giggle.
With the dawn announcing itself through the windows, amid sighs and gasps and moans, the Laird kissed the beautiful healer.
The woman who would soon be his wife.
EPILOGUE
“It’s him, Kenneth!”Hunter cried excitedly. “It’s Peter! He’s comin’! He’s comin’!”
Unable to help it, Kenneth smiled, for his brother’s joy was infectious.
That was supposed to be the happiest day of his life, for he would finally marry Leana. But Hunter seemed to be stealing everyone’s smiles.
His recovery was unmistakable. Hunter’s strength had returned, his color no longer pale, his breath steady and unlabored. Leana’s care had been his salvation, her gentle hands tending to him with unwavering devotion.
The sea breeze carried its quiet magic, cleansing his lungs with every inhale, while the carefully prepared medicines of sea holly had worked their way through his body, restoring what sickness had once stolen.
Now, watching the vitality in his movements, the ease in his breath, she felt certain—so long as he had both in his life, the wind and the healing touch of the sea holly, he would never again be plagued by those dreadful fits of coughing and weakness.
He was standing next to Kenneth, in time to receive Peter Graham, for the pirate was set to spend a long time with them at the castle. That morning, he had returned from one of his long voyages, and the excitement could not be more evident on Hunter’s face.
In his haste, the boy rushed out to embrace him, making him laugh. Kenneth, not much farther behind, approached them both, shaking the pirate’s hand in welcome.
