Page 71 of Cherished By A Highlander

“They are a happy family,” he said.

“Is that what you hoped for with Amara?” Shade could not help but ask.

Quint hugged her closely. “Aye, I had, and I may have lost it, but I am grateful I now found it with you. You are all I need, Shade.”

He kissed her and her heart filled with joy, though guilt poked at her that she might never give him a child.

“That is a ridiculous idea,”Quint said.

“I believe it is a brilliant idea,” Caleb said.

“I agree. Nug’s idea is brilliant,” Ula said, “and I am sure the clan would have no objections. What say you, Shade?”

“I would fear for my husband’s safety but then everyone’s safety in the clan is presently in jeopardy.”

“It will work,” Nug insisted. “Word, no doubt, is already spreading that mercenaries have been taken captive here by The Monk. If word followed that The Monk arrived here and took command of the clan in Lord Torrance’s name, few would dare venture here.”

“But what happens when word reaches Lord Torrance?” Shade asked, worried about her husband taking on such a dangerous task. “Surely, he will send his warriors after The Monk and take charge of the clan.”

“Not if The Monk sends word that he rules Clan MacLeish in Lord Torrance’s name and that he imprisons mercenaries who are trying to take what rightfully belongs to Lord Torrance. And The Monk will continue to do so until he arrives to establish his rule here,” Nug said. “Lord Torrance would have no reason to send mercenary thugs here after hearing that and it would give Ryland time to carry out whatever plan he has to free the clan from Lord Torrance’s rule.”

“Nug is right,” Caleb said. “Lord Torrance must have his hands full after the battle, appeasing the mercenaries and nobles who helped him see victory. He would probably be only too pleased to have The Monk siding with him.”

“I assume Lord Torrance wouldn’t mind giving Chieftain Ryland time to heal so that he could administer his own brutal punishment and eventual death,” Nug said. “And he would see it done in front of the entire clan so that they would fear him enough to obey him without question.”

“This is not an easy task you ask of my husband,” Shade said, her worry mounting that he might agree to it and if he did, what then would happen to the life they hoped to share? “He would risk his life to do this for you since once Lord Torrance discovered the truth, he would see The Monk dead.”

“Which is why we cannot remain idle or helpless. We need to find out where Ryland is and what he has planned and how we can help him defeat Lord Torrance,” —Nug turned to look at Quint— “We need to know if you will help us.”

“It isn’t that you ask much of me, for I know how thirsty one can be for revenge. It is that you ask so much of my wife when she has already given endlessly of herself to help you. Now you ask that she take the chance of losing a husband she has barely been wed to and the life they hoped to share together.”

Ula got teary-eyed. “Oh, Shade, how selfish of me to even consider it when you risked your life coming here to help us, and only after you just wed, and then working tirelessly to help the wounded.”

“Ah, we are selfish like Ula says and grateful for your help thus far,” Nug said, “but think of what life would be like in these parts if Lord Torrance continues his thirst to gain more land and power? No one would be safe from his cruelty.”

Nug’s warning awakened a worry in Shade, and she saw the same worry in her husband’s eyes and knew his thought was asimilar one. What would happen if Lord Torrance decided he wanted her to serve as his healer? What would he do, not to her, but to her family and friends if she refused him?

“We think the same, wife, so you know I have no choice but to do this,” Quint said.

While Caleb and Nug appeared confused, Ula gasped. “When Lord Torrance hears of Shade’s exceptional healing skills, you worry that he will demand she become his clan healer.”

“And he would once the news reaches him about how she has helped heal the wounded at Clan MacLeish and she also is helping Chieftain Ryland to heal,” Nug said, offering his concern.

“It is a wise decision,” Caleb said, exhaustion heavy in his voice and in his eyes that he fought to keep open.

“Enough for now,” Ula ordered. “Caleb needs sleep.”

Shade and Quint followed Nug out the door and after he shut it, he looked from Shade to Quint. “The Monk should view this as an opportunity to prove he is not the madman everyone believes him to be. No one will be able to deny he is a good man if he helps Clan MacLeish, and they will begin to doubt that he could have killed those monks.”

“I will consider it,” Quint said.

“Do not take too long,” Nug advised. “Time is not on our side.”

Nug hurried off and Quint took his wife’s hand. “We need to talk.”

“Aye, this is not an easy decision to make,” she said as he hustled her away.

Quint spoke after reaching their bedchamber and closing the door. “I disagree. This is an easy decision to make.”

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