Page 72 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“We were afraid somethin’ had happened to ye…” Brenda said, stroking Leana’s cheek as Kenneth took a step away from the three women.
“I daenae ken what’s goin’ on, but I intend to fix it right away,” he assured, looking first at Leana and then at Brenda and Valerie. “For now, take Leana to one of the towers and make sure she’s safe,” he ordered.
Brenda and Valerie nodded.
“Daenae worry, Braither,” Hunter said as he stepped forward. “I’ll take care of her, just like she took care of me,” he promised.
A smile tugged at Kenneth’s lips. “I trust ye will,” he told his little brother proudly, feeling Leana’s eyes on him. “daenae leave the tower until I tell ye to,” he added, before turning and hurrying to the castle entrance.
Behind him, he heard Leana call out to him, her voice full of concern. But this time, he had to ignore her. He would make sure she was safe first, and then calm her fears.
So, he marched off in haste. Soon, his man-at-arms caught up with him.
“Me Laird, what is goin’ on?”
“I daenae ken yet, but we’re goin’ to find out,” Kenneth muttered in an almost threatening tone.
The castle doors opened as he and his man-at-arms stepped out to face the still-angry crowd, their torches held high in the air. The lights were drawn menacingly against the night, stormy and dark.
“Me Laird, give us the witch!” the crowd shouted as Kenneth marched toward them.
“There is nay witch in me castle,” he asserted in an even voice, holding back his anger. “Only a healer who has taken it upon herself to cure me braither.”
“She is a witch!” the crowd shouted. “A witch who has come to curse us all!”
“Leana Beaton is a fine woman,” Kenneth insisted. “Intelligent and skilled. I willnae allow anyone to harm her.”
His order was clear, but the crowd didn’t seem to want to listen.
“She’s a witch!” they shouted. “She’s bewitched ye! She’s bewitched the Laird!”
“Leana hasnae bewitched me!” Kenneth barked. “And I willnae allow anyone to say otherwise. She saved me braither, and whoever stands against her stands against me!” he warned.
He took a step toward the crowd, and they seemed to recoil. The dark look in his eye, as well as the authority in his voice, seemed to sow doubt among the angry villagers.
But soon a voice contradicted his words, once again eliciting the angry shouts of those holding the torches.
“These villagers are right, me Laird,” the man said.
Kenneth turned just in time to see the traitor walking toward him.
“Leana Beaton is a witch, for I can assure ye that she has bewitched ye!” Maxwell Aitken proclaimed.
Of course, I should have guessed. Ye were never as devoted a follower as ye claimed…
Truth be told, Kenneth had never fully trusted Maxwell. At least not since he had heard him speak so impassively about Hunter’s death on the day his younger brother was born.
After the former Laird had died, Maxwell had sworn loyalty to Kenneth, promising to serve the new Laird to the best of his ability. And because of the length of time he had served on the Laird’s council, Kenneth decided to trust him.
Part of him hoped that the old man had changed over the years, but that was clearly not the case. Jonas had warned him many times before.
“Ye’d better watch yer mouth, Maxwell,” Kenneth warned, glaring at the traitor. “The woman ye are slanderin’ saved me braither, and she has me full protection.”
And me devotion as well…
“That woman is a witch!” Maxwell growled, ignoring his warning. “I meself have witnessed her enchantin’ ye, Laird MacReid, for the sole purpose of seizin’ control of yer domain.”
“Enough!” Kenneth bellowed. “I willnae allow ye to speak about Leana in this manner.”
