Page 76 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
It was only the relief of having her sisters with her that finally made Leana feel safe. For all the time they had been away from her, she had felt as if a part of her soul was missing.
At that moment, she felt lost amid so much joy, but that didn’t stop her from listening to Kenneth as he barked orders to Jonas.
“I want ye to send a messenger to Castle Matheson. Inform them of what has happened, and tell them that they are now under me protection.”
Then Kenneth will be me Laird too!
The revelation was unexpected for everyone, and Leana noticed that her sisters didn’t know what to make of it, as they both looked confused.
They had probably only heard bad rumors about Kenneth. Some of them like the ones she’d heard the day she met him, but they must not have heard the rest.
They didn’t know that he was the kind of Laird who cared about his people—a man who would do anything to protect those he loved.
The man Leana had fallen in love with.
Her father moved instinctively, stepping between them, his stance firm despite the uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
His breath came shallow, his shoulders squared as if shielding her from a threat that wasn’t truly there.
Kenneth halted, his gaze sharp, assessing the man who had so quickly positioned himself as a barrier. A muscle in his jaw tightened, but he made no move to force his way forward. Had the rumors been true—had he truly been the danger her father feared—this moment would have played out differently. Yet here they stood, the air thick with misplaced suspicion and unspoken tension.
But Kenneth paused anyway, watching the man and Leana’s sisters impassively.
“Laird MacReid, I received a letter informin’ me that ye had kidnapped me daughter,” her father accused, pointing an accusatory finger at him.
“Why did ye nae tell us about this in yer letter, Lea?” Irene asked.
“We would have come to get ye,” Joanna added.
Leana sighed. “Exactly, that’s why I didnae say anythin’.”
She pushed her sisters aside, and as she approached her father, Kenneth said, “Mr. Beaton, I assure ye that yer daughter is free to leave whenever she wishes.”
“Good. Because we’re leavin’ right now,” her father declared.
“Faither, ye daenae have to do this, really,” Leana interjected. “Kenneth has been so kind to me. His whole family has taken care of me…”
She went on to tell her father and sisters everything that had happened minutes ago, including how she suspected that Laird Matheson was involved in all this witchcraft business.
Meanwhile, Valerie rushed to them with Brenda.
They told the healer’s family how much they appreciated her, which seemed to help Leana’s sisters and their father change their perceptions of Kenneth.
Hunter threw himself at Leana and hugged her tightly.
She looked down at him fondly. “Me little hero,” she cooed, kissing the crown of his head.
“Leana, I’m so glad ye’re all right!” the boy cried, looking up at her with wide, teary eyes. “I heard ye’re leavin’, but please, I want ye to stay with us!”
“I…” she trailed off, looking at Kenneth, who rested a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“Hunter, we cannae be selfish and demand that Leana stay with us. She has a home to return to,” he reminded him.
Then ye wish me to leave…
The thought broke Leana’s heart, for she wanted to stay with Kenneth. But maybe he didn’t feel the same way. Maybe his declaration of love was just the heat of the moment. Maybe he had regretted it and only now realized that he did not love her…
It was a painfully heartbreaking thought, but she had no way of finding out whether what fear dictated to her heart was true or not.
