Page 23 of The Runaway Bride and the Highlander
Katherine led Skylar to the healer’s door and then turned to her. “His name is Kendrick,” the maid said. “He’s quite old and a little deaf. Ye’ll have tae speak up.”
“Thank ye, Katherine.”
“It’s nae trouble,” she replied with a smile. “I’ll come back in a wee while to fetch ye for the feast.” Turning on her heels, Katherine hurried away, leaving Skylar by herself.
The room was dark when she entered, the only light coming from a few small candles that cast large shadows on the stone walls. Closing the door quietly behind her, Skylar took in the space and found it rather well-stocked. There were many shelves filled with tiny bottles of tinctures, little jars of what appeared to be herbs and plants, and liquid potions in bottles with corks stuffed into the neck.
Walking further into the room, she saw the boy laying upon an elevated bed with what looked like a heavy woolen blanket tucked under his chin. She walked toward him and stood by the bedside. Bringing her hand up, she lay it gently on his forehead.
“He hasnae regained consciousness yet,” a voice came from a dark corner, making Skylar jump with fright.
“Och, God,” she gasped, swiftly putting a hand to her breast, her heart suddenly thumping against her ribcage.
A tall shape emerged from sitting in a chair, and upon approaching, Skylar could see a wry smile upon his lips. “Kendrick, actually,” he said.
He was tall and thin with a narrow face and long nose. Katherine had been right that he was old, for he hunched slightly as he walked. Skylar wondered if he hadn’t got the hunch from leaning over so many people he had helped.
“Skylar,” she said in reply, after catching her breath.
“A pleasure, Skylar. I’m sorry. I didnae mean tae frighten ye.”
He even spoke slowly, and Skylar remembered in that moment Katherine’s words of the man being deaf.
“How is he?” Skylar said more loudly than she had spoken previously.
His wry smile returned, and he nearly chuckled. “I’m nae actually deaf,” he said, clearly knowing the reason behind her actions. “I’m certain they all say I am, but in fact, I simply cannae tolerate their nonsense. I just pretend I cannae hear.”
His perfectly logical explanation made Skylar suddenly beam a smile, and hardly able to help herself, a slight titter escaped from her lips. “How very clever of ye,” she replied warmly.
“It has its advantages. Now, I see ye’re here tae see the boy.” Kendrick nodded toward the bed. “Are ye a relative? How de ye ken him?”
Skylar swiftly shook her head. “Och, I dinnae ken him. I was traveling with Laird Macleod when we discovered the wee lad in the woods. I only came tae see how he was.”
Kendrick gave Skylar a long look—a look that unnerved her slightly, for it was as though he were trying to inquire about her with his mind, his intense gaze trying to peer into her soul for the answers he sought.
“And how did ye ken the boy needed attention?” Kendrick asked.
Perhaps it was a trick question, or perhaps the old man was simply curious. Skylar could not quite deduce, for with his contained expression, he was far harder to read than most people she had encountered.
“He had a fever,” she said simply. “His forehead was hot tae the touch, and he was clearly distressed.”
“As I recall, when he was brought in tae me,” Kendrick said, the slight smile returning to his lips, “the men said a woman had found him and told them that the boy wouldnae survive if he wasnae attended tae immediately.”
“Well,” she replied carefully, nodding to the wee lad on the bed. “It looks as though I was right.”
“Och, but ye were, Skylar. Indeed, had the lad nae been brought here when he was, he likely wouldnae have survived another hour. I suppose I am only curious as tae how ye kent the danger he was in.”
A sharp knock on the door made Skylar suddenly jump, and a moment later, Katherine walked in.
“Hello, Kendrick,” she said loudly.
Kendrick smiled, and even with the uncomfortable feeling that she had felt only a second before at his pressing inquiry, Skylar could not help but smile with him.
“Good day tae ye, Katherine,” Kendrick said.
Katherine turned to Skylar. “‘Tis time we made our way tae the great hall. The feast is about tae begin.”
Skylar nodded before turning toward the healer once more. “Thank ye, Kendrick, for all ye are doing tae help the wee lad. Perhaps I could come and see him and ye again?”
