Page 242 of Wicked Highland Heroes

“He is alive,” she replied.

The need to cry tightened her throat. “What can I do?”

Muira instructed her and, together, they finished cleaning the wound, then applied herbs and bound his ribs. What seemed eons later, Rhoslyn sat alone with her grandfather in the dimly lit room.

The tread of booted feet approached from behind.

“What do ye want, St. Claire?” she asked.

“Mistress Muira informed me he is resting well,” he said.

Rhoslyn shot to her feet and whirled on him. “With no help from ye.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “I am the one who found and brought him here.”

“How is it ye were with him when he was wounded?” she demanded.

“I was not. Seward sent one of his men back for help. I went immediately.”

“Without telling me.”

“I took a hundred men. What help could you have offered that they could not?”

“I would have gone, you monster,” she snapped.

He barked a laugh. “That I would not have allowed.”

“Ye could no’ have stopped me.”

“Christ, Rhoslyn, had I wasted even a moment, he could have died.”

She closed the distance between them in an instant. “Had ye killed Dayton, Grandfather would not be lying in that bed at all.”

His gaze sharpened and she was startled to realize her barb had struck home. That was what she’d intended, but satisfaction didn’t taste as sweet as expected.

“You believe Dayton is responsible for the attack?” he asked.

“Who else?”

“You are saying Seward has no enemies.”

“None who would attack him with such malice.”

“Nay?” St. Claire said. “Only a few days ago Roberts intended to kill him.”

“Bah! There is a difference in fighting and sneaking up on a man like a dog. This smells like your brother.”

“It could be him,” St. Claire said. “But to what end?”

“To draw you out, force you away from Castle Glenbarr. God only knows. The man is not in his right senses.”

“That is true,” St. Claire said. “But he is not a fool when it comes to warring.”

“Warring, aye, and ye brought it to us.”

“You are overwrought,” he said.” I understand your worry. But you know this was not my doing. However, I will find who is responsible and give you his head.”

She stared. “His head? What comfort will that be if my grandfather dies?” Rhoslyn turned away and returned to her grandfather’s side.