Page 43 of A Highlander’s Heart

“Turn back over so I can see about yer ribs.”

Once he was flat on his back, she gently touched the area that had been bruised and he jumped.

“I ken ye do not want to hear this, husband, but as yer healer, I am ordering ye to stay in bed for at least a day or two.”

He turned his head to look up at her. “Nay.” He shook his head. “I canno’ show weakness. I need to take a turn at the lists.”

She crossed her arms and glared at him. “And would ye look stronger if ye collapsed in front of these men who would like to find any chance to challenge ye?”

He rolled over and stared at her. “Ye can give me one of yer potions to ease the pain.”

She sat alongside him and gently pushed the hair back from his forehead. “Aye, I have a potion for the pain, but pain is yer body’s way of warning ye to ease up. Ye will only damage yerself again if ye doona take care. And taking a pain medication that will make ye drowsy before going to the lists would just get yerself sliced in half.”

He reached out and took her hand, rubbing the knuckles with his thumb. He glanced away and stared out the window at the arriving gloaming.

“I will go to the kitchen and see if someone can direct me to the healing hut so I can get ye a tonic. But only if ye promise me ye won’t do anything for the rest of the day except rest.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Emma answered it. The same men who had taken Patrick’s things to the room Morgan assigned to him, entered. “My lady, do ye wish us to bring up yer things from the wagon now?”

“Aye. Please,” she said.

When they left, she said to Morgan, “Go sit in that chair over there.” She waved to a comfortable looking chair in front of the fire. “Ye can stay there until I return. By then all the things from the wagon should be up here.”

“When yer fetching the tonic, see if ye can find Gregory and ask him to join us.”

She smiled and hopped up. “I’ll find him and send him up. Do ye need me to help ye to the chair?”

“Nay. ’Tis just sore from jumping on Patrick. And Duncan’s hug. Ye go for the tonic and I’ll sit over there and speak with Gregory when he arrives.”

She left, and after asking questions from some maids and finally, some male servants, found where Gregory and his men were staying. She wove her way through the men sitting at tables in the great hall.

Gregory sat alongside two other men, drinking from a mug and quietly talking. She walked up to them. “Gregory, may I have a few minutes of yer time?”

“Aye, of course, Emma,” he grinned, “or should I say, Lady Gunn?”

She felt the heat climb to her face but offered him a smile. “If ye could come to our bedchamber, Morgan would like a word with ye.”

They climbed the stairs in silence and entered the room. Morgan had moved to the chair by the fireplace. Emma left them to mix up that tonic for her husband. Hopefully, the healing hut Patrick had mentioned would have what she needed since their wagon hadn’t been completely unloaded yet.

*

“What has ye so glum, Laird?” Gregory strode in, all confidence and strength.

“As my wife and healer said before we left Castle Leod, the trip worsened my leg and ribs. Jumping on my arse of a cousin when he insulted my wife dinna help. I feel as though I lost all the energy I worked so hard to gain.

“She said I am better off resting for what’s left of the day. She is right now mixing me a tonic to help my pain and make me sleep.”

“Emma has always been a fine healer. I would take her advice.”

Morgan ran his fingers through his hair. “I canno’ appear weak in any way if I am to take over command. I am sure there is a great deal of support for Patrick right now, but word has probably no’ spread that I am alive and have returned.”

Gregory frowned. “As Second-in-Command, ye must have had control and loyalty with yer men.”

“Aye. I did. However, they’ve been told for over a month that both my uncle and I were dead.”

Gregory rubbed his index finger and thumb over his chin. “I agree with yer wife. Take the rest of the day off and I’ll pass the word that ye are sending for the keep books and will be dealing with that for the rest of the day.

“Actually ye need to do just that. Rents should have been collected, money spent, stores of food checked and restocked, and so forth.”