جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 730

Keeley’s eyebrows went up again. “The laird has been acting as your healer?”“He stitched my wound when an arrow struck me,” Mary said. “He did a fine job.”“Tell us what you need,” Maddie urged. “I’ll make sure you have it as soon as possible.”Keeley thought a moment as she surveyed the sleeping warrior. She’d need a whole host of herbs and roots, but she preferred to find those herself. She didn’t trust others to recognize the plants she used.Instead she asked Maddie for water and bandages and broth so Alan would have some sustenance. It was important for him to keep up his strength. A weakened man didn’t fight off illness as well as a strong and fit warrior.She instructed the older woman on what she wanted done for Alan in her absence.“But where are you going?” Mary asked with a frown.“I must go forage for the roots and herbs I need for my medicines. If I don’t go now, I’ll have to wait until the morrow and that might be too late.”“Edward won’t like that,” Mary murmured. “He’

Her eyes ate him, and she wasn’t being entirely discreet about it. She hoped that his fever and pain kept him from noticing her avid attention.“I must look at your wound,” she said, damning the husky catch to her voice.He glanced down and then slowly rolled onto his good side so that his injury was outward.“I must thank you, Keeley. I don’t remember much about the day I was injured, only that I knew I would die if I didn’t seek aid immediately. When I opened my eyes and saw you, I knew that God had sent me an angel.”“Sorry to disappoint you,” she said lightly. “Angel I’m not. I’m merely an ordinary woman who is skilled in the healing arts. ’Tis nothing more than knowledge gleaned from other women who’ve come before me.”“Nay,” he denied. He reached up and caught her hand when she moved closer, bringing her fingers to his lips.Tingles shot up her arm and her chest tightened in pleasure. It was hard not to smile at the handsome warrior who wielded pretty words as surely as he did a

“Lie with me, Keeley. We both have need of rest. I’ll sleep better with you by my side.”Her eyes glowed and her cheeks pinkened, but she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her down to the mattress.“ ’Tis the truth I’m tired,” she whispered.“Aye, you have every reason to be.”He slid his hand up and down her back and rested his chin on the top of her head. Gradually she relaxed until she was limp and soft against him.“Keeley?”“Aye?” she asked sleepily.“Thank you for giving me aid and for returning with my brothers to tend me.”She was silent for a moment, and then she slipped her hand into his. “You’re welcome, warrior.”***********Keeley sighed and burrowed closer to the source of heat. She gave a lazy yawn and nearly purred at the large hand rubbing up and down her back. ’Twas a wondrous way to awaken.Then she remembered that she was in bed with Alan and it could only be his hand wandering aimlessly across her back.She lifted her head and found him staring dow

Keeley returned fiercely to Alan. “Are you trying to kill yourself? Have you no care for your well being?” She poked him in the chest and rose up on tiptoe so she could look him more squarely in the eye. “If you tear my stitches, I’ll not repair them. You’ll have to bleed to death. The wound will fester and your flesh will rot away, but don’t expect any help from my quarter. Stubborn, infuriating man.”Alan placed both hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Keeley, lass, please. Calm down. I’m feeling quite well. My side still pains me. I know I’m not fully recovered, but if I spent one more moment behind the closed door of my chamber, I’d go mad. I needed but a bit of fresh air.”“Well you’ve had your fresh air,” Edward grumbled. “Now get your arse back to your chamber so that we can restore peace around here.” He pinned Mary and Keeley both with the full force of his glare. “And the both of you will return indoors immediately. When I agreed to a tour, I didn’t mean the whole o

Christina’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened with shock. “Oh I couldn’t! Why, that would be brazen. He’d think me … He’d think me …” she sputtered to a halt, clearly unable to voice the word floating through her mind.“I wager he’d be too knocked off his feet to have such thoughts,” Maddie muttered. “Some men need a shove every now and again. A stolen kiss does not a harlot make. No matter what your mother might preach.”“I agree with Maddie,” Keeley said.“You do?” Christina turned to look at Keeley just as they stepped into the keep and were greeted by much warmer air. “Have you ever … kissed a man?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she looked around to make certain they weren’t overheard. “I mean did you do the kissing?”“Aye,” Keeley said softly. “I’ve kissed and I’ve been kissed. ’Tis not a shameful thing, Christina. If it doesn’t go too far. Cormac is a good man. He won’t take advantage, and if he does, you scream loudly and I’ll kick him betwixt the legs.”Maddie dissol