Page 29 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“Can I help ye, lass?”Robin asked, his face a mask of indifference.

She offered a curt nod.“Yes, my laird.I request an escort.”

There was no doubt that he paled, and his body stiffened.“So ye are returning to Dornoch, then?”He wrapped his hand around his mug.

“Nay.I need to make a trip into the village and I was told I cannot go alone, and only ye can authorize escorts.”

If he thought it odd for her make such a request while he was eating, he didn’t appear puzzled.Mayhaps he was also resolved not to be alone with her.

He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest.“And what is in the village that ye canno’ get here?”

“There is a young lass that is suffering from a strong cough and fever.Her mam appeared at the castle walls and requested to speak with me.When she told me about the little one, I agreed to see to her.”

Robin turned to Mairi.“I thought Aline was the clan healer and Miss Ross stepped in for her because she was unable to stand the sight of blood?”

His sister nodded.“Aye.But Helena has been kind enough to step in when Aline is unavailable.”

He studied Helena.“Verra well, after supper, I will have two of my men ride with ye.”

“Thank ye.”She dipped and hurried to the castle gate to let the mam know that she would see her little one shortly.

When Helena returned from reassuring the mam that she would be there shortly, she slipped in alongside a few of the older women who took their meals at the brooch.Jena had already eaten in her room, since her appetite seemed enormous recently, but making enough milk to feed her hungry lad was important.

She knew a few of the women, but since most of her time since she’d arrived had been tending to Robin, Jena and Arthur, her contact with many of the other clans folk had been slight.

They spoke of gossip in the brooch and Helena just listened, enjoying her supper before she had to go out to the village and tend to the little one.

“And ‘tis time the laird picked a wife,” one of the women at the table said, nodding to the others.

“Aye.I heard that The Gunn is coming in a day or so and is bringing his widowed sister with the hopes of making an alliance with the laird by marrying the two of them off.”

Helena listened to the talk and it only convinced her that she was indeed better off forgetting about Robin and his kisses.She would stay a bit longer to ease her sister, stay far away from the laird and return to Dornoch and take up her role as Head Healer for the Sutherland Clan.

They all turned toward the keep door as one of the warriors raced into the room.“We spotted the Gunn.He’s less than an hour here.”

Robin nodded, then said, “Have two warriors ready to escort Miss Ross to the village so she can tend to a sick bairn.”

Fortunately, she was finished with her meal, so she pushed back her stool and walked to where the warrior waited.“I need to fetch my medicant basket and a shawl.I shall be down momentarily.”

The man nodded.“We will meet ye in the stables.”

In her room, she gathered everything up and wrapped a warm arisaidh around her and made her way downstairs.It appeared the room was in a frenzy.Lasses from the kitchen, both servers and workers were quickly cleaning up the great hall, removing trenchers, wiping up spills and taking away almost-empty platters.

She passed the dais where Robin was huddled with his two brothers and lasses were setting up mugs and jugs of wine and ale.

So The Gunn was bringing his widowed sister for Robin to look over.Widowed.Probably old.Mayhaps not too attractive.She sighed and left the keep and headed to the stables.

Wasn’t any of her business.

Chapter thirteen

Robin kept his focus on his brothers and didn’t notice when Helena left the keep.He didn’t notice she wore a Sutherland arisaidh, didn’t see the medicant basket she carried, or the fact that her hair had become loose, probably from him holding her head while they had kissed.

“We have no idea why The Gunn has decided to pay us a visit right after the attack on the village, and our response following the attack.Finn looked at Robin.“Think ye he kens about yer injury?”

Robin huffed.“Even if he did, think ye he is coming to see if I’ve healed properly?If it had been his intention to attack us, he would only be coming to see why his mon dinna run me through instead of a tap on my side.”

“I still say he’s coming to present his widowed sister.”Craig looked at his brother with an attempt to be nonchalant.“Are ye ready to take a look at the lass?I ken no’thing about her, but once ye climb into bed, one lass is as good as another.”