Page 48 of A Healer for the Ruthless Highlander
Their presence also helped to distract her from the constant presence of Kenneth, who kept haunting her thoughts day and night.
Fortunately, she was on a mission that day, and soon Valerie reminded her when she knocked on the door.
Hurrying out of the room, Leana greeted Valerie, who immediately broke into a grin. “Lord, that color really suits ye!”
Leana’s cheeks flushed at the compliment. “It’s all thanks to ye,” she said with a smile as Valerie linked their arms.
“It is a pleasure to help me new friend.” Valerie winked at her.
The two were on their way to the library that morning because, as Kenneth had promised the night before, Leana could finally write to her sisters.
She gripped the parchment, the tip of her quill hovering as she considered the words. The weight of her sisters' inevitable curiosity pressed against her thoughts—she could already picture their hurried scrawl, their questions tumbling onto the page faster than they could contain them.
A sigh escaped her as she dipped the quill, letting the ink flow in careful strokes. She needed them to know she was safe, that there was no danger lurking in the shadows of her absence. The urgency in her hand steadied, her message forming with quiet determination. Soon, they would read it and understand.
“Ye are in a very good mood today,” Valerie intoned as she gave her a smile.
“That’s because I am,” Leana admitted, smiling back at her.
“And yer good mood, does it have something to do with me cousin?” Valerie asked, a spark of mischief in her eyes.
“It has a lot to do with him,” Leana acknowledged, which only made Valerie’s smile widen. But that smile faded when she added, “I’m so relieved to see Hunter gettin’ better. I feel like I’m gettin’ closer to figurin’ out the cause of his illness.”
“Of course,” Valerie allowed, then went on the attack again. “We’re all so relieved that Hunter is gettin’ better. But I thought yer good mood had something to do with me other cousin…”
“Ah.” Leana rolled her eyes. “Well, he allowed me to write to me sisters, so I guess he has something to do with me good mood,” she claimed, causing Valerie to pout and let out a sigh.
“Look, all I’m sayin’ is that it’s pretty clear that ye two are hidin’ something…”
“Aye. We are hidin’ the tremendous disgust we feel for each other, for Hunter’s sake and the sake of the entire castle.”
Obviously, her words were meant to deceive Valerie. She couldn’t explain that the image of Kenneth, shirtless and with his arms around her waist, was driving her crazy. Nor could she admit that the memory of his kisses was arousing her in a way far removed from modesty.
For it was clear to Leana that there was nothing beyond a fleeting attraction between her and Kenneth, nor could there ever be. True, she could hardly stop thinking about him, but what was the point of believing that it went beyond passion or desire? Nothing.
So, she dropped the subject. Instead, she preferred to ask Valerie about Hunter and how he had spent the night, about the games he played and the things he liked and disliked, trying to find a clue about his illness.
Fortunately, Valerie was cheerful and eager to chat, and it didn’t take long to get her to change the subject. Soon, the two women found themselves talking about the little things and the daily routine of the little boy.
It went on like this until they reached the library. But to Leana’s surprise, the room was not empty.
“Good morning, Miss Healer,” Hunter greeted, running up to her and giving her a big hug.
It caught her off guard, but she hugged him back just as tightly.
“Good morning to ye, me little patient. How are ye feelin’ today?”
“Like a warrior!” he exclaimed with a broad smile that immediately warmed her heart.
Being a healer could be complicated in many ways, and even more so when treating young children with complex illnesses, as was Hunter’s case. But such illnesses were not always curable, which filled her with fear.
Above all, she could not bear to see a child suffer. She was always devoted to making her patients feel better, and that was why she felt so good when she succeeded.
So, seeing Hunter’s recovery made her feel even better, to the point that a huge smile spread across her lips.
However, it soon dropped, for she quickly realized that the boy was not alone. In fact, he was with two other men.
The first one looked rather dour, with blue eyes and a thin reddish beard. Leana had never seen him before, but she assumed was the man-at-arms. The second man was, of course, Kenneth, who was rarely separated from his younger brother.
