Chapter 12
They returned to the camp just after sunset, and Amanda was so weary that it was all she could do to stay on her horse, and she was swaying in the saddle. Yet, she was smiling, even though her back was aching from bending over her patients because her heart was full of joy.
It had been a hard, exhausting day without a doubt, but she had been doing what she loved. As well as that, she felt as though the villagers appreciated her; they were not rude or hostile.
Tending to the sick, giving them warmth, medicine and comfort, was Amanda’s vocation. Because of her care, many of the people who had come into her makeshift hospital had returned to their homes much healthier than when they came in, and that made Amanda feel wonderful.
She looked across to see Gregor smiling broadly at her.
“What is making you so happy?” she asked, with an answering, but curious smile.
“I am so glad ye came tae us,” he replied. “It has made such a difference tae the village.”
“If you remember, I did not have much choice,” Amanda replied dryly.
Gregor’s smile vanished for a moment. “I am very sorry for the way that happened,” he replied sadly. “But today ye shone, Amanda, as I knew ye could. Ye helped so many people, an’ I am very happy about that. Ye have given them hope.” His look was grateful as he patted her hand.
“Thank you,” she replied. “But I was not alone, and I have a feeling that they are going to thrive in the future because I know that when you carry out your plan they will all be well again. Some of them are in bad shape, but I feel hopeful.”
Gregor nodded. “We feed them as best we can,” he replied, “but when we get Hamish’s lands back, they will a’ be treated as we treat ourselves and those we find worthy o’ respect.” Then he frowned. “But Struan willnae make it easy.” He stopped, as though afraid to say any more.
Amanda looked at Gregor’s grim expression, the determined set of his jaw, the ferocity in his eyes, and knew for certain that it would happen, even if many of the men had to give their lives to achieve it.
She had never met such strong men, both physically and mentally, and was proud to be of use to them.
When they arrived back at the camp, Hamish had to help Amanda out of the saddle again, since she was swaying with tiredness.
She was so ravenous with hunger that her tummy was rumbling, but she was simply too tired to eat, so she slipped away to her tent and lay down.
She curled up in the soft woollen blankets and closed her eyes; sleep came almost instantly.
In the half-dark, Hamish had not seen Amanda moving away, and he looked around for her anxiously.
Since the episode by the river when she had nearly drowned, he had been wary of letting her out of his sight.
He no longer thought she would run away, but he needed to be sure that she was safe at all times because she was the only healer they had.
As well as that, he had a feeling that she was one of the best; she had been born to it.
Hamish’s thoughts led him to the moment he had laid Amanda on the riverbank, sure that she was dead.
He had known her for only hours, but he felt already that there was something special about her, something he could not quite fathom, but it did not pertain to her abilities as a healer.
No, he finally had to admit to himself that he felt something more than admiration for Amanda Tewsbury.
Accordingly, Hamish decided to take some food and ale then made his way over to her tent, which was dark. He had to duck to enter, and when he did, holding up a candle, he saw one of the loveliest sights he had ever beheld.
Amanda was lying on her cot snuggled into her blankets, breathing gently and smiling in her sleep, obviously enjoying a happy dream.
Presently, she gave a soft laugh and stretched out for a moment before curling up into a cosy ball again.
She looked utterly content, and so was Hamish as he settled down beside her to watch her for a few moments.
He was completely still for a while, revelling in the sight of Amanda’s exquisite face and the pure, womanly shape of her body. He reached out a hand to cup her cheek, but the touch startled her, and she jerked into wakefulness with a little squeal.
For a few seconds, Amanda’s wide eyes looked into his, then she relaxed and sighed. “You frightened me,” she said, trying to sit up.
However, she winced as a spasm of pain shot through her back, and rubbed her arms to relieve the pain in them before rubbing the back of her neck. Every part of her seemed to be aching.
“You haven’t had anything to eat,” he told her, holding out a plate of haggis, eggs and bread. The smell was divine, but Amanda was too sore everywhere to contemplate eating.
Hamish frowned. “You really worked too hard today,” he said gently, “and now you’re paying for it. Sit up and let me take care of you.”
“You are too busy,” Amanda protested. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to,” he replied. “You took care of my people, and now I am going to take care of you. Hush now, and don’t argue.”
As he spoke, Hamish had taken hold of her right arm and was massaging it gently. He had noticed—from the countless hours he’d spent observing her but would never admit to—that she was right-handed and wanted to ease the pain in that one first.
Amanda lay back and relaxed, abandoning herself to the pressure of Hamish’s touch, which was firm, yet gentle. It was absolutely glorious, she thought.
“Have you done this before?” she asked.
Hamish shook his head. “No, but I have seen others do it,” he said, smiling at her.
“Then you are a natural,” Amanda told him as he moved on to her left arm.
She felt her whole body begin to tingle, and as she looked up into his green eyes, she saw that they had darkened and their gaze had dropped to her lips. They were alone, he had his hands on her, so what was stopping her from taking advantage of the moment and stealing a kiss?
In the end, she broke the charged silence. “One of the ladies told me the story of how you lost the Lairdship,” she said.
Hamish’s eyes met hers, and his face was a mask of rage.
“I did not lose the Lairdship,” he growled.
“It was stolen from me by a creature who has no regard for anyone but himself. But never fear, Amanda, it will be mine again, and then we can start clearing up the mess he has left behind him, and mete out to him the punishment he deserves. I cannot wait for that day!”
“I’m sorry,” Amanda said quickly, dismayed at his reaction. “I did not mean to upset you.”
Hamish ran his hand backward through his golden hair and sighed.
“No, I should not be so touchy, Amanda. None of this is your fault, but when I hear of Struan’s treachery, sometimes it has a bad effect on me.
My mother knew he was not her own child, but she brought him up as if he were out of the goodness of her heart, and yet he treated her so badly in the end.
He was never a very loving person, but I think he hated my mother because he never knew his own. ”
“But you did,” Amanda said softly. “And you loved her—and your father, did you not?”
Hamish nodded, sighing. “Indeed I did.” He smiled at her. “You remind me of her in some ways—both so gentle and caring. I wish you could have met each other.”
“I do too,” Amanda said, smiling.
“Let me take care of you now, Amanda,” he said softly, then he brushed her hair aside, and he began to knead the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulders with his thumbs.
Amanda moaned softly and relaxed into his touch, loving the feel of his rough fingers on her soft skin.
She closed her eyes and felt the heat of his body and the warmth of his breath as he leaned over her, and she inhaled his scent, a mixture of leather, earth and male musk.
It was heady and sensual, and Amanda breathed it in as though it were a magical potion.
Hamish’s hands moved to Amanda’s shoulders and the pressure of his fingers became harder, but she had no complaints. She was loving every moment of his tender treatment, and felt as though she was being worshipped.
“Turn over,” he instructed, and Amanda obeyed.
She felt his hands move down her back, pressing against her flesh, inching down towards her waistline and leaving a trail of pleasure behind them.
Hamish felt his lips tingle as he worked his way down Amanda’s back. He imagined himself leaving a trail of tiny kisses down her back and making her giggle. He loved to hear the musical tinkling of her laugh, since it always made him want to do the same.
“I think I am fine now,” Amanda said.
She felt as though she was taking up too much of Hamish’s time, and having his hands all over her was far too arousing. She turned over, and once more looked into his hypnotic leaf-green eyes.
He is so beautiful, she thought, unable to tear her gaze away from his.
Hamish seemed to be equally helpless. Without another word, he slowly, irresistibly, bent to kiss her, not passionately, but gently, a soft brush of lips against lips that was so sweet it was unlike anything he had ever felt before.
When she opened her eyes, Amanda looked at him, a little dazed, since the kiss had been so unexpected and so delightful that she was finding it hard to speak.
Hamish took out the small package the little boy had given him and handed it to her. “From the villagers,” he said, smiling at her. “To say thank you to the pretty healer.”
Hamish took one last look at her and left very reluctantly. That kiss had been like the first sip from a glass of good wine; it left him craving far more, but he knew he would never get it.
Amanda took the item out of its wrapping and smiled widely as her heart swelled with happiness. It was a small bracelet made from little carved and painted wooden beads threaded onto a length of leather, similar to the one her sisters had made her.
Now she realised that a bracelet made of the finest diamonds, sapphires, emeralds or pearls would never be as precious to her as these simple pieces of jewellery because so much love had gone into their making.
“Thank you,” Amanda whispered. “Thank you, my friends.”
She kissed the little bracelet before tying it onto her wrist, then suddenly her stomach rumbled again, and she realised that she had not eaten since breakfast. She fell on the food Hamish had left behind for her, finishing it off in a few moments, and then lay back on the bed again.
She snuffed the candle out and lay back on her bed, then closed her eyes. Her heart was beating far too fast, and if she didn’t know any better, she’d think something was wrong with her. But it was not a physical ailment that plagued her, rather one of the heart.
She had a comfortable place to sleep, enough to eat, and safety. Moreover, she had just received a gift and a kiss from the most handsome man in the world. It was far more than she had possessed a few days ago.
Amanda’s eyes drifted closed, and she dived immediately into the most wonderful dream.
She was standing at the top of a hill, looking down at the sea, and the sun was setting, laying out a fiery path from the horizon to the coastline.
Amanda felt elated, and even more so when she looked down to see that she was wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever worn.
It was made of cream silk overlaid with lace and studded with tiny diamonds, and she had no idea where it had come from.
Presently, a deep male voice spoke from behind her. “Do you like your dress?”
Amanda turned around to see a familiar pair of green eyes smiling down at her. “I do,” she replied. “Very much.”
“I wanted you to have something pretty,” Hamish said as he crossed the space between them and put his arms around her waist. “You mean so much to me, Amanda.”
Amanda put up a hand to caress his cheek. “How much?” she asked huskily.
“This much,” he replied, then he tilted her face up to his and kissed her.
Amanda woke up again slowly, and realised that she was smiling. When she looked around herself, however, she saw, to her disappointment, that there was no sea and no sunset, and worst of all, no Hamish.
Feeling rather sorry for herself, Amanda closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep again, and Hamish appeared once more. He was not standing behind her, however, but lying beside her in the bed with his eyes closed, and his arm draped over her waist.
Amanda smiled. Somehow she knew that this was a dream, but if so, she never wanted to wake up!