Chapter 17 #2
What had she done? She dropped her head onto his shoulder and squeezed her eyes closed, now that she could.
Tears leaked from their corners, and she let them run down her face, covering her mouth with one hand, lest a cry of anguish escape when Jamie wrapped her in his arms. “I’m so sorry, Jamie.
I confessed to the abbot that I was jealous of yer skill, and thought ye had something…
I didn’t imagine anything like this, but some empathy.
I told him, and he told my father. And he locked up yer men to keep ye here.
” She shook her head, rocking it on Jamie’s broad, strong shoulder.
“Ye ken ye are no’ safe here. Ye will come with me, back to the Aerie. There ye may learn as much as ye have dreamed of, and we will be together… if that is what ye wish.”
She lifted her head and met his gaze, thinking about their brief time in the wood. “I would like that.” Was it possible? She was still torn over leaving Braden, and leaving Neve to carry the burden of the clan’s welfare. “But ye canna teach me what ye do. What ye just did, can ye?”
Jamie shook his head. “I’m sorry, nay. ’Tis something I inherited. I dinna ken how it works, or why. Only that it does.” At her crestfallen expression, he pulled her onto his lap. “But ye can become the best healer the Highlands have ever seen, and learn every cure a wise woman must ken.”
“I’ll never be best. Ye are.”
“Nay, lass. I fought using this ability for years. I was trained as a warrior and I’m a good one. Even a great one. I thought healing was something for a lass to do, no’ a man. But ye have taught me the value of it. The value of what I can do. I’ll never disparage it again.”
“I’m glad of that. And that ye care so much for me.”
“I love ye, Aftyn. I would give my life for ye.”
She tucked her head back into the crook of his neck and sighed. “I love ye, too. And I wish we could stay here, like this, forever.”
Jamie’s heart soared at her admission. No matter what stood in their way, they would be together. He would make sure of it. “No’ quite like this,” he said and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Ye still have pain.”
“I didna notice it, now that ye are holding me.” She looked up, her gaze on his mouth. “Perhaps a kiss would cure the rest…”
Jamie didn’t need to be asked twice. He dipped his head and met her lips, softly at first, then with more fervor as she answered his kiss with her own, sweet mewling sounds accompanying each brush of his lips on hers.
He extended his talent each time his lips touched hers, and found that his healing strength grew even greater than he was accustomed to.
Could affection, caring, even love, amplify his ability?
If he noticed this much from simple kisses, what would more intimacy reveal?
And why hadn’t he noticed the same effect kissing her in the wood? Because no one was hurt?
Before he could deepen the kiss and find out, the door swung open and Mhairi entered.
Jamie released Aftyn, thankful for the few moments it took anyone’s eyes to adjust to the dim interior from the daylight outside. Aftyn leaned against the wall, while Jamie stood to meet Mhairi. “She’s better,” he told her. “No’ well, but better.”
Mhairi knelt by Aftyn and winced. “Ach, Aftyn. I’m so sorry Rory did this to ye. I’m so ashamed.”
“Nay, Mhairi,” Aftyn said, her voice weak. “’Tis no’ yer fault. And he had help.”
“Aye, Agatha’s man. I heard. She should be ashamed, too.” She cupped the side of Aftyn's face and tried to wipe away the dirt and dried blood on it. "How could they do this to ye?”
“Do ye ken where Alastair is?” Jamie didn’t want to worry her, but he did want to know if the lad was safe.
“I do. He’s with a friend. She’ll keep him out of sight until all this is settled.”
“Good. Is Braden with ye, outside?”
“I’m here,” Braden’s voice preceded his silhouette in the doorway, then he stepped into the cottage. “Are ye well, Aftyn?” He moved toward her and dropped to the floor, kneeling before her and taking her hand, his mouth turning down as he studied her.
“I’ve been better, but Jamie has seen to me, and I will be well soon enough.”
“Damn it, Sister, if our father treated ye as he ought, those men would never have dared to touch ye.”
“Perhaps,” she answered, and shrugged, then winced.
“I’ll wager they never do the like again,” Mhairi said with a glance at Jamie.
“I’d like to kill both of them for what they did to Aftyn.” But he knew better than to start a clan war. He turned to Braden. “As much as I want to, ’twill be better for the clan if the laird metes out their punishment.”
“I’ll see to that,” Braden announced. “He tolerated Rory’s treatment of Mhairi. If he willna act for Aftyn’s sake after this, then other measures will be needed, and I will see to them.”
“Walk carefully, lad. He is still the laird.”
“Aye, he is. And he’s looking for ye.”
“I dinna want to move Aftyn yet, and I must stay by her for a time. Will ye spread the word that she has gone back to the keep, but ye dinna ken where? Only that she wished to be alone?”
“Aye. That will have them searching the entire keep for both of ye.” Braden grinned. “I will enjoy seeing that.”
“And Mhairi, if ye will go on about yer day as if nought occurred and no one is here with ye,” Jamie said, “that will confuse them, too.”
“Gladly. I’ve work to do outside, but will be in and out.”
“That will serve.”
“What do ye need, healer?” Braden glanced around. “I ken yer men always brought ye food and drink. I can…”
“Nay, lad,” Mhairi interrupted. “I will provide. If ye come back here, ye will lead men to my door.”
“Very well. Whatever ye use, I will replace from the keep’s stores and be generous about it,” Braden promised. “I’ve heard how Alastair can eat,” he added with a grin. “He’s a good lad."
Once again, Jamie saw what a good laird this lad would someday be if he was given the chance.
“I will go back to the keep and do what I can to confuse the searchers,” Braden continued. “I’m sure I can recruit some of the lasses to help. We can spread conflicting stories that will keep them occupied for a while.”
Jamie nodded. “I need a few hours. Do the best ye can, lad. And thank ye.”
“Aye, Brother. Thank ye,” Aftyn said, then lay down with a sigh. “I’ll rest now.”
Braden took a moment to study her, then stood, opened the door a crack and peered out, then left.
Jamie could tell he’d been making sure he’d not be observed. Likely, his path would take him behind the cottage. The lad had a good head on his young shoulders.
Mhairi went to her cupboard and pulled out as much food as she had on hand, as well as three more pitchers. “Bread, cheese, strips of dried venison, fruit, cider, and ale,” she said, pointing to each. “This one is water. I’ll be outside for a while. Take care of our lass.”
“Thank ye, Mhairi. I owe ye.”
“Ye owe me nought. ’Tis the least of what I owe ye. Both of ye.” She left them, closing the door softly behind her.
Aftyn opened her eyes and pushed herself up onto one elbow. “Where were we?”
Jamie laughed. She’d nearly died. Now, she was fit enough to tease him into kissing her again.
He’d never loved his talent more than in that moment.
“We,” he said and gave her a frown he didn’t mean, “are going to eat. Ye will eat a wee bit while I eat more. Then I am going to put ye in a healing sleep for a few hours while I make sure I did enough earlier. Then I’ll finish what I must do for ye, like yer shoulder and hands.
Ye dinna mind if ye have a few bruises left to prove they truly harmed ye, aye? I can promise ye they willna hurt.”
“Very well. Do what ye must. If my father is to consider punishing those men, he will demand proof. They will deny what they did. Bruises should help convince him.”
“The color will be on the surface only and will fade in a few days. Yer eye is still swollen, though only a wee.”
“Leave it. I can see well enough.”
“Brave lass. I was going to suggest that.” He helped her to Mhairi’s table. They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Aftyn sighed.
“I think that is enough for me.”
“Then I want ye to rest until I am ready.” He helped her back to the pallet. “If ye fall asleep, that will do ye good.”
“I might.”
Jamie settled her and returned to his meal.
He needed the strength it would lend him to finish taking care of Aftyn and himself.
When he felt ready, he returned to her side.
“Ye will sleep,” he told her when her eyes opened.
“And when ye wake, ye will feel better, but ye must act like ye remain in pain.”
“I’ll do my best. Thank ye, Jamie. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused.”
“I’m sorry, too. I’ll make up every way I can for my part in causing yer beating.
For now, sleep, lass.” He laid a hand on her head and lay the healing sleep on her.
Then he went to work, making certain he’d missed no injuries in her abdomen, chest, or back.
Her knee was swollen, twisted, and bruised, and she had cracks in the bones of one arm, one shin, her right hand, and several toes, confirmation that she had fought for her life, yet she hadn’t complained. He was in awe of her determination.
Ignoring his own pain, he fixed everything not visible on the surface, and left the skinned knuckles as they were, a sign she’d tried to defend herself and a small pain that would remind her to behave as if she was in much greater pain.
Finally, satisfied he’d done all he could, he pushed to his feet and limped to the table to avail himself of more of Mhairi’s cider.
Exhausted, he stretched out on the floor near the door.
He wanted to know the moment anyone tried to enter the cottage.
Then he turned his awareness inward and dealt with the pains that had transferred to his body.
He couldn’t fathom how any man could do to a lass what those two men had done to Aftyn.
Fury built in him and he let it grow. It would help him heal and give him the power he needed to destroy those two men if the laird refused to punish them as they deserved.
And, he decided, despite the consequences, he’d see the laird punished as well, if he let the assault on his daughter go unanswered.