Page 40 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
For she understood that something beyond anger bound them together, and that was their love for their siblings and the knowledge that they would do anything for those they loved.
CHAPTER 14
“I takegood care of me sisters too,” Leana admitted as she re-bandaged Kenneth’s wound.
She did it slowly and carefully. Her fingers brushed against his skin all the time, and she tried not to bask in the pleasant sensation.
“I am very jealous of them, to the point that I get annoyed every time someone intrudes on our lives or asks about our past.”
“I can understand that,” Kenneth said in a low voice.
“That is why I understand yer desire to protect Hunter. He’s… fragile, and his well-being depends entirely on ye.”
“Aye.”
“But me intention in askin’ about yer past isnae to pry into yer life. I need to ken the origin of his illness. The more clearly I understand what’s wrong with him, the better me chances of curin’ him.”
For a moment, Kenneth seemed to consider her words, but then he nodded.
“What ye’re sayin’ makes sense,” he relented.
Leana sighed in relief. “So, I need ye to help me with this,” she continued, looking him in the eye. “Could ye please tell me if anyone in yer family has suffered from such an illness?”
“Nay,” Kenneth replied slowly. “Our faither was in perfect health. He died of an untreated injury, but he was always a very healthy man. Nor has Brenda suffered from any similar illnesses.”
“What about anyone else in yer families?” Leana asked, trying to dig deeper. “A cousin, for example. Was Valerie or one of her parents sickly as a child?”
“Nay. We’ve all enjoyed good health.”
She sighed. “Then it’s nae in yer blood.” She crossed her arms, trying to think. Her lips pressed into a thin line before she asked, “Yer faither… did he die very young?”
“A few years ago. Hunter would have been seven, maybe eight.”
“Och… I’m sorry. That must have been hard. Especially for him.”
“Daenae be sorry. I’m nae,” Kenneth grunted.
Usually, he was careful with his words, but his tone was so harsh that it took her by surprise.
“Ye didnae have a good relationship with yer faither, I guess…”
“Nay,” Kenneth replied simply.
“I’m sorry about that. But still, Hunter might miss him.”
“Hunter hasnae met him,” Kenneth stated. “He never met him. And I thank God for that.”
“I understand that maybe he wasnae a good faither to ye…” Leana trailed off, putting a hand on his shoulder. “But Hunter must miss him, even a little. His absence may have left a void in his heart that may have exacerbated his illness.”
At first, she thought Kenneth would abruptly pull away, but he did not. In fact, she was surprised that he did not recoil when she touched him.
But that didn’t change the tension in his gruff voice or his stiff posture.
With a dark gaze clouded with memories, Kenneth said, “Hunter doesnae have to miss our faither, because I can be the faither he needs and deserves.” His hands clenched into fists, and Leana could read the pain in the lines of his face. “That old man can rot in his grave. We never needed him, and we daenae need him now.”
It was clear that he harbored a deep pain. And though he refused to admit it, the ensuing silence seemed to speak for itself.
“Maybe ye daenae,” Leana said, letting her fingers gently caress his shoulder.
