Page 44 of Bride of the Beastly Laird

It was wee Morag who spied them first. She was on her way back from the cow with a bucket of fresh milk. “Dahlia! Arran!” She cried in delight. “What brings ye back tae us?”

By now Arran was weak, his breathing was shallow and he was coughing almost continuously.

“I fear we’re seeking the attention of the good Elspaith again.”

Morag looked up and her mouth fell ajar. “Och, me goodness. I didnae realize that melord was unwell. I’ll go and find Mistress Elspaith fer ye.”

She hurried off, slopping the milk just a little, while Arran and Dahlia dismounted and Dahlia tethered the horses. “Ye’ve done us proud both of ye,” she whispered to her mare, “and now young Morag will see tae ye.”

They were walking slowly toward the cottages when Elspaith and Abigail hastened out to greet them.

Elspaith regarded Arran’s blackened clothes and singed hair. “Was it a fire ye were in lad?”

“Aye, Elspaith. He was left tae die there and we only got out just in time. He needs yer help and we need tae stay low fer a while in case his would-be murderers decide tae follow us.”

“So, bring the lad into me place.” Eslpaith shook her head. “I wasnae expecting tae see ye back needing me ministrations quite so soon, Arran.” She gave him a sideways look. “And how’s yer rump? Is it healed yet?”

“Aye,” Arrran managed through another bout of coughing.

“Never mind, lad. Dinnae try and speak.”

They followed her into her tiny, one-room cottage where the fire was already glazing at the center of the room. Arran sat on the edge of the little pallet with Dahlia beside him. Elspaith filled a small iron vessel with water and hung it above the flames to boil while she set about making a tincture of pine needles and lemon balm.

Once the water had boiled Elspaith added it to the tincture in the bowl and while it steamed, she set it in front of Arran, placing a cloth to cover both his head and the bowl.

“Breathe in deep. This tincture will clear yer passages and help ye breathe freely again. We’ll dae this every hour from now until that cough of yers subsides and ye can draw a breath without spluttering.”

She signaled to Dahlia. “Ye can sit with him until the water cools and there’s nae more steam. Then he can rest. If he can breathe well enough tae sleep it will speed his recovery.”

After she’d gone, Dahlia sat quietly listening to Arran’s breathing as the rasping breaths grew steadier and smoother. She thanked Providence for having thrown them in the way of Elspaith and the others thanks to a fallen roof. Little had she known that they would be returning for help.

Once the liquid had cooled, she removed the cloth and the bowl and set them aside. Arran slid lower on the palette, his head on the pillow, and closed his eyes.

Elspaith appeared again and wakened him to another bout of steaming and, again, he slept.

She did this once more and by then he was showing marked improvement. He was breathing easier and could speak without coughing.

Tiny Morag came with a bowl of warm milk for each of them and an oatcake and cheese for Dahlia.

“I’ve seen tae the horses melady,” she said, bobbing a small curtsy.

“Ye’re a good lass, Morag, yer maither must be proud of ye.”

The wee girl skipped off looking well pleased with herself.

Elspaith returned as they finished their milk and declared Arran to be as well as could be expected after almost losing his life in a fire.

“I believe I can trust ye tae sleep soundly now. Ye both look like ye’ve been tae hell and back.” She gave a mirthless chuckle. “Which I daresay ye have done. So, sleep now is what ye need most and later we can discuss whatever trouble ye both find yerselves in.”

After Elspaith departed, Arran reached for Dahlia. “Come, Dahlia. Keep me company in this wee stall. Yer eyelids are already closing and ye’re in need of sleep same as mesel’.” She laid her head on the pillow beside his and pulled the old grey blanket over them and closed her eyes. The last thing she recalled was the gentle touch of his lips on her forehead.

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My dear reader,

I apologize for the interruption…

But you just stumbled upon a SECRET GIFT!

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