Page 44 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“Wait one minute.The laird doesn’t want any women leaving the brooch without a guard.”

She wanted to argue with the man, but she knew it would be hopeless, so she patted Lillian’s shoulder.“It won’t take long for the guard to join us.The lass nodded still holding on to Helena’s hand.

Within minutes one of the guards rode up alongside them and nodded.

Helena looked at Lillian.“Tell me where yer bothy is.”

The lass turned and said, “Go to the village and there is a road on the other side that will take you to my home.”

The poor little one did run a long way, and Helena was grateful for deciding to ride instead of walk.

Once they arrived at the humble bothy, she could hear the screams coming from the house.She went inside, the mam of the children wringing her hands.“Thank you so much for coming, Miss Ross.Alfred fell from the tree, and I’ve ne’er seen him act this bad.”

As soon as he saw Helena, with tears streaming down his face, the lad grabbed his arm and backed away.“Nay.Doona touch me.”

Well, that answered the question.He hurt his arm in his fall.“I just want to look at it.If ye let me see what happened to yer arm, I can have yer mam give ye something to help the pain.But I must look at it first.”

His wailing had turned to sniffles.He walked slowly to where Helena stood and stopped.“I think I broke it and y’er going to remove it.”

Helena reached out and touched the lad on his head.“Nay.Ye won’t lose the arm.Do you ken why I ken that?”

Still holding on to his arm and sniffling he shook his head.

“Because I ken a warrior who lost half of his arm in a battle, and yer injury is no’hing like his.”She reached out her hand.“Will ye let me look at it?”

“Aye.”

She gently removed the small hand that was holding the arm.After an examination, she was relieved to tell him and his mam that it wasn’t broken, just a bruise.

“I’m going to tie a wrap around his arm to keep it still for a while.I’ll also give ye a potion to mix with boiled water that ye can give him now and then again when he goes to bed.”

The mam walked over and embraced Alfred.He hugged her back, and it appeared all was well.

When she left the bothy, her guard was standing nearby, taking in his surroundings.“How is the lad?”

“Fine.He fell out of a tree onto his arm.It’s no’ broken, though.Just bruised.It will cause him some pain for a couple of days.”

The guard helped her mount the horse and they headed to the brooch.

That little bit of work managed to take her mind off Robin.Mayhaps she would put off her packing until the next day.Since the laird wasn’t expected back for a few more days there was no hurry.

Feeling a tad lighter, she entered the keep, ready for the evening meal.

* * * * *

Robin and Lenora walked side by side as they entered the garden.‘Twas a vegetable garden, no flowers in sight, so it was apparent she asked him to walk with her for a purpose.

“Before we speak,” he said, “I would like to ken who caused your injury?”

They walked and she said nothing for a couple of minutes.

“Lenora?”

She stared straight ahead.“Why does it matter?”

“It matters to me.I doona like to think anyone would put his hands on a woman.”

“When she remained silent, he said, “’Twas yer brother, aye?”