Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Is he goin’ to be all right?”
Iris burst into Codie’s chamber, her heart pounding with fear.
The room was warm, a fire crackling in the hearth despite the summer weather, and the air smelled of herbs.
Codie lay in his bed, looking small and pale against the pillows while an elderly woman in simple clothes bent over him with a steaming cup.
The healer looked up at Iris’ entrance, her weathered face creasing into a reassuring smile. “Och, me lady, there’s nay need for such worry. The wee lad will be right as rain soon enough.”
“Are ye certain?” Iris moved closer to the bed, her eyes scanning Codie’s flushed face. “Elijah said he had a fever and stomach pains.”
“Aye, he does. But it’s nothin’ more than a summer complaint.
Happens to children all the time when they eat too many green apples or drink water that’s been sittin’ in the sun too long.
” The healer gestured to the cup in her hands.
“A few days of this medicine, plenty of rest and water, and he’ll be back to his mischief in nay time at all. ”
Relief flooded through Iris so powerfully that her knees felt weak. She pressed one hand against her chest, feeling her heartbeat slowly return to normal. “Thank God. I thought... when Elijah came to find me, he looked so worried. I feared the worst.”
“The Laird was worried sick,” Aliana supplied from where she stood by the window, her arms crossed as she watched the proceedings with obvious concern. “Practically ran through the castle to find ye. I’ve never seen him so worked up over anythin’.”
Iris filed that information away to examine later. For now, though, all that mattered was Codie.
“How are ye feelin’, sweetheart?” she asked gently, sitting on the edge of the bed and brushing his dark hair back from his forehead. He was warm but not dangerously so. His skin was clammy beneath her fingers, and she could see the exhaustion in his young face.
“Me stomach hurts,” Codie whimpered, his voice small and miserable. “And the medicine tastes awful.”
“I ken it does.” The healer held out the cup again, the steam rising from it carrying that bitter herbal scent. “But ye need to drink it all, young master. Every last drop, or ye’ll nae get better.”
“But it’s so bitter!” Codie’s lower lip trembled, and Iris could see tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. “Can I nae have honey instead? Or one of Cook’s cakes?”
“After the medicine,” the healer said firmly though not unkindly. “Nae before. Food would only upset yer stomach more right now.”
Codie’s eyes filled with tears, and Iris felt her heart clench painfully. He looked so miserable, so unlike the happy boy who’d been laughing and playing at the festival just yesterday.
“Codie,” she said gently, taking one of his small hands in hers, “I ken the medicine tastes bad, but if ye take it like the good, brave boy I ken ye are, I’ll teach ye how to ride a horse. Properly with yer own saddle and everythin’.”
The boy’s eyes widened, tears momentarily forgotten as hope sparked in their depths. “Really? Ye’ll teach me to ride?”
“I promise. As soon as ye’re well enough, we’ll start lessons. And I’ll teach ye all the tricks I ken. How to guide a horse with just yer knees, how to take jumps, everythin’.” Iris squeezed his hand encouragingly.
“Even the really big horses? Like Da’s stallion?” Codie’s voice was still weak, but there was genuine excitement creeping into it now.
“Well, maybe we’ll start with somethin’ a bit smaller and work our way up,” Iris suggested with a warm smile. “But aye, eventually ye’ll be able to ride any horse in the stables. Would ye like that?”
“Aye!” Codie tried to sit up straighter despite his illness then immediately grimaced and fell back against the pillows. “I want to ride like Da does. He looks so brave and strong when he’s on his horse.”
It was at that moment that Iris became aware of a presence in the doorway. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was; she could feel him there, as surely as she could feel the warmth from the fire. Elijah had entered the room, silent as always, and was standing just inside the threshold.
She didn’t acknowledge him directly, didn’t turn to meet his gaze, but she was acutely conscious of his presence. She could imagine him standing there, his broad shoulders filling the doorframe, his dark eyes fixed on his son with that carefully controlled expression that hid so much emotion.
“Then ye need to be brave and strong right now,” Iris continued, keeping her attention focused on Codie even as part of her awareness remained tuned to Elijah’s silent observation. “Take yer medicine, and that’s the first step toward those ridin’ lessons.”
Codie looked at the cup dubiously, his small nose wrinkling at the smell. “Every drop?”
“Every single drop.”
“And then I can learn to ride?”
“As soon as ye’re better, I promise.” Iris kept her voice warm and encouraging. “I’ll find ye the perfect horse to learn on. One that’s gentle but has enough spirit to make things interestin’.”
Codie took a deep breath, clearly steeling himself for the unpleasant task ahead. “All right. But it better nae be as bad as last time.”
“I added a wee bit of honey this time,” the healer said kindly, holding the cup closer to him. “It’ll still be bitter but nae quite as terrible.”
As Codie bravely reached for the cup and began drinking the medicine, making terrible faces but not stopping until it was empty. Iris became aware of Mairie standing quietly behind her. Her friend had been so silent that Iris had nearly forgotten she was there.
“Who’s that?” Codie asked suddenly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and pointing at Mairie. His voice was a bit hoarse from the medicine, but his curiosity was clearly overcoming his discomfort. “Is she another healer?”
“Nay, this is Mairie,” Iris said warmly, gesturing for her friend to come closer. “She’s an old friend of mine who’s come to help me around the castle. Remember how I told ye about growin’ up with someone who was more like a sister than a maid? That’s Mairie.”
Mairie stepped forward with a kind smile, her round face radiating warmth and comfort. “It’s lovely to meet ye, young master. I’ve heard lovely things about ye from Lady Iris.”
“Ye have?” Codie looked pleased despite his illness, a faint blush coloring his pale cheeks. “Good things?”
“Very good things. She told me ye’re brave and clever and have the best imagination of any boy in all of Scotland.” Mairie’s eyes twinkled with genuine affection.
Codie’s cheeks flushed with pleasure though whether from fever or flattery, Iris couldn’t tell. “Did she really say that?”
“She did. And now that ye’re the son of me good friend, I suppose that makes ye a bit like me nephew, doesnae it?” Mairie leaned in conspiratorially, her voice taking on a playful tone. “Which means I should probably do what all good aunts do and spoil ye terribly.”
“How?” Codie asked eagerly, sitting up slightly despite the discomfort it clearly caused him.
“Well, I happen to be very good at bakin’.
Cakes, tarts, biscuits. Ye name it, I can make it.
” Mairie’s voice dropped to a whisper, as if sharing a great secret.
“So, here’s me deal: if ye take yer medicine every time the healer says to without complainin’ or fussin’, I’ll bake ye a special treat. Whatever ye want.”
“Anythin’?” Codie’s eyes went round as coins, his illness momentarily forgotten in the face of such a generous offer.
“Within reason,” Mairie amended with a laugh. “I cannae make ye a cake the size of the castle for instance. But anythin’ normal-sized is fair game.”
“Even honey cakes with extra honey?”
“Especially honey cakes with extra honey.”
“I’ll take me medicine!” Codie declared with sudden conviction, his voice stronger than it had been since Iris entered the room. “I’ll take every drop; I promise! Without any fussin’ at all!”
“That’s the spirit, lad,” the healer said with approval, patting his hand gently. “Ye’re already on yer way to recovery with that attitude.”
“Can I help too?” Aliana moved closer to the bed, her expression softening as she looked at the sick boy. “Because I ken some wonderful stories, and if ye’re a very good patient and do everythin’ the healer says, I’d be happy to read ye one of them before bed tonight.”
“What kind of stories?” Codie asked, his interest clearly piqued despite his discomfort.
“Adventure stories. Tales of brave knights and fierce dragons, of clever lasses who outsmart giants, of magical creatures that live in the deepest parts of the forest.” Aliana’s voice took on a storytelling quality, rich and inviting.
“I have one about a young boy who learns to talk to horses and goes on grand adventures across the Highlands.”
“That sounds amazin’!” Codie bounced slightly in his bed with excitement then immediately winced as the movement jostled his sore stomach. “Ow. Me stomach still hurts.”
“Then ye need to rest,” Iris said firmly but gently, helping him settle back against the pillows. “Lie back down, sweetheart. The medicine needs time to work.”
“But I’m nae tired,” Codie protested weakly, even as his eyelids drooped noticeably.
“Ye daenae have to sleep. Just rest.” Iris adjusted his pillows carefully so he could sit up slightly without straining. “And maybe we can talk about what kind of horse ye’d like to learn on. Would ye prefer a gentle geldin’ or a spirited mare?”
“What’s the difference?” Codie asked, his interest clearly piqued despite the exhaustion pulling at him.
“Well, geldin’s are often gentler and more patient which makes them good for beginnin’ riders.
They tend to be more forgivin’ of mistakes, which is helpful when ye’re just learnin’.
” Iris kept her voice soft and soothing, noting how the sound seemed to calm him.
“But mares can be friendly too, when they want to, but tend to act irate sometimes. They can both be fun once ye get the hang of things.”
“I want one with energy,” Codie decided after a moment’s consideration. “But nae too much energy. I daenae want to fall off.”
“Ye will nae fall off because I’ll be right there with ye,” Iris promised, smoothing his dark hair back from his forehead. “I’ll hold the lead rope until ye’re comfortable, and then we’ll practice in the paddock before we go anywhere near the open fields. We’ll take it as slow as ye need.”
“Da learned to ride when he was very young,” Codie said, his voice getting quieter as the medicine began to make him drowsy. His words were starting to slur slightly at the edges. “He told me once that his da put him on a horse when he was only five years old.”
Iris felt Elijah’s presence more keenly at those words, could imagine the tension that must have settled into his shoulders at the mention of his own Da. She kept her eyes on Codie, but her awareness of her husband remained sharp.
“Did he?” Iris kept her voice soft and soothing. “That must have been frightenin’.”
“He said it was, but his da told him that fear was somethin’ to overcome, nae somethin’ to give into.” Codie’s eyes were half-closed now, his breathing becoming slower and more even. “Do ye think I’m brave enough to learn to ride?”
“I think ye’re one of the bravest boys I’ve ever met,” Iris said honestly, her voice thick with emotion. “Ye took that terrible medicine without fussin’, and ye’re handlin’ bein’ sick with grace. That takes real courage.”
“Really?”
“Really. Bravery isnae just about big, grand gestures. Sometimes it’s about doin’ small, hard things when ye’d rather nae. Like takin’ medicine that tastes awful, or admittin’ when ye’re scared, or askin’ for help when ye need it.”
“Like takin’ medicine?”
“Exactly like takin’ medicine.”
Codie was quiet for a moment, his breathing becoming slower and more even as sleep began to claim him. “Lady Iris?”
“Aye, sweetheart?”
“I’m glad ye married Da.” The words were soft, almost dreamy. “Even if he can be scary sometimes, I think he’s happier now. And I ken I’m happier.”
The simple words hit Iris right in the chest, bringing sudden tears to her eyes that she had to blink away quickly. “I’m glad too, Codie. Very glad.”
“And I’m glad Mairie is here now. It’s nice havin’ more people who care about ye.”
“It is, isnae it?” Iris smoothed his hair back gently, her touch feather light. “Now rest. We’ll all be here when ye wake up.”
Within minutes, Codie had drifted off to sleep, his breathing deep and even despite the flush still coloring his cheeks. His small chest rose and fell with steady rhythm, and some of the tension had eased from his face now that the medicine was working its way through his system.
The healer moved forward quietly, checking his pulse and temperature with practiced efficiency. She placed her weathered hand against his forehead then nodded with satisfaction.
“He’ll sleep for a few hours now. The medicine will help with the fever and settle his stomach.
” She gathered her supplies, placing various vials and pouches back into her worn leather bag.
“I’ll leave more medicine with ye, me lady.
He’ll need another dose when he wakes and then again before bed.
Three days of treatment, and he should be right as rain. ”
“Thank ye,” Iris said gratefully, her voice barely above a whisper so as not to disturb Codie. “I daenae ken what we would have done without ye.”
“Och, it’s what I’m here for.” The healer smiled, the lines around her eyes crinkling with warmth. “Ye did well with him, me lady. Ye have a way with the boy that’s lovely to see. He trusts ye, and that’s a precious thing.”
After the healer left, moving past Elijah with a respectful nod that he must have returned silently, Iris remained by Codie’s bedside.
She watched him sleep, one hand resting lightly on the coverlet near his small form.
Mairie and Aliana stood nearby, both women looking at her with something like admiration in their expressions.
Elijah remained in the doorway, a silent sentinel. Iris could feel his gaze on her, on his son, on the scene before him. She wondered what he was thinking, what emotions were churning behind that carefully controlled exterior.