Page 48 of Her Highland Prophecy
“It’s better if you boil it first!” she interjected and was faced with incredulous looks from both men. “Er, that is what our healer always does,” she added.
“Ye will have to give me the name of yer healer, lass,” the doctor said. “He has some rather interesting ideas.”
She sighed in relief that her ruse had gone unchallenged. If need be, she would invent a fake name to give to Healer Malcolm, sending him on a wild-goose chase. Either way, no one would discover her lie.
Not that she was truly lying. Back home, doctors used sterile bandages to avoid wounds being infected by germs and bacteria. Trying to explain that to them, however, would most likely get her killed.
The doctor gathered the bloody bandages from around the room and left, presumably to boil them, leaving Gordain and Diana alone.
“What happened?” she asked, moving to the chair that the healer had vacated.
“I dinna ken. I had just shot a deer when I got hit by the arrow. I didnae see who shot it, but I dinna think it was one of me men. The arrow is too different,” he said, pointing at the arrow laying on the table near the window.
She grimaced. “Just like that? You were just standing there and someone shot you?”
She was aware that her voice was becoming shrill through her fear, but she did not know how else to react. He was telling her that someone had tried to kill him!
“Aye. Maybe it was an accident, maybe nae. The men are out looking in the woods to see if they can find something.”
“Who would have done such a thing? Is someone after you?” she asked, the panic from earlier slowly returning.
He reached over gingerly and laid his hand over hers.
“Dinna fash, Princess. It isnae serious and it was most likely an accident.”
“But you don’t know that for sure,” she said, the words coming out almost as a question. He didn’t answer.
She sat by his bedside for a few minutes in silence, gently stroking his hand. His breath was slow and even and she thought he had fallen asleep when he spoke.
“What did ye do today?”
“Me? You’re the one who’s lying there hurt and you want to know what I did today?” she asked incredulously.
“Aye. Did ye see me sisters?”
“Yes, I spent the day with them in fact. They showed me how to make berry preserves along with Fiona and Isobeail.”
He nodded. “Fiona and Isobeail help the cook often. They are cousins from me Mither’s side,” he explained.
“Yes, they already said that. Everyone seems very keen on telling me exactly what relation they have to each other. I will never be able to tell them apart!”
Gordain chuckled. “Och, it isnae so bad, is it? We do like to ken who the person in front of us is, and all relations, no matter how distant, are important. Ye dinnae turn yer back on family.”
“How does that work if someone tries to become Laird instead of you or your father? Isn’t that like a betrayal in the family?”
He looked thoughtful at her words.
“I hadnae thought of it like that, but nay, it is nae the same.”
“How so?” she asked. It seemed like it was exactly the same thing to her.
“Whoever challenged the Laird would be doing it for the guid of the Clan. It wouldnae be a petty or selfish betrayal.”
She was doubtful he would feel the same if he was faced with an actual person trying to usurp his position, but he let his words stand.
“If you say so.”
“I do. But tell me, are our kitchens still standing after ye helped?” his voice had turned to tease and she pouted in response.
