Page 13 of The Plight of a Scottish Lass
Sloan stared at the beams overhead, his brown hair hitting his collar and flipping up. It was Lennox’s brother, Taskill, who all the ladies liked. He had the charisma that he and Sloan lacked. Lennox was the quickest in the group, but Sloan was a genius when it came to numbers. Unlike Sloan’s brother, Rinaldo, who was not. His brother had a big heart, but they’d nearly lost him at birth, so his mother had said long ago.
Lennox knew his dark hair hadn’t attracted many ladies. After all, he was seven and twenty and still unmarried. He had no immediate plans to marry, though his mother was often prompting him to find a wife, simply because he needed heirs to keep the castle in the family. Lennox wasn’t in any rush.
His most attractive feature was his blue eyes. Some hadcalled them cold as ice because they were a light blue. And he’d been called cold because he didn’t talk much. Taskill did most of the talking for him, acting as his second-in-command. That pleased him. Lennox preferred to talk when it came to Sloan or his mother, or when the subject of the clan’s welfare was upon them or growing his force of guards to protect the castle. For the day-to-day affairs of the clan, Taskill did the talking.
He’d heard the MacClanes hoped to overtake the entire isle someday, but with another clan to battle, that would be difficult. The entire conversation came to a halt when the door to Lennox’s solar opened. Taskill stood there and said, “Visitors. A MacQuarie and a lass who has been beaten. They wish to see Doiron. What say you?”
Their mother pushed her way out the door. “I say get the healer. And I’ll see to finding out who the bastard is that beat her.”
Lennox followed his mother, Sloan and Taskill behind him.
He hadn’t prepared for the sight in front of them. The lass wasn’t just beaten.
The atrocity committed against her was done with the intent to kill. And by the look on everyone’s faces, they all thought the same thing.
The poor lass couldn’t walk.
Thane said, “We need the healer. She doesn’t have much time left.”
Chapter Nine
Thane
Thane coolly assessed his allies. At least, he considered Clan MacVey and Clan Rankin as allies. He was often criticized for being cold and distant, but it was the truth.
Clan MacQuarie was a distance away from anywhere, since it was the western side of the isle. Alas, they didn’t travel here often. But after one look at Tamsin, he knew he had to cross over and seek out the healer. Clan MacVey had one, something he was extremely jealous of.
Clan MacQuarie needed a healer of their own, but he had no idea who he could send to train or where. Doiron was getting on in age, so she was unlikely to travel. And the clan had few females, a precious commodity he didn’t wish to risk losing to another clan.
“Follow me. I’ll take you to her cottage,” Lennox said, leading the way to a small hut in the farthest corner of the inner bailey.
The villagers did their best to hide their curiosity, but they all took in the state of the beautiful redheaded lass in his arms. He glared at each of them, forcing many to look away, but not before they got a good look at her.
Thane noticed that Tamsin was no longer awake. He wished to shake her, but she was not moving. He checked to make sure she was breathing regularly, and though her respirations were growing shallow, he could still see the slight rise and fall of her chest.
“Who is she, MacQuarie?”
“Her name is Tamsin. Her husband left her in the middle of Loch Tuath. Left her on a rock hoping when the tide rose, she’d die, is my guess, since she cannot swim.”
Lennox jerked his head back to stare at Thane. “Who is herhusband?”
“Raghnall Garvie. I know naught of him. Do you know him? She said they live on Ulva.” Thane made a point to mind his own business.
Sloan began to cough. “Garvie? Did you say Raghnall Garvie?”
Thane shrugged. “I’ll ask her if she lives.”
Sloan glanced at Lennox and said, “Do not use my name when you tell anyone you saved her. He’ll come for whomever saves her if his intent was death. Take my word for it. Evil bastard.”
Thane snorted. “Obviously.” He’d not be frightened by a cruel man. They were usually easily taken down, if one had the guards and weaponry to do so, something he needed more of, for certain.
They reached the cottage, and Lennox knocked before opening the door. “Doiron, I have a patient for you. A poor lass needs your help.”
Doiron came to the door, then peered at the lass, scowling. She had gray hair but kind eyes. Wide at the hip, she did not move quickly, but her eyes took in everything. “Any wounds? Animal bites? Anything like that? How long since she spoke last?”
“A couple of hours.”
“Set her on the pallet there and turn your backs.” Thane did as she asked, and the men turned away from her. Thane could hear as she whispered to Tamsin, then he heard the rustle of fabric followed by a sharp intake of the healer’s breath.
