A Healer For The Highlander

‘When you had not returned to the village, I wanted to make certain you were safe up here alone.’ The explanation sounded suspect even to his own ears, but she nodded.

‘I saw this one just this morn,’ she said. ‘But I appreciate having my basket back.’ Davidh had forgotten about the basket his son now held out to her. ‘What are these?’

‘They are...’ he began. ‘Tavish’s mother sent the cheese. The bread is from the baker and his wife. The thread is from Mistress Cameron—the one they call “Peggy”. Oh, and Old Ranald said you can have his needles and threads when you come down next since he willna be using them.’ It all came out of him in an unstopping burst of words and gestures as he explained each and every little thing in the basket and who’d sent it.

‘My thanks for bringing me such treats,’ she said, smiling as she held the basket closer. ‘Though I could have got these when I visited next.’

‘The baker’s bread would have been stale,’ Colm said.

‘They like to pay their debts promptly,’ Davidh added.

‘Ah. I had not thought on that,’ Anna said.

‘More than that, they wanted you to have something for your care and kindness to them.’

She smiled then, first at his son, then she raised her gaze to his and he saw tears shimmering there. Had she not thought those who’d benefited from her treatments would respond like this? Mayhap that was not how it was done in the place where she’d lived before? It mattered not, for she was here now and this was how they would thank her. And in other ways.

‘Do you need help there?’ he asked, trying to change their conversation. The plots of land laid out were covered in overgrown weeds though he knew there must be some plants within the brush and leaves that she wanted to save and cultivate. ‘I could send some of my men to take care of the heaviest work.’

For a moment, she looked as if she would refuse. Then, she stood back and turned away, putting her hands on her hips, her lovely hips, and stared out at the work before her. ‘But you would have to tell them how to get up here.’

‘I could let them try to climb the falls, but I suspect there would not be many willing to do that.’

She laughed then. She turned to face him and let out another burst of merriment that made him smile, as well.

‘You jest!’ she said, nodding at Colm who stared at him as though he spoke a language he did not understand.

‘Of course I jest. I will have them swear an oath as my son did before showing them the way,’ he offered. ‘One that will make them shrivel and die if they reveal the truth.’

Now it was Colm who laughed and Davidh swore he would do whatever was necessary to make such a sound a regular occurrence for his son. He wanted the smile that lit his face now to remain there for ever and the pain and suffering never to return.

‘You did not have your son swear to such a thing!’ She rushed to his side and shook her head. ‘He is too young for such a vow.’ She mussed Colm’s hair up again, something she liked to do each time Davidh saw them together. It was a natural thing to her. As though she understood lads his age.

‘You are under the laird’s protection, Anna. In truth, no one will bother you or they face Robert’s judgement.’