Page 12 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“I sewed him up and smeared the wound with honey.I just need to wrap it with a clean cloth and mix up a potion to ease the pain and allow him to sleep.”

“Honey?”

As Helena pulled out the herbs and dipped a mug into the ever-present kettle of hot water, she explained to Maude what the honey would do.She picked up one of the kitchen’s sets of pestle and mortar and crushed the herbs into a fine powder, then sprinkled them into the hot water.

“How does yer sister fare?”

Helena shook her head.“I doona ken.I can hear her cries from the laird’s bedroom, but Aline is sitting with her, and I hope she kens more about birthing than she does about healing.”

Maude shook her head.“Nay.The lass was ne’er meant to be a healer.Or a midwife.‘Twas thrust upon her when her da was unable to continue his duties as a warrior.‘Twas their way of feeling better about the food the brooch sent to them to add to the vegetables Aline was able to grow.”

Helena stirred the liquid and asked, “Who was the healer before Aline?”

“Old Bertha.She died but did give some training to Aline.It’s just that the lass is not suited to the work.”

“And the only midwife is Beatrice?”She picked up the mug of tea.

“Aye.She’s scared many a young lass with her stories of horrible wedding nights and birthing.”

“I doona understand why the laird allows it.”

She shrugged.“Most likely he doona ken.He’s verra busy, always running to and fro.”She shook her head.“Once he gets a wife, though, I’m sure he’ll hear all about it.”

Helena left, carrying the mug of hot water with the herbs crushed in it.When she entered the laird’s bedroom, Craig and Finn sat in chairs they’d pulled up and spoke to the laird in low voices.

Helena hesitated for a moment, not wanting to interrupt.It gave her a chance to study the laird now that he wasn’t writhing in pain or bleeding all over his clothes.He was, as all warriors, heavily muscled over his entire body.His light brown hair was wavy and would most likely need to be pushed back from his forehead all day.He had a short beard which fit him well.When she’d been closer, she had noticed that his deep brown eyes had specks of gold in them.

The laird waved her forward.“Please, lass, I think ye have something there to ease this pain.”

“Aye, my laird.This will help ye to sleep also.”

He held his hand out and attempted to rise on his elbow.Helena hurried over and held up his head as he sipped on the liquid.Then she wrapped the wound with clean strips of cloth.

“I shall be ready in the morning to go over the information we gathered,” the laird said to his brothers in between sips of the hot beverage.

“I doona think ye will be able to leave yer bed tomorrow, Laird,” Helena said.She was anxious to get to her sister since it had been hours since she’d left her.

The laird waved his hand.“’Twas nothing more than a scratch.I will be better tomorrow.”

Helena smiled.“Um, nay Laird, ye will probably be burning up with a fever tomorrow.”

“I doona allow fevers!”

She dipped slightly and kept her smile inside.“If ye will excuse me, Laird, I would like to attend my sister now.”

He continued to glower at her as if any fever that arrived would be her fault.“Aye, go see to the lass.”

Just as she reached the door, he said, “Thank ye for yer help, Helena.”

Chapter six

“Where have ye been?”Jena screeched as Helena entered her bedchamber.

The poor woman looked like the devil had visited.Her body was covered in sweat, her hair plastered to her head.Her eyes looked as though they had sunken into her

face.

“Jena!”Helena said as she raced over to her sister’s bedside.She looked around but didn’t see Aline.“Where is Aline?I sent her to sit with ye.”