Chapter 3 #3
A gangly youth emerged from the trees, soaked through to the skin but grinning all the same. “Chief!” he cried. “We were getting worried. When this storm broke—” He trailed off as he spotted the lass in Ronan’s arms. “Ah! Ye found one then?”
“Aye, and she’s in sore need of help. Run ahead and warn Faye to be ready will ye?”
Eamon nodded and dashed off down the slope towards the wooded dale that opened up ahead.
Ronan followed more slowly, careful of the burden he was carrying.
Skye and Bran padded to either side, quiet and watchful.
It was difficult going but finally he reached the bottom of the slope and level ground.
The stream that wound through the dale and provided the settlement with its water was rushing fast from the run-off above and the trees were soggy and dripping, tipping droplets down the back of his neck as he hurried along beneath their canopy.
He turned a bend and the settlement suddenly appeared ahead of him.
Here the trees had been cleared and the clearing was filled with stone-built houses covered in thatch.
They were small and squat to help blend into their surroundings and each had a small kitchen garden out the back.
In this weather, the geese and chickens that would normally be pecking in the dirt between the houses had wisely retreated to their enclosures, but some of the settlement’s children were out playing in the mud and rain—much to their parents’ annoyance, no doubt.
They clustered around him as he approached, staring wide-eyed at the woman he was carrying in his arms. He ignored the raft of questions they fired at him and hurried towards a larger building set back among the trees.
A woman was standing by the door, Eamon at her side, and she came hurrying forward as Ronan approached. “Bring her inside quickly,” Faye said in her brusque manner. “I’ve got herbs brewing and a bed pan warming.”
Ronan carried the lass into the healer’s house, closely followed by Faye and Eamon who shut the door firmly, much to the disappointment of the curious children outside. No matter how many people Ronan brought in, a new arrival still caused a stir.
“Here,” Faye instructed, throwing back a blanket on the narrow bed and gesturing for Ronan to lay her down.
Eamon helped him as he laid her as gently as he could on the bed. She didn’t wake and her limbs flopped bonelessly.
“Will she live?” Ronan asked.
Faye shot him an annoyed glance. “Let me have a look at her will ye before ye ask such questions.”
The healer settled herself onto a three-legged stool by the bed and began inspecting her patient. She pulled back the lass’s eyelids, felt her pulse, gently probed her skull and checked her body for wounds.
“I canna see any damage beyond the lump on her temple,” Faye pronounced.
“What she needs is warmth and rest. I’m sure she’ll wake in her own time.
Eamon, pour that kettle into a basin and pass me that cloth will ye?
Then the two of ye get out. I need to get her out of these wet clothes and warmed up and I’m sure the lass wouldnae appreciate the two of ye staying to watch. ”
Eamon gulped and did as Faye asked. She could be a little intimidating when she wanted to be.
Ronan had felt the same the first time he’d encountered her.
That had been long years ago now and they’d been through so much since then that he could read her as well as anyone.
Right now he could tell she was worried.
“What is it?” he asked her softly.
Faye’s gray eyes flicked up to meet his. “Where did ye find her?”
“In the hills. Not far from the waymeet. She was like this when I found her.”
Faye chewed her lip. “She was looking for the waymeet?”
He shrugged. “I dinna know. Why?”
Faye gestured to the lass. “Look at her. She wears strange clothing and that gold chain around her neck and ring on her finger would fetch a worthy ransom. She’s a noblewoman if ever I saw one.
What I want to know is: why would a noblewoman be coming here?
And more to the point—who is going to be looking for her? ”
Ronan understood Faye’s point. In the rush to help her, he’d taken little note of the lass herself but now he looked he realized Faye was right.
No common-born woman could afford a necklace or ring like the ones she was wearing.
And her clothing? It was strange in the extreme.
Some new court fashion? He had no idea. What he did know was that noblewoman or not, right now she needed their help and Ronan had vowed long ago never to turn away anyone in need.
If he started now what was the point in all this? “
“Do what ye can for her,” he instructed Faye. “We’ll figure everything else out as we go.”
Faye nodded. “Aye, my laird.” There was a faint mocking edge to the way she said it, but it was an affectionate mockery. Whatever he’d been in the past, Ronan was nobody’s laird and they both knew it.
“Come find me if she wakes.” He walked out into the rain, calling Skye and Bran to heel.