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“Why are you staring at me?” she asked
“The sa at me, lass”
Frouessed he had a bit of the Devil in hi clever or flirtatious She wasn’t even sure she kne
She pushed his hands away from her waist and stepped back “Why have we stopped here? And as that one inside until I—”
He cut her off “This is the last ti to tell you that Alec is safe with Dylan He would be highly insulted to know you don’t trust him”
“But I don’t trust him,” she whispered so the other soldiers wouldn’t overhear “I don’t know him”
“You don’t know me either,” he pointed out “But you’ve decided to trust me, and you therefore have to believe that what I tell you is true My soldiers will protect Alec with their lives” The briskness in his voice indicated he was finished discussing the subject
“I’ue”
“Then don’t It’s pointless to argue with a Buchanan,” he added “You can’t possibly win, lass We Buchanans never lose”
She thought he , but she couldn’t be absolutely sure, and so she didn’t laugh Either he had a very strange sense of huant
“Coht hold of her hand and started up the stone path
“Are we going to spend the night here?”
He didn’t bother to turn around when he answered “No, we’ll move on after Annie tends to your arm”
“I don’t want to be a bother”
“She’ll be honored to serve you”
“Why?”
“She thinks you’re my bride,” he explained
“Why would she think that? I only told the lie to one MacDonald soldier”
He laughed “News travels fast, and everyone knows the MacDonalds can’t keep secrets”
“Oh, dear, I’ve caused you considerable trouble, haven’t I?”
“No,” he answered
When they reached the doorway, he stepped back to let her go inside first She moved close to him and asked in a whisper, “Do you trust these people?”
He shrugged “As much as I trust anyone who isn’t a Buchanan,” he answered “Kevin Drummond’s sister is married to one ofyou say in front of them will be held in confidence”
Dylan introduced her to the couple Annie Drummond stood near the hearth and bowed low to Gillian She was about her age and was heavy with child Kevin Drummond also bowed and welcoht, appeared to be extremely nervous
Their cottage was s table took up a good deal of space in the center of the room and from the number of chairs, six in all, Gillia visitors It was a ho, the kind of place Gillian drea in love and having a faht to herself Her life was consus
“It’s a privilege to have you in our home,” Kevin told her, but his eyes, she noticed, were fully directed on Brodick
After forested Gillian take a seat at the table and let her have a look at her injury She pulled a chair out on the opposite side and waited for Gillian to get comfortable Then she spread a cloth on the tabletop while Gillian pushed up her sleeve and unwrapped the bandage
“I would appreciate any medicine you have,” she said “It isn’t a serious injury, but I believe it’s become a bit inflamed”
Gillian didn’t think her arm looked all that bad, but Annie visibly blanched when she saw it
“Ah, lass, you must be in terrible pain”
Brodick and his men moved forward to look at the injury Alec ran to Gillian and pressed against her He looked scared
“How in heaven’s name did this happen?” Dylan asked
“I cut myself”
“It’s got to be opened and drained,” Annie whispered “Laird, you’re going to have to stay with us a couple of days at the least while I tend to this She’s a lady,” she added, “and Iher”
“No, I cannot stay that long,” Gillian protested
“If she were a man? What would you do then?” Brodick asked
Thinking he’d asked the question out of simple curiosity, Annie replied, “I’d open the skin and drain the infection, but then I would pour h the special brew has cured everything I’ve ever used it on, it causes terrible pain”
“I’ve seen warriors shout during Annie’s treatment with her mother’s fire,” Kevin said
Brodick waited for Gillian to decide which method would be used
She believed the Dru the treatment, but it really didn’t matter She couldn’t afford to lose so much ti her mind
“Do these warriors you’ve treated with this mother’s fire of yours stay for days or do they leave?” he asked
“Oh, they leave once I’ve put the healing salve on the wounds,” Annie answered
“The ones who can stand leave,” Kevin interjected
Brodick caught Gillian’s barely perceptible nod and then said, “You will use this warrior’s treatment on Gillian, and she will nother She’s a Buchanan” He added the last as though that explained everything
“I will not utter a sound, Laird?” she asked, her voice laced with aance
He was serious when he answered “Nay, you will not”
She had a sudden urge to start screa like a oman before Annie even touched her just to irritate the poive in to the desire because the kind woman and little Alec would both becooing to reht also add that she was going to thank God for that fact, because the Buchanans were a little too full of themselves She had noticed that when Brodick announced that she wouldn’t make a sound, every one of his soldiers had nodded
Oh, yes, she certainly wanted to screaht
Annie had turned as pale as milk after Brodick chose the treatainst her husband and whispered into his ear Because she spoke so rapidly, Gillian only caught a word or two, but it was quite enough for her to figure out that Annie was asking Kevin for per draft
Kevin put the request to Brodick while Annie rushed about the cottage gathering her supplies Before Brodick could answer, Gillian spoke up “I don’t wish to be drugged I appreciate your concerns, but Iclearheaded so that we may continue on our journey”
Brodick nodded, but Gillian wasn’t certain if he was agreeing with Kevin’s request or with her denial “I ed”
Alec de on her sleeve As she leaned down to him, out of the corner of her eye she saw Annie sprinkle broder into a goblet and then add wine
“What is it?” she asked Alec
“Are you gonna tell on me?” he whispered
“About the cuts onto tell, and I want you to stop worrying that I will”
“All right,” he said “I’ry”
“We’ll get you so to eat in a little while”
“With your permission, Laird, I would like to toast you and your bride,” Kevin announced as he carried a tray of goblets to the table
“Oh, but I’an
Brodick interrupted her “You have my permission”
She frowned at him, puzzled as to why he hadn’t corrected Kevin’s misconception, but decided to wait until later to ask him to explain
Kevin put Gillian’s drink in front of her He then placed the other goblets a good distance away, no doubt so that the drugged ouldn’t get mixed up with the others The toast was but a clever ploy, and though she knew Kevin’s intentions were good-hearted, it still rankled her that he had ignored her wishes After the toast was given, she would have to take a drink, for otherwise she would be considered rude That left her only one choice
“May I call your other soldiers inside to share this toast?” Kevin asked
In answer Brodick went to the door and whistled The sound echoed through the cottage Less than a minute later, the rest of his soldiers filed inside to take a goblet Gillian helped by handing one to each man
When everyone held a drink, Kevin stepped forward and raised his goblet high
“To a long happy life filled with love and laughter and healthy sons and daughters”
“Here, here,” Aaron agreed
Everyone waited until Gillian had taken a drink before they downed their wine Brodick nodded to Annie, pulled out a chair, and straddled it to face Gillian He ain, and then put his hand down on top of hers
She didn’t have to ask hi sure she didn’t pull away during Annie’s treatment