Page 16 of The Best of Madeline Grant

“Aye, I have. There has been an occasional injury, but you’re very talented and can heal the men. ‘Tis your gift. My husband’s responsibility is to protect this clan, all of us, and he does what he thinks is best.”

Jennie stared at Alex for a long moment and then turned her attention to her other two brothers. “Do you not agree with me, Brodie?”

Brodie shook his head. “If you saw the deranged attackers, you wouldn’t ask such a thing. I protect my clan, my family, and most importantly, my wife and sons.”

Her gaze turned to Robbie, but he nodded before she could ask him. “Lass, you don’t have weans as we do. Now that Brodie and I have bairns, it changes everything.”

“It shouldn’t.” Tears welled in her eyes. “You should not enjoy killing others.”

Alex’s booming voice shook the rafters. “Who said we enjoy it? You mind your tongue, lass. Do not insult us when we fight so hard to protect you and everyone else here.”

Jennie jumped to her feet, tears now running in rivers down her cheeks. “I appreciate all you have done for me, Alex. You’ve been like a father to me, but I can’t condone this violence. I wish to be taken to Lochluin Abbey.”

“What?” Robbie asked, his eyes wide.

“I cannot continue on here as the clan’s healer. Please arrange for my escort to Lochluin Abbey.”

Maddie gripped Jennie’s shoulders. “You know not what you ask, lass.”

“Aye, I do.” She spun around to face Maddie. “I need to get away from here. I want no part of battling, of wounds, of bandages. I am finished with this. Do you hear me? Finished!”

Alex whispered, “And what if one of your brothers is wounded, lass? Will you turn your back on them, as well?”

Jennie closed her eyes, unable to believe what she asked. Perhaps she was wrong to leave. They were her family, her clan. Even if her nightmares persisted, and the pain in her head worsened, she needed to stay to heal her family. “All right, I shall stay. Alex, do all you can to end this. Please, I can’t handle it much longer.”

Alex stood and moved to her side, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head under his chin. “I promise to do what I can to end this. I wish it were that simple. We need your talents during such times.”

“I know.” Tears drenched Alex’s tunic.

His finger lifted her chin. “Is there naught you can do for your head pains and your nightmares?”

She shook her head. “I know not what to try. ‘Tis hopeless, Alex, but I will stay.”

Chapter Sixteen

Maddie is abed with her fifth child, and everyone must adjust.

The group sat around the dais with a sense of loss. He sat on a bench at the end of the table near Jennie. Maddie was not with them, and everyone could feel Alex’s tension. At one point, theirthree lads, Jamie, Jake, and Connor attempted to sneak up the stairs in pursuit of their mama.

A booming, “Lads!” caught them in the midst of their journey, and all three stopped instantly.

“Papa,” Jamie whispered. “We want our mama.”

“Lads, you will not bother your mother. She is ill and abed, and you will stay here.”

Jake turned to look at his father. “But Mama reads one of her storybooks to us every eve.”

Alex pointed to the bottom of the stairs and all three of the bairns rushed back down the stairs, their hands clasped behind their backs as they gazed up at their da. Kyla strolled over and grabbed her sire’s hand. “Papa, you can read us the story tonight. Please?”

Aedan watched with bemusement. He leaned toward Jennie, “Maddie has storybooks?”

Jennie nodded. “Aye, she makes them herself, drawing pictures. They are quite beautiful. She has read from them for many, many moons. All the bairns of the clan love them.”

All of Alex Grant’s bluster had been taken out of him by his four bairns and his wife’s illness. He didn’t know what was wrong with Maddie, but this couldn’t possibly be the first time she had been abed.

Connor tipped his head back as far as he could as he stared up at his sire. “Please, Papa?” he asked in a small voice.

“Please?” Jamie added. “We do so love it when Mama reads to us.”