Page 20 of The Cruel Highlander's Healer
A little in the distance, a large lake spanned before them, surrounded by lush, rolling hills. Bairns splashed and played in its waters while their mothers watched from the sandy shore. One of the women threw their head back and laughed while their bairns screamed with glee.
“It’s the same lake from yer painting last night,” she mused, and Conall grunted his confirmation. “It’s special to ye.”
“They’re special to me,” he admitted, nodding his head in the direction of the lake. “I would do anythin’ for them. Would do anythin’ for me clan, and for its future.”
She glanced over her shoulder, soft brown eyes meeting his.
Eliza snorted a laugh. “I gathered that when ye threw me over yer shoulder and ran away with me.”
Conall shook his head, kicking his heels again so that the horse began moving once more. Eliza didn’t say anything further to him, just settled back into the humming she’d been doing while on their way to the lake.
She’s infuriating.
But Conall knew that wasn’t the whole truth. Eliza was aggravating, yes. But he had to admit, even if only to himself, that her aggravating him was quite enticing as well.
It wasn’t long before they arrived at the castle, and as soon as he tugged the horse’s reins to a stop, Eliza threw her leg over the saddle and slid down to land on the ground.
“Make sure the herbs find their way to me,” she called over her shoulder as she trotted up the steps. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”
She didn’t pause to look at him as she disappeared into the door. The woman simply believed with all of her being that he would follow whatever it was she was commanding.
I showed meself last night, she kens there is nothin’ I wouldnae give to help me clan.
CHAPTERNINE
“So they’ll be alright then?”
A voice sounded from behind Eliza, giving her a start as it broke through the bubble she’d created for herself at her workspace in the kitchen. She whirled, finding Kate standing a few paces away from her, worry written across the lines of her pretty face.
“Aye,” Eliza said, giving the other woman a reassuring smile. “We’ll have to give them the tonic three times a day for at least three days. But they should start to shape right up after that.”
She watched as the maid sagged with relief. Eliza knew all too well the burden that she’d been holding for the last week, watching as everything she tried to save the children failed. She knew all too well what it felt like, wondering if all of your efforts would be in vain, and if the patient you’d slaved over would pass away despite everything you’d done.
“Ye did good, Kate,” Eliza said, another soft smile tugging up the corners of her lips. “Now, get over here so I can teach ye to make the tonic yerself. I want to get home soon.”
Kate arched an eyebrow at her, but she didn’t comment further as the other woman stepped up to the work bench that Eliza had been using.
Eliza began to go over everything, showing her how to grind the two herbs she and the Laird had foraged in the forest earlier that day. The other woman caught on quick, and Eliza couldn’t help but be impressed.
“How are ye doin’ today, Kate?”
The two women started, having been so absorbed in their work they didn’t hear the footsteps approach. They turned, finding Eliot standing behind them, watching them over their shoulders as they worked.
“I’m doin’ alright,” Kate sputtered, clearly flustered by the sudden attention. “How are ye? Out pesterin’ the cats again?”
“That was one time, lass,” Eliot groaned. “And the kittens formed an absolute horde! They were beasts, they was!
“A horde of fluffballs,” Kate chuckled, turning back to the task at hand. “Imagine, a man-at-arms scared of a couple small cotton pads hissin’ and spittin’ at him!”
Eliza laughed at the image in her mind, picturing Eliot’s large body on the run from small kittens. She turned, finding the guard staring at Kate with amusement flickering in his eyes.
His gaze flicked to Eliza, and immediately he blushed when she found her watching him. She cocked an eyebrow in his direction, letting him know she’d noticed just how intently he’d been watching the maid.
“Ye’re just in time,” she told Eliot, sparing him any further embarrassment. “I was about to go try to find the Laird. Daenae need him badgerin’ ye about nae escortin’ me if I go alone.”
Eliot nodded, and the two of them walked away leaving Kate to work on the rest of the tonics.
“What do ye need to tell the Laird?” he asked, and Eliza glanced at him.
