Chapter 14
Kate woke the next morning with a start.
She had spent the night in a chair by the balcony, wrapping a blanket around herself.
She had been crying, feeling sad through the night.
By morning, she had steeled her resolve.
Kate was going to leave the McDonald estate, and she would take her sisters with her.
She could not leave them behind, the only reason she was leaving, was because she wanted to take care of them.
She got to her feet and stretched, heading back into the house.
Kate passed a few servants who were moving around, carrying out their morning duties.
She spotted Hudson who had a pint in his hand.
Raising an eyebrow, she tried to make sense of how the man was almost always drinking.
It was crazy. He turned to look at her and smiled, raisin the pint in greeting.
Kate smiled back and turned away, heading down the corridor back to the room which she had been provided with.
As she pushed open the door, she was a little shocked to see the bags of her sisters packed and neatly placed in a corner. She had expected them to argue a bit more, but they seemed to have listened to her. Kate turned to see the girls seated on the bed, with Willow lying on it.
Kate took a look at Freya and Lily’s faces and instantly knew something was wrong. “What is it?”
Lily turned to Kate with eyes full of tears and her lips quivering. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. She turned her head away and turned back to Willow. Before Kate could speak, Grear and Hilda pushed open the door behind Kate and rushed in, Hilda quickly got to work.
“Freya!” Kate snapped, looking closer at Willow. “What happened to Willow?”
“We daenae know, Kate!” said Freya, her voice breaking as she spoke. “We woke up, and she was just like this.”
Willow had turned very pale, with her lips turning a little blue.
Hilda brought a piece of cloth to Willow’s mouth, and the moment Willow sniffed it she lurched to the side of the bed and threw up.
Kate watched, seeing her tongue, which was a shade of black.
Willow coughed severally before falling back into the bed, with Hilda continuing her diagnosis.
“What happened to her?” Kate asked, looking at Hilda.
“I cannae be sure yet. But see the color of her skin, and the blackness of the tongue? I fear it’s a plague of the bowels. Something she ate, and now her body is fighting to get it out.”
“Is there something ye can do for her?” Grear asked, rubbing Willow’s arm in concern.
“Aye, I have a tonic which might help flush out what she has eaten, and get her body cleaned up. But I need a few minutes to completely mix it up. Also, when ye take it, Willow, ye will be throwing up a lot. So ye need to get as much rest as ye can. Stay in bed, and drink a lot of water.”
Willow nodded slowly, turning in pain. Kate leaned over and touched her forehead. “I’m so sorry, Willow, ye’re going to be fine. Hilda will fix ye up in no time, okay?”
“We should probably give her some room as well. She needs space to breathe, the slightest thing could irritate her and cause her to throw up some.” Hilda added.
Kate nodded and walked out of the room, with Grear and the others following behind her.
Once Kate was gone, Willow and Hilda burst out laughing, struggling to hold back their giggles.
Freya, Lily and Grear walked back in, chuckling as well.
The plan had worked without a hitch, and now Kate would be forced to stay, knowing that Willow was in no condition to travel.
They would have bought a few more days with the stunt they had just pulled.
“I cannae believe that worked so well,” Hilda said with a laugh.
“Aye, me neither. She bought it completely.” Freya laughed.
“Lily, that was a beautiful idea. Using the noshka plant to discolor her tongue, and the powder? Beautiful. If I had no idea, I would fall for it too!” said Grear.
“Yeah, I mean it’s funny, but my tongue still tastes horrible,” said Willow.
“Oh it’s harmless, and the effects wear off in two days. But if we need more time, you might need to eat some more,” said Lily.
“Nae! Someone else has to fall sick, not me!” Willow replied, raising her hands. “I’m done.”
Grear turned to look at the door, smiling to herself. “We can just hope that this time we have bought will make yer sister change her mind.”
Kate walked out to the parapet at the top of the castle.
For a moment, she considered that she had been too hard on her sister.
Willow had fallen ill, and while Hilda had said she would be fine, Kate could not help but feel bad about it.
It was her job to take care of them, and if anything were to happen to any of her sisters, it would be on her conscience.
Her illness had come at a bad time, as Kate wanted them to leave the McDonald estate.
But now, she would have to wait until Willow was strong enough to walk again.
She let out a sigh as she overlooked the lands surrounding the estate.
To the south was the small village which had several small huts and buildings, along with a prosperous market.
While she did not know much about the outside world, she had heard the servants at the McGowan estate talk about the wonders seen at the market, and Kate decided that she would take a look for herself before they had to leave.
Maybe there was some goodness to be had at the home of the Laird and Lady of the McDonald estate.
She shut her eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath.
If she could just hear from her mother, guiding her on what path to take, she would take it.
Kate needed a sign, and so she sent up a silent prayer, hoping to get it.
Before she finished, the sound of feet behind her made her turn around, and she found Reuben at the entrance to the roof.
He began walking towards her, but Kate was not in the mood to talk to him. She turned and began walking away, hoping he would ignore her, but the only path out of the roof, was through the door which he had just come in through. Reuben reached her, with a smile across his face.
“Why are ye smiling?” Kate asked, making sure he could tell that she was not interested.
“I’m sorry, I just thought ye were tryin’ to leave.”
“I was.”
Reuben smirked, “Well, daenae let me stop ye.”
“What do ye want, Reuben?” Kate asked, letting out a labored breath.
Reuben nodded, “I wanted to offer my best wishes to Willow. I went down to see her, but they wouldnae let me in. I didnae know where else to go, or who to talk to.”
“And so ye came to me, aye?” Kate asked, raising an eyebrow. “Or ye didnae know I was here? Is that the lie ye want to spit now?”
Reuben huffed a breath, shaking his head. “Nae, I knew ye were here. I came here to talk to ye, and it wasnae just about Willow. But I do mean everything I said. I want her to get well, I really do. I mean, who else is going to steal all of Lily’s dinner?”
Kate chuckled, and then laughed, as she had seen it happen so many times.
She was not aware that Willow had been doing it since they came to the McDonald household.
But the idea that she was doing the same thing which she had been doing since they were kids had struck a chord with Kate, and she laughed. Reuben joined her as well.
The Laird turned and walked over to the parapet, staring out to the lands.
Kate watched him for a moment, seeing the door which he had left unguarded.
It was her chance to leave, and get away from him, but she went against her better judgment.
Instead, Kate turned around and walked up beside him, staring out at the beautiful landscape as well.
“Beautiful, isnae it?” Reuben asked.
“Breathtaking,” Kate replied. She looked to his bandaged arm and then to his face. “How are ye doing?”
“All good,” Reuben replied. “I have been thinkin’, tryin’ to understand who would want to attack my clan, and I have a few suspicions.
I was hoping to run them by my maither, so we would know the best defense and offense to prepare.
But Lady Grear seems to have refused to leave Willow’s side, I was wondering if we could talk about it? ”
“There is nae question. It was none of the people ye think it is. My uncle has figured out where I am, and he sent the assassin. He was the one behind the attack. I was the target, and ye were just caught in the line of fire.”
“Well we cannae be certain, I mean there is a chance that it could be another of my faither’s enemies,” Reuben continued. “My faither made a lot of enemies in his day, and I am sure that there are a lot of people who would want their vengeance on the McDonald estate.”
“If they did, why wait till now?” Kate shook her head. “I’m almost sure this is my uncle.”
Reuben nodded, looking at her for a moment.
Kate stared at his face, taking in the features.
His strong jawline and dark gray eyes made him a pleasure to look at.
He looked amazing, as much as she was not looking to admit it.
Reuben rubbed his chin. “I will send men over to the McGowan house. Just to talk with the servants, see if they know anything about the Laird’s plans.
If he is the one, then he will have to deal with us directly. ”
The ensuing silence lasted for a few minutes as they watched Hilda together from above.
She walked out to the garden picking the herbs which she was going to use to treat Willow.
Kate wondered how long the sickness would last, and how they would be able to travel soon.
She wanted to leave, as she did not feel safe there.
If Max had found out that they were there, he would not stop trying to get them, and knowing just how stubborn the Laird was, there were no lengths he would not go to get what he wanted.
“I’m sorry I kissed ye, back in the woods.”
Kate turned to him with a raised eyebrow. “What?”
“I didnae mean to take advantage of ye. I wasnae sure that ye wanted to, and so I moved without thinking. I’m sorry.”
Kate shook her head, and then stopped. She felt herself blush, and she looked away, not wanting him to see. “Ye didnae do anything wrong, Reuben.”
Kate heard him move so he would get a better view of her face, but she turned even more.
She had wanted the kiss. Her body had wanted it, more than anything.
She wanted to do it again, as her lips had not felt the same since they had shared the kiss.
Kate wanted more, but how could she tell him? How could she even admit it to herself?
“But?”
“I daenae ken, Reuben, I have my own emotions and ideas in my head, and I have to figure them out before I…I daenae have the answers,” said Kate.
“I understand if ye hate me. If I believed the same thing ye did, I would feel the same way ye did.”
Kate shook her head, “Nae. I daenae hate ye, Reuben, I just…I cannae stop thinking about ye, and it ruins my day!”
Kate felt her heart skip a beat as she said that.
Shocked that it had slipped out. She had not wanted to say it, and yet she had.
She looked up at the Laird who had a huge smile on his face, beaming at her with pure delight.
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking around as though he did not want anyone else to hear what he was about to say.
“Well, if I may say, ye scent ruins my day too. Each time I walk by ye, it just…the lavender, where do ye get it?”
“It was my maither’s, I got it after she died,” Kate replied.
“It’s really nice. Now everything around me smells like lavender, and each time, it makes me think of ye.”
Kate smiled and turned away, getting comfortable. “Well, it’s because ye’re always so filthy, that’s why ye like it so much.”
“That is nae true! Go ahead, sniff me!” Reuben replied, getting closer to her.
“Get away from me,” Kate said with a laugh, backing away. “Go!”
Kate laughed and laughed, with Reuben getting closer and closer, backing Kate into a corner.
She smiled, and stopped, realizing that there was no space for her anymore.
Reuben leaned in for her to smell him, and then he took his nose to her neck, with the smell of lavender filling his nostrils again.
Kate shuddered as she felt his lips on her neck.
It moved up along her neck, as he blocked her path with his arms to the left and right side of her.
His lips traveled up to her earlobe where he tugged on it gently with his lips, kissing it again.
Kate tried to move, to get out of the way, but she felt weak at the knees.
The kisses made her buckle and she was unable to react.
Reuben moved on, his lips moving from her neck to the back of her ear, slowly and sensually, turning Kate on.
She held her breath as the pleasure began to build, her body calling for more.
Reuben moved up to her cheek, and then their lips met temporarily. Reuben pulled away and stared at her for a moment, realizing that he had moved a little too fast. He stared at her for a second, considering what the next move would be. But Kate knew what she wanted the next move to be.
Kate knew what she had been keeping from herself for so long.
She put a hand behind his neck and pulled Reuben’s face into hers.
Their lips met, crashing in a tussle for power.
This time Kate kissed him back, her own tongue taking control.
She ran her hand through his hair as their lips brushed against each other in a romantic fervor, each touch making the other thirst for more.
Reuben was a river, and Kate had a thirst which she could not quench.