Page 21 of Desire of a Highlander

Faye examined those with injuries or illness and detailed those she thought needed the most care to be given temporary beds in people’s homes. Elodie worked with Ronan to coordinate it all and by the time everything had been sorted, full dark had fallen.

“Everyone get some sleep,” he ordered. “Ye are safe now. We’ll meet in the morning to discuss what we do next.” He glanced at Eamon and some of the other men. “Double the watch,” he instructed. “We canna be too careful.”

Eamon and the others trotted off to follow his instructions and the newcomers began to bed down for the night. Elodie found herself standing a little to one side, alone and unsure what to do next. So much for finding a way home. Instead, she’d be spending the night here. Oh, heck.

“Are ye all right, lass?”

Elodie jumped and looked up to find Ronan standing in front of her. For such a big man he could move as silently as a cat.

“What? Oh, fine. Fine.”

He said nothing, merely watched her, and she could see the questions in his eyes, wanting to know why she had left the Steading and where she might be going. But he didn’t ask those questions.

“I was just wondering what will happen to them all,” she said, gesturing at the arrivals. And what’s going to happen to me. What am I supposed to do now?

“We’ll discuss that tomorrow. For tonight, go with Faye. She says ye can stay with her for as long as ye need.”

Relief swept through Elodie. “Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

He snorted. “Dinna thank me. Thank her.”

Elodie studied him. “I didn’t mean for the accommodation. I meant for coming after me tonight.”

His eyes met hers, glinting in the lantern light. “Ye are welcome,” he murmured.

He didn’t look away and neither did Elodie. She couldn’t. She felt trapped by that bright blue gaze of his and she felt her heart begin to beat a little faster.

“I’m too old for this!” Faye said suddenly, coming between the two of them. “How are we going to house this many people?”

Ronan dragged his gaze away from Elodie and focussed on the healer. “That’s a problem for tomorrow. Wasnae that what ye used to say when we first met?”

Faye harrumphed, unimpressed. “Come along,” she said to Elodie. “I want to check that lump on yer head and then its bed for ye. Gallivanting around the countryside at night with that injury! I’ve a good mind to tan yer hide for ye!”

Ronan gave Elodie a sympathetic smile as Faye grabbed her arm and marched her off, muttering all the while.

When they reached Faye’s cottage, Elodie realized that the healer was right. She was suddenly exhausted, so much so that she could barely keep her eyes open. Faye gently examined the lump on Elodie’s head, made her track her finger as she moved it back and forth in front of her eyes, and promptly announced that she would live. She bade Elodie lie down on the bed and pulled the blanket up around her.

Elodie opened her mouth to mumble her thanks but sleep took her before she could utter a word.

HER FIRST NIGHT IN the seventeenth century passed like any other, with nothing to indicate she was so far from home. She slept soundly, woken only when a rooster began crowing at the far end of the village. She pried her eyes open with a groan and found Faye sitting by the fire, stirring a pot of something that sent a delicious smell through the room. The soft light of dawn was leaking through the gaps beneath the shutters.

What time was it? Early, that much was clear. She considered turning over and going back to sleep, but Faye didn’t give her that opportunity.

“Finally!” the healer snapped. “I thought ye were going to sleep all morning! I nearly burned the porridge waiting for ye to wake up.”

Finally? Elodie thought to herself. It’s barely light!

“All right, all right,” Elodie groaned. “I’m awake.” With an effort, she swung her feet around and sat on the edge of the bed. “See? I’m up.”

Faye merely snorted and began dishing porridge into two clay bowls. She handed one to Elodie along with a small wooden spoon. The smell set Elodie’s stomach to growling. How long was it since she’d last eaten? She couldn’t even remember. She scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it a little to cool it, and stuffed it into her mouth. It wasn’t sweetened like she would normally have it, but Elodie barely noticed. She finished her bowl before Faye had even touched hers and the healer laughed softly.

“If anything tells me ye are on the mend, lass, it’s that. There’s plenty left. Want some more?”

Elodie nodded and when Faye refilled her bowl, she attacked it with gusto.

“I’m glad ye are feeling better,” Faye said, watching Elodie finish off the second bowl with an approving expression on her face. “Ye are going to need yer strength. I think me that we’re going to have a busy day ahead of us.”

Elodie dropped her spoon into the empty bowl. “Oh?”