Page 155 of The Highlander's Holiday Wife

“I can’t help worrying, Donny. You’re not getting any younger, and I think we’re in for a tough fight before we get to the end of it.”

“And ye’ll not be cuttin’ me out. I’ve gone this far with ye, and I intend to see it through to the end—for Master Roger’s sake. It’s what he would have wanted. Me by yer side, as always, lookin’ out for ye. I ken I’m just a servant, but—”

She cut him off. “You’re much more than that, and you know it. I do realize that you need this resolution as much as I do, and I promise you’ll be there with me, right to the end. But we must be careful, all right?”

“Yes, my lady,” he gruffly replied. “Now, are ye up for another round before we quit?”

“Are you?”

He snorted. “I ain’t the one who got yanked off his feet the last time we was out in Old Town.”

She wrinkled her nose. “How ungentlemanly of you to remind me.”

He picked up his faux blade. “If I remind ye, maybe ye won’t make that mistake again.”

“Well, then prepare to—”

“Prepare to explain exactly what’s happening in here,” said the stern voice she knew so well.

Oh, blast.

Braden was standing in the doorway, arms crossed, with a decidedly irritated expression on his face.

“Oh, hallo,” she said rather sheepishly. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Obviously.”

She flashed him a bright smile. “I didn’t expect you so early. Are you finished work?”

“I thought to come home and spend a little time with my wife. Instead, I find the drawing room furniture pushed back, the carpets rolled up,andmy patient hopping about on an ankle that’s barely healed.”

“My ankle feels fine,” Donny protested.

Braden stalked over and held out his hand. “I’ll be the judge of that.”

Grumbling, Donny handed over the sword.

“Sit,” Braden ordered.

When Donny looked mutinous, Samantha decided it was time to intervene.

“It’s not a bad idea for Dr. Kendrick to check your ankle,” she said. “We don’t want you going down in the midst of a fight, do we?”

Braden shot her an irate glance. “It might be best to avoid fights, if at all possible.”

She wrinkled her nose in silent apology.

Muttering, Donny subsided into the chair.

Braden crouched down and conducted a quick examination, flexing Donny’s foot and pressing around the ankle. “No pain?”

“Nae, just a little stiffness. That’s why I need to work it out.”

Braden stood. “Agreed. But you do need to take it by degrees, or you’ll reinjure it. We cannot afford for you to be out of commission again. We need you, Donny.” “Yes, sir,” Donny replied in a slightly mollified tone.

“Good. Now, I want you to go down and rest for a bit. Elevate your foot and ice the ankle, all right? I’ll finish the practice session with Mrs. Kendrick.”

“You?” Samantha and Donny exclaimed at the same time.

---