Page 15 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
“Ye arenae here for me,” he reminded her.
Leana stepped closer to him. “Perhaps, but ye became me patient the moment ye took an arrow for me.”
Kenneth’s good eye darkened as it bored into her, but she wouldn’t budge.
Nae this time.
She never risked her patients’ lives. Even if they were stubborn lairds who didn’t want to be treated.
It seemed that their confrontation was about to escalate. Kenneth would probably give an order that she would not be inclined to obey.
Maybe, just maybe, Valerie had noticed, for she rushed over to Leana and grabbed her arm.
“Why don’t I show ye to yer bedroom? Trust me, Kenneth willnae die. He’s too stubborn for that.”
Kenneth’s lips curled into a grimace, but he made no objection.
“Then I leave Leana in yer care, Valerie,” was all he said, before turning and walking away.
“Wait!” Valerie called after him, but he ignored her.
Leana just stood there, vibrating with anger and frustration. She clenched her fists tightly, itching to knock some sense into him.
I have never met a man so stubborn as to even challenge death itself…
CHAPTER 7
“I'm soglad Kenneth brought ye,” Valerie said as she and Leana walked deeper into the castle.
Her eyes, alive and charged with sparks of excitement, revealed her obvious happiness. Valerie was undoubtedly a nice girl, and although Leana was exhausted, and worried about the whole situation, she liked her immediately.
“Thank ye very much. I hope I can be of some help.”
Even though I have nay idea why he needs me here...
“Oh, ye certainly will be,” Valerie turned to Leana and gave her a bright smile, “but also, we can be friends. There aren't many girls me age around here,” the blonde admitted with a deep sigh.
“Oh, is that so?” Leana looked at her sympathetically. She didn't have many friends either, but she talked a lot with her sistersand knew that she would certainly miss those moments during her time in the Laird's service.
Fortunately, Valerie seemed to be good company, but her words had aroused Leana's curiosity. "Have ye been in the Laird's service long?" she asked Valerie.
“Me, in the service of Kenneth?” Valerie let out a small, sweet giggle. “Nay, nay, he's in me service! On the contrary!” she joked, adding shortly afterwards, "To tell ye the truth, I'm very fond of him and me aunt. They treat me like a daughter, or a younger sister since I moved here two years ago.”
“Ye've been living with the Laird and his aunt for two years? Ye must be very homesick!” said Leana, thinking of her own family.
I couldn't stay away from them for long!
But Valerie clicked her tongue in denial. “I miss them, but I'm fine here. It was different at home. Me Da is very strict and has a lot to do. He remarried a few years ago, and me stepmother is nae very fond of me...” A grimace curved Valerie's lips as Leana looked at her with a certain amount of sympathy.
But if she's such a lovely girl, how could she not love her?
As they moved on, Valerie sighed as she said, “Me stepmother had children of her own, and well… They decided that the right thing to do was to concentrate their efforts on raising me father'sheir. And me aunt was very lonely and very close to me late mother, so the best thing for me was to move here, with her.”
The blonde's lips curved into a small, sweet smile, and Leana knew she was a good person. She probably carried a lot of pain in her heart. Not only for the loss of her mother, but also the separation from her family.
But Valerie seemed as strong as she was beautiful. She spoke easily, and when she returned to the subject of Kenneth, she did so with complete confidence, even though the glimmer of tears had come to her eyes for a moment.
“Anyway… Ye ken, ye shouldnae believe everythin’ ye hear about Kenneth,” Valerie began, once they were alone.
