Chapter 5
Golden rays sliced through the shadow and sleep like a knife, forcing Leah to welcome the day. Blinking the room into view, she sat up. Confusion rippled through her as she glanced about the unfamiliar furniture. Panic shot through her as images of Lady O'Malley skipped through her thoughts.
Violent flashes of a bag being placed over her head and the rough ride through the country followed. She shot to the headboard, hunting for danger as the fear engulfed her. And just as quickly as the terror jabbed her, it subsided.
Pulling in sharp breaths, Leah's memory caught up to her reality. Bits slowly fell into place as she threw her legs over the side of the bed. Her heart fluttered with excitement as she whipped her head to the door, eager to get out of her room and even more to see Killian once again.
I'll bet my last pence that Killian was drunk yesterday. I bet he willnae even remember proposin'.
Leah pursed her lips together as her chest tightened. Had she really agreed to pretend to be such a person? The idea was preposterous. As she dressed, all she could think about was whether Killian was serious or if he'd succumbed to too much ale before she had arrived.
The moment she stepped out into the hallway, she wanted to slip back into her room and pretend she didn't exist. A brute of a man with broad shoulders and a round face arched his bushy eyebrow.
"Ye're to come with me," he said in a gravelly voice that reminded Leah of dogs digging in a pile of rocks. Leah arched an eyebrow as panic shot through her. Had Killian changed his mind yet again?
"Can ye tell me where I'm goin'?" Leah asked as he started down the hall. Leah scrambled to keep up with his pace as they marched through the deserted corridor. "Or maybe give me yer name? I'm Leah, tis nice to meet ye. Are ye a MacMillan? Or a Glenn?"
Leah kept her eye on the man, hoping he'd give her some sign or interaction. But it felt like she was talking to a rock wall as he led her through the castle. The whiff of freshly baked bread and cooked meat swirled about her nose, tugging at her stomach.
"Can we eat first before ye take me to wherever it is yer takin' me?" Leah asked as she started drifting toward the source of the smell.
"I'm to take ye to Elsie," he said as they passed the Great Hall. Leah craned her neck as her stomach grumbled.
"Should I ken who that is?" Leah asked as he pushed through the heavy door that opened to the outside world.
"The MacMillan healer," he answered with a smirk as if to say Elsie was far better. His words raked her across the coals. Dropping her head, she kept up with the guard as he took her beyond the small garden to a little cottage on the outskirts of the woods.
"Tomas, what are ye doin' here? I thought I helped ye yesterday. Tell me ye dinnae unbind yer foot," the woman with peppered gray hair said with a pleasant smile. There was a calmness about the woman that Leah wasn't expecting. It was as if she were looking at a true sage.
"The laird wanted ye to keep an eye on this one," Tomas answered as he gave Leah a nudge closer. Stumbling forward, Leah caught herself as she gave a weary smile and shake.
"That so?" Elsie said as she cocked her head and gave Leah a once over. There was a playful spark in her eye that instantly put Leah at ease.
"I'm Leah."
"Elsie. Well, I suppose we best get goin'," she said as she nudged her head to the guard. Leah couldn't help but notice how quickly the guard headed back to the castle.
"Tomas isnae all that sharp, but he has a good heart," Elsie said as she leaned down to collect her basket. "Come along. I'll show ye where ye can find yer herbs."
"Do ye nae plant it close to the vegetable garden?" Leah asked. "Ye'll find that a lot of the herbs grow well with some of the vegetables."
"Nay," Elsie answered. "The laird doesnae like to mix the plants and what they're used for. It makes it easier if somethin' were to happen to me and ye have to find the right herb. I can just say the one next to the marigolds."
Leah nodded as she tried to wrap her head around the reasons for the separate gardens. But no matter which way she flipped it, it still didn't make sense.
"So how long have ye been tryin' to help Mason?
" Leah asked as her eyes shifted to the castle.
Hope sprang up within her as she noticed a dark shadow passing the window of the study.
She held her breath, praying for a glimpse of Killian.
Disappointment swiftly followed as a large, round man filled the space of the window.
"Oh, since I came to the castle. The poor lad gets ill every other month it seems like. There's always somethin' stirrin' up with that one. To be honest, I daenae ken what to do to help him. But clearly ye must have an idea. The laird would nae have sent for ye if he dinnae think ye could help."
Leah bobbed her head in silent agreement. The plan Killian had laid out before her seemed in place with his clansmen. All she had to do was remember what they had agreed on.
"I daenae ken if I can or nae, but ye can be sure I'll give it me best," Leah said. "But I daenae want to step on yer toes. If ye have a plan to help him, I daenae want to ruin it."
"I've done all I can," Elsie answered with a sympathetic smile. "It's in God's hands. And maybe ye'll be able to find somethin' that I missed. It's always good to have two sets of eyes on somethin'."
Leah smiled as she watched Elsie pick a few of the bushels of rosemary and thyme. How Leah loved the earthy floral scent that came from rubbing her fingers through the stalks of rosemary. It was as if she had been wrapped in a warm blanket and put to bed.
"So when did ye get in last night? The laird was rather put out this mornin' and I could see the rings under his eyes. I nearly scolded him thinkin' he'd been brawlin' again with how black his eyes are right now."
Leah's heart squeezed like a fist. The last thing she wanted was to cause Killian any issues. But after what he had confessed to her last night, she could understand why he had the circles.
"Ye've seen him this mornin'? And how did he seem?" Leah asked, hoping that the pitch in her tone didn't raise any suspicions. Elsie gave a hearty chuckle as she shook her head.
"The laird is just as cranky as he was yesterday and the day before that. If ye're hopin' that maybe ye came at a bad time, ye dinnae. If he doesnae have a scowl on his face or a line in his forehead, then ye can ask if there's something wrong. Any other time, that's just who he is."
"He's nae cruel," Leah whispered as if the question was taboo. "Is he?"
"Cruel as in a monster? I suppose he could be when he's in a mood," Elsie answered.
"But I often leave him be when he gets like that.
Ye've got handle him sometimes as ye would a barren.
Daenae get me wrong, the laird is highly respected in every regard.
He protects us and see that the clan is strong.
He's certainly nae a man ye want to be crossin'. "
Leah shook her head. Images of Killian flashed through her mind. Heat kissed her cheeks as she ran her fingers through her hair, hoping Elsie hadn’t noticed the flush on her skin.
"I wouldnae dream. In fact, I daenae see how anyone could go up against someone like Killian. He's too big. I cannae see anyone around her being able to do any damage to him."
"It'd be easy to think that," Elsie said as her eyes shifted to and fro before she leaned closer. Her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Between ye and me, there's a few men around here that believe they could bring the laird down a peg or two."
"What?" Leah gasped as Elsie shushed for Leah to be silent.
"Are ye tryin' to draw attention to us?" Elsie asked. Leah arched an eyebrow as she scanned the open field. There wasn't anyone around save for those in the castle.
"Sorry," Leah said as Elsie's attention wavered just a moment before returning to Leah.
"What does it matter?" Elsie asked as she leaned back. "It's nae like any of the gossip around here ever comes to fruition. And I shouldnae be spreadin' it as if it is news."
Leah's heart sank to her stomach. The very thought of skipping over tidbits that could help her get to know Killian better was heresy.
"I'm sorry, please, continue. If I'm to be here for a spell, I'd like to ken what sort of place I'll be restin' me head in," Leah said as she inched closer to Elsie. A mischievous smile tugged at Elsie's lips. The playful sparkle returned to her eye as she leaned closer.
"Word is the clan is nae too happy with Killian, ye see? The council is lookin' to replace the laird, but ye've seen the size of Killian. Nay one can make him do anythin' that he doesnae want to do."
A loud trumpet rang out, drawing as much attention as possible. Leah's head whipped about as the warmth of her blood ran cold.
"What's that for?" Leah asked as she turned to Elsie for the answer.
Elsie lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. "The doesnae look good. We need to go."
"Where?" Leah asked as her panic shifted to terror. The mere thought of seeing blood caused her head to get woozy.
"The courtyard," Elsie answered as she rushed to help with Leah on her heels.
"There ye are, good, I need ye to tend to this poor lad."
"Alan? What happened?" Elsie asked as she pressed the back of her hand to the lad's forehead.
"There was an accident at the trainin' grounds. Blasted fools. I told them to be careful, did they listen to me, nay. Of course nae," Alan rambled on as Elsie grabbed the lad by the arm and hoisted him up.
"Help me with him," Elsie asked Leah. Immediately, Leah grabbed the other arm and helped Elsie get the boy into her infirmary.
"He's nae the only one," Alan said. "There's others."
Leah's heart stopped. She stared wide-eyed at Elsie. If she had to go out to the training ground she knew the jig would be up. Everyone would see just how much the sight of blood affected her.