Chapter 5 #2
"Ye stay here with this one," Elsie said before Leah could open her mouth. "I'll see to the men out there. They've come to ken me face. If ye go out there they'll wonder who ye are and if they can trust ye."
"I understand, ye ken where I'll be if ye need," Leah said as she watched Elsie rush off to the training grounds. Leah glanced at her patient. He didn't look to be too badly injured. From what she could tell, he had a knot on his head and would certainly have a headache when he woke up.
"And how has yer mornin' been goin' so far?" Alan asked Leah as she dipped a rag in cold water before placing it on his forehead.
"I have to say it has been rather peaceful up until now," Leah said. "Did ye ken what happened?"
"Trainin' with lit arrows," Alan answered with a hearty chuckle. "There is always a handful who like to test the limits of the arrow and grease."
"I suppose the only real way to learn any lesson is by goin' through it," Leah said. Her words seemed to have a warming effect on Alan. His smile stretched as a spark touched his gaze.
"I daenae think I could have said it better myself. The sad thin' is how a young man must go through many mistakes to learn," Alan said as the young man began to stir.
"Bless me soul, have I died?" the man asked as he stared dumbstruck at Leah. She flashed him a crooked smile.
"Sorry lad," Alan chuckled. "Nae today. But better luck next time."
Leah couldn't help but giggle as she watched the young man sway as he sat up. With gentle care, she helped him to his feet and held him till he felt steady.
"Best take it slow," Alan warned. "I'll bring ye back to the trainin' grounds, see that ye daenae have any more accidents."
Leah waved goodbye and watched as Alan and the young man disappeared around the corner. As Leah was tidying up the room, she felt the hair rise on her neck. A smile tugged at her lips as she turned to find Killian filling the doorway.
Her heart fluttered wildly as she stared at him in awe.
He was even more handsome today than he had been last night.
Maybe it had to do with the fact that for just a brief second, an easy slip, Leah saw Killian precisely as she had seen him the night before.
Instead of proudly wearing his colors, he was fully in the nude.
Heat rushed through her as she stepped back and dropped her gaze.
The vision of him in such a manner caused heat to surge from the center of her being to extremities.
"Laird MacMillan. I wasnae expectin' to see ye here.
" Embarrassment flooded through her as heat flushed up to her cheeks.
She took a step back, only to smack into the wall.
Stumbling to regain her footing, Leah hit her head on the iron lampstand, causing bright specks of light to rain through her eyes.
“Are ye sure yer a healer?” Killian taunted, stroking the flames of her ire. She glared at him as she rubbed the pain from her forehead.
“That’s nae amusin’,” Leah scolded.
“Now that depends on who asks,” Killian said as he flashed her a crooked grin. “If ye were to ask me, I’d say ye are a walkin’ disaster.”
“Well, good thin’ ye willnae have to put up with me for much longer,” Leah said. Killian flinched. Instantly, Leah regretted the words that spilled out of her mouth.
“Are ye so eager to leave? Am I nae bein’ a hospitable host?”
Leah shook her head. It wasn’t like she was in the worst predicament she could imagine. Still, there was a pang of longing to see familiar faces and places she couldn’t ignore.
“I’ve nay complaints,” Leah said with a sigh of disappointment, knowing she still had some time before seeing family or friends. But instead of dwelling on the things she couldn’t change, Leah rolled back her shoulders and gave Killian her brightest smile. “What is it that brought ye in today?”
"I’ve come to see how has yer day has been goin' so far? I heard of the accident and came to check on ye."
Leah stared at him a moment, letting his words sink in. She didn't know what to say. But having him confess his concern for her made her stomach twist into knots.
"Ye came to see about me?"
"Aye," he answered as he stepped closer. "I've come to ask if ye'd visit Mason today."
"I can," Leah answered as she found herself too eager to please him. "But I was sort of wonderin' about what ye had spoken of last night."
Killian's eyes widened as he rushed to fill the space between them. He moved swiftly, startling Leah. She sucked in a sharp breath as she realized he'd pinned her to the corner of the room.
"Ye must nae say such things out loud," Killian whispered, his teeth grazing her earlobe as he spoke. Chills of pleasure raced through her body, setting everything on fire. "Ye never ken who is listenin'. There's ears everywhere, ye ken."
Just as Leah had grown accustomed to Killian's body heat warming her from the inside out, he stepped back. Icy air swirled around her, slapping her back into reality.
"See to me brother," Killian said as she heard his footsteps falling further away from her. She wanted to call out for him to stop, but she couldn’t come up with any logical reason for her to want him to.
Exhaling, Leah watched as Killian disappeared down the hall and around the corner.
The knots in her stomach tightened as a longing settled in her bones.