Page 15 of Mending a Highland Heart

Chapter Eight

It had been hours since Angus had returned home from the rainstorm, and it had not abated one bit. He could not focus on his work and had eventually given up, resolving that he would begin the work when Charlotte and Liam returned safe and sound. He knew the men who had been sent on the hunt would find shelter in a local inn, but he had a feeling that Charlotte had convinced Liam into doing something crazy.

He kept his whiskey glass constantly filled, and he paced in front of the fire in the Hall. The storm raged against the windows, threatened to send shards of glass across the stone floor, but they held fast for now. He tried to stop the images that kept coming to his mind. Images of Charlotte lost in the woods as the rain fell, with the Campbell man come back to take her. Or she would slip and fall from her horse down one of the craggy cliffs, her broken body lying upon the rocks. The images made him want to burst. He was acting laird; he was in charge of the safety of his guests.

Julia depended on him to keep Charlotte safe, and here he was, powerless, simply waiting for her to return. Many times he had considered riding out after her, but what was the point? She was with Liam, and he couldn’t see anyway. It made no sense to have the three of them stranded out there. He could just imagine the wrath Charlotte would experience if she saw him coming to save her. He could envision their conversation now.

“So you think I am incapable of handling myself, do you? It’s not as though I’ve never experienced rain before.” And she would lift her eyebrow or toss her head or put her hands on her hips or any of the other annoying things she did when she was taunting him.

But this was unbearable. It was like simply waiting around to get bad news. That was the only type of news he could think of at the moment. Rainstorms and missing persons do not go well. But then, Mrs. MacLean rushed into the room. “She is here, Angus! She and Liam. But I’m afraid that she’s unconscious.”

“What?” he cried, and then he saw Liam’s figure, wet to the bone, carrying an equally wet Charlotte in his arms. He rushed to her side. He could see her lips parted and see the rise of her chest. “She yet breathes. What happened, lad?” Angus’ voice nearly turned into a snarl as he stared at his man, demanding an explanation.

“Come, I will lead the way tae the bedroom,” Mrs. MacLean said calmly, making an obvious attempt to stop the men from battling with one another. Angus followed as Liam explained.

“We were riding tae the next house, and the storm broke out. We were almost there. I know the way, but we were too close tae the trees, and she must have nae seen one of the lower branches. It hit her across the forehead, and then she must have fallen back. I barely heard the crash, but when I turned around and she wasnae there, I rushed back to find her on the ground. She hit a stone.”

Angus wanted to throttle his friend. “And why were ye traveling tae the next house and nae tae the Castle, lad? Dinnae tell me she weaseled her way intae getting ye tae stay out there in this mad weather.”

Angus’ fists were clenched, and Liam backed away slightly once he’d laid Charlotte out on the bed. Mrs. MacLean had begun to remove her heavy and wet cloak.

Liam said, “She needed tae see her patients. She knows there is something wrong with them, but she cannae figure it out. She didnae want tae abandon them. ‘Tis a noble thing.”

“But ‘tis merely foolish tae get yerself killed by nae staying put or heading back tae the castle as soon as the rain started.

“Aye,” Liam said, slowly. “Ye are right, Angus, but I’m afraid I couldnae refuse her. Ye should see the fire in her eyes when she gets an idea.” Angus winced. He knew the feeling well, so he could hardly fault the man, but he wouldn’t let Liam know that.

“Aye, the lass is used tae getting her own way, but she cannae in this case. What if she doesnae wake up? Her dear cousin will come tae me with grief in her eyes. Think of that, lad!”

Liam looked down, ashamed of what he’d done or failed to do. ‘What shall we do now, Angus?”

Angus sighed, his breath coming out harsh and rough. Charlotte Andrews was the only healer for miles, and now she was lying unconscious. He would have to do what he could and ask Mrs. MacLean to assist. He knew that Charlotte had been teaching her a few things to add to her already large set of skills.

“We wait, I suppose. Mrs. MacLean, ye will help her, will ye nae?” Mrs. Maclean had just settled Charlotte comfortably out of her cloak and shoes, and she laid serenely on the pillow.

“Aye, of course, Sir. I will treat her as well as if she was one of my own bairns. I hope I can use what she’s taught me. She’s got a cut on the back of her head, but I’m very grateful ‘tis naething a bit of cleaning willnae fix. I think she’ll be right as rain in nae time.”

Angus smiled weakly. “Thank ye, Mrs. MacLean. I do hope that yer right.”

She waved the men aside. “Now, ye two must leave the room. I need tae dress the lass in some dry clothes so that she doesnae come down with anything else. I’ll let ye know when she’s ready tae be seen again.”

Angus and Liam hesitantly shuffled out of the door, and Liam turned to Angus as they stood in the dim and chilly hallway. Outside, the rain continued to fall in heavy sheets that rammed against the castle walls. Liam said, “I’m sorry again. Yer right, Angus. I will do better next time.”

“Ye’d better.” He looked side to side to make sure there was no one else within earshot. “I speak so harshly because there was a man, a Campbell spy, here tae look upon our lands and clan tae see how we fared. And,” Angus paused, feeling the anger rise up in his throat at the memory of it, “This man tried tae rape Charlotte in the woods by the shore of the Sound.”

Liam’s face darkened. His hand instinctively went to his sword. “That bastard. Was Charlotte all right? What did ye do?”

“I beat him tae a pulp and threatened him with death if he ever returned or touched any woman upon our isle again. Fortunately, I was able to get there before anything untoward happened. I had been walking on the shore when I saw it.”

“That was very fortunate, indeed, my friend. Does Calum know about it?”

Angus shook his head. “Nae, I didnae want tae worry him with this when he had his own travel plans, and the state of his wife tae concern him as they travel to her uncle’s trial. And ye must keep it tae yerself. Charlotte wanted me nae tae tell Calum and Julia. She feared that her father would ask for her tae return and that Julia and Calum would have fully supported it. Or they would at least have tried tae keep her from her healing duties.”

Liam nodded. “I understand. I shall say naething. But what do we do about this man? What if he returns despite yer threats?”

Angus clenched his jaw. “Well then, I shall be true tae my word, lad. But after this fresh injury, I do wonder if it might be wise for Charlotte tae go tae her father. If she is going tae be as foolhardy as riding in hard rain over rocky terrain and through unknown parts of the Isle, then she needs tae be protected. She is becoming a bloody burden when I already have so much tae do.” He turned his back to Liam and sighed, walking slightly away down the hall.

Liam didn’t seem to notice the slight bitterness in Angus’ voice. He replied, “I think that too many people would miss her, Angus, if she left. I hope she does nae have tae go.” Liam was looking down, and Angus had the feeling that his old friend was blushing.

---