Page 16 of A Highlander's Bride

Her mam took in a sharp breath. “Is it broken?”

“Nay. She just twisted it. The bone isna damaged. A few days of rest and hot and cold pads on her ankle will help.”

Then she walked to the door and sent for a maid. “Tell the lairdthat Lady Beth is awake and appears to have a twisted ankle.”

“What exactly does a twisted ankle mean?” Beth asked as she shifted and groaned with pain.

“It means when ye fell from the horse—”

Beth sucked in her breath and frowned. “I dinna fall.”

“—ye twisted yer foot and I don’t see any bad damage, but ye will need to keep yer weight off that ankle at least for a few days, maybe more. I will have one of the maids bring ye pads of cold cloths to place around yer ankle which might help with the discomfort. I can also mix ye a potion for the pain. Tomorrow ye can alternate between cold and hot cloths to help the muscle.”

The maid the healer had sent to the laird to give him a report returned. “Emma, the laird is insisting he see Lady Beth.”

Her mam looked at her with raised brows. “If the laird wants to see ye, we will have to dress ye again.”

He probably wanted to laugh at her and comment on her bragging about being able to take a jump with no problem. She groaned again. “Can I just say nay?”

Emma and her mam both said at the same time, “Nay.”

“He is the laird, Beth,” her mam said.

She gave a very unladylike snort. “Oh aye, I almost forgot.”

Meanwhile her mam was busy pulling out more comfortable clothes for her to wear and told the maid that Lady Beth would be ready to receive the laird in fifteen minutes.

“I’ll put a couple of petticoats on ye with a bed jacket. With me here I am sure that would be fine. I think the less we move yer foot the better that would be.” Emma nodded as Mam spoke.

By the time the laird arrived, mam had changed her clothes, washed her face and brushed her hair. The laird knocked softly and Emma called, “Enter.”

Laird Mackenzie walked into the room with a frown on his handsome face. He looked at Emma. “The lass said Lady Beth twisted her ankle.”

“Aye.” The healer said, “There doesn’t seemed to be any permanent damage to the foot, but she must have bedrest for a least a few days.”

The laird walked over to her bed and smiled. Here it comes, she thought, him teasing her about the bragging she’d done regarding her skills on a horse. She sighed and looked up at him.

She was once more reminded how striking the man was. His muscles moved on their own as he entered the room. His wavy hair fell onto his forehead and with the way the strands stood up on end, it appeared he had been running his fingers through it.

Mam moved from her bedside to allow the laird to speak with her. “How are ye lass?”

She hesitated, waiting for the smirk he would give her to appear. “Well, my foot is twisted and painful, but my pride took a worse fall then the rest of me did.”

The laird shook his head. “Nay. Ye did a beautiful jump, but when ye turned around, yer angle was off.”

She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. “Nay. I should have kenned better, but I was so interested in impressing ye that I dinna think it through.”

He took her hand and lowered his voice. “Ye do impress me, Lady Beth.”

She hated the fluttering in her stomach, but mostly she hated the look in her mam’s eyes. Just what she needed, to give her mother more encouragement.

Laird Mackenzie turned to the healer. “Must she remain in bed, or can I carry her downstairs?”

Beth sucked in her breath. The last thing she needed was The Mackenzie traipsing all over the keep with her in his arms. Lady Chisholm would have apoplexy and Da would ask the laird to get together to work out the betrothal agreement.

“Aye, Laird, she doona have to remain in bed, just as long as shedoona try to walk,” Emma said.

A bright smile lit the laird’s face. “That is good news. I will carry her downstairs so she can break her fast.”