Healing the Tormented Highlander: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Read online

  “And soon ye shall be well, I promise ye,” Ceana replied, as Nairne took a sip of the tea and made a face.

  “‘Tis horrible,” she said, laughing, as she began to cough.

  “Aye, they say that the worse it tastes the better ‘tis for ye, Nairne. Now let us make ye comfortable,” Ceana said, fussing around Nairne, and helping her to sit upright in bed.

  “Will she recover? I feared the worst in the night. She was delirious and then the shiverin’ began. I couldnae get her warm,” Nairne’s mother said, shaking her head.

  “She has a high fever, brought on by weakness from the bruising she suffered. But the worst of it is gone now. She will recover, I am certain of it. I will stay with her today, though. She must drink this tea until all the leaves are used up and the ointment must be applied regularly until she is fully recovered,” Ceana said.

  “But I cannae pay ye for this. I am a poor woman and I have nay money. Nairne’s father is dead and we barely survive on what we have,” her mother replied, tears welling up in her eyes.

  “I ask for nothin’ from ye, good woman. That is the healer’s way—my services are freely given. Ye are a subject of the Laird and I have taken on the role of healer to this clan. I will make sure that Nairne is made better, I promise ye,” Ceana replied.

  “And what of Lady Catriona? She said there was nothin’ that could be done for Nairne,” the woman said.

  “Well … it seems that there was somethin’ that could be done and we must thank God for that,” Ceana replied, not wishing to speak ill of Lady Catriona, though her thoughts betrayed her true feelings.

  She has been neglectful in her duties here. The poor girl would have died had it nae been for this.

  Ceana administered the ointment again to Nairne later that day.

  Ceana sat with Nairne for the rest of the day. Slowly her condition improved and her mother kept her well supplied with the herbal tea, whilst Ceana administered the ointment. By nightfall she was sitting up in bed, the color much returned to her cheeks, and she had even managed a bowl of soup, which she had eaten hungrily, alongside some bread.

  “I think ye are well on the way to yer recovery, Nairne,” Ceana said, glancing around at Nairne’s mother, who smiled.

  “And we have ye to thank for that, Miss Morvell. Had it nae been for ye then I would have been buryin’ my dear Nairne. We cannae thank ye enough,” she said.

  “I have nay need of thanks—seein’ this lass well again is reward enough, I assure ye,” Ceana replied.

  She had not noticed the time, nor the shadows drawing in, so focused had she been upon Nairne and her recovery. It was late now, for in high summer the sun did not set until long into the evening.

  “Will ye visit me again?” Nairne asked, as Ceana made ready to leave.

  “Aye, I will, but if ye feel unwell again in the meantime, then yer mother must send one of the men to fetch me from the castle. I will come at once if I am needed,” Ceana replied, wrapping her cloak around her.

  “Will ye nae stay the night, Miss Morvell? The road is lonely between here and the castle and I would hate to think of ye alone upon it,” Nairne’s mother said, but Ceana shook her head.

  “Nay, I must be gettin’ back to Mhaol Chaluim. The Laird will be anxious if I daenae return tonight, but I promise ye I shall come to see ye very soon, Nairne. Goodbye,” Ceana said and she took her leave, stepping out into the quiet of the village, which was now at its rest.

  She was glad of her cloak, for the night was cool after the heat of the day and the stars twinkled up above. A few solitary lights burned in the windows of the cottages, but there was no one out about at that time. The villagers had barred their doors and gone to their rest and Ceana was looking forward to her own.

  It had been a long day but she was glad she had disobeyed Lady Catriona and come to Nairne’s aid. The girl would live, when the Laird’s mother had believed she would not.

  It still seems strange to me.

  Ceana came to untie Dewney from his tether.

  He whinnied and stomped his hoof, as though chastising her for leaving him tethered all day long.

  “Now there, lad, ye shall get yer ride now,” she said, patting his mane, “Ye are the only one who kens the truth about all this.”

  Dewney had been her faithful horse since childhood and a companion to her grandmother’s horse, Moonlight. He was a docile animal but speedy when he wished to be. She patted his mane again, leading him off towards the track which led from the village to the castle.

  “Come then, let us be on our way,” she said, but as she was mounting the horse, a figure appeared as if out of nowhere, pulling her from the horse’s back and causing her to scream into the night.

  “Let me go,” she cried, as a hand clasped about her, feeling for the key around her neck.

  Chapter 13

  Ceana struggled with all her might against her attacker, but his strong arms held her in an iron grip. She let out another scream, but his hand went to her mouth, a foul-tasting glove now covering her face.

  She tried to bite him, but there was nothing she could do and struggle as she might, he pulled her from the horse and into the undergrowth off the track. Dewney whinnied and bolted down the track, as the man pulled her further into the bushes.

  “The key,” he hissed in a horrible, grating voice, “give me the key, now,” and pulled at her tunic, trying to rip the hidden key from around her neck.

  “Nay, I will nae,” she cried, wrenching his hand from her mouth and letting out another scream.

  For a moment his grip upon her lessened and she struggled from the bushes, feeling her tunic rip upon thorns and briars. But then the man was upon her again, pulling her back. She struggled, flaying out her arms and legs, trying her best to break free.

  “Help me,” she cried, “someone, help me.”

  “The key, give me the key,” her attacker hissed, as they fought together amongst the thorns and bushes.

  But Ceana had no intention of giving the man what he wanted. With a final effort she brought her foot squarely into his chest, knocking him to one side and giving her just enough time to break free of his grasp. She scrambled through the bushes and back onto the track, fleeing for her life towards the village and calling out for help.

  But the man was giving chase and she could hear his footsteps behind her, as he ran at full pelt towards her. She was breathless, and her legs were giving way, when suddenly she saw a light up ahead.

  “Help me,” she cried, “help me, please, someone help me.”

  And in a moment, she saw that the light was that of a flaming torch, held aloft by soldiers. Her attacker fled, just as Andrew Macready and several of his men came running to her aid.

  “Miss Morvell, what has happened to ye?” Andrew said, as Ceana collapsed sobbing into his arms, her tunic torn and her cloak ripped from her.

  “That man … the man there, he attacked me,” she said, struggling to catch her breath and pointing back towards the track, where the cloaked figure could be seen rapidly disappearing into the darkness.

  “Ye two, get after him,” Andrew said, gesturing to his men, who hurried off down the track.

  “He … he came from the bushes, just as I was mountin’ Dewney, the horse has bolted along the track, why are …” Ceana said, gesticulating wildly, as Andrew tried his best to calm her.

  “Easy now, lass. Ye are safe. Daenae worry, but it was a fortunate thing that we heard yer cries. Ye wouldnae have stood a chance otherwise,” he said, as Ceana began to breathe more easily.

  “He wanted …” she began, stopping herself before she revealed what the cloaked figure had demanded from her. “He wanted me to go with him.”

  “One of the bandits or an outlaw. The Laird sent us here earlier this afternoon to make a patrol of the village. Ye were lucky we were still here. We’d been in the tavern for some refreshment, but all is well now, lass. We shall get ye back to Mhaol Chaluim,” Andrew said, helping Ceana to her feet.

  She glanced back along the dark track, but there was no sign of her attacker and a few moments later the soldiers who had given pursuit returned.

  “Well, where is he?” Andrew asked, but the men shook their heads.

  “He fled, sir. He had a horse tethered further back and is across the moorlands now. The way is treacherous in the dark. He must ken the ways well, else he will nae last long out there without his horse lamin’ itself upon the rocks,” one of them replied.

  “These wicked men,” Andrew cursed, “attackin’ an innocent lass on the road. What will it come to next? Someone will surely die at their hands.”

  “Are we to stay and guard the village tonight?” the soldier asked, and Andrew nodded.

  “Aye, ye men stay here, Brennan and Sean, ye two come with me. We shall make sure that Miss Morvell is safely returned to Mhaol Chaluim. The Laird shall hear of this. Be vigilant, men. Come now, Miss Morvell, we may find yer horse as we ride, but ‘tis nae safe to be out here any longer,” Andrew said.

  Ceana was more than happy to follow him and together with the other two soldiers, they made their way along the track towards the castle. Ceana was shaken, but apart from a few cuts and a torn tunic she was unharmed.

  But Andrew was right, if it had not been for the soldier’s presence then a fate far worse would have awaited her. She was quiet, as they rode along the track. Deep in contemplation, her mind dulled and her head was feeling heavy.

  He asked me for the key. How did he ken I had it about me? I have told nay one about it, nae a soul. How does a stranger, a man in a cloak leaping from the bushes, ken I had it?

  Ceana could still feel his hands about her neck and taste the foul stench of his glove. But the key was still securely with her, hidden beneath her tunic and as they approached Mhaol Chaluim, Ceana wondered for just how long she could keep it hidden.

  Will others come? Is someone lookin’ for me?

  She started looking around her nervously, as the great gates of the castle swung open and suddenly, she felt far less safe than she had before.

  Raghnall was sitting by the fire in the Great Hall. He had endured further taunts from his mother regarding Miss Morvell but had chosen to ignore them, content to keep his own counsel in the matter.

  She should be back by now.

  He was eager to see her again after the embarrassment of the evening before.

  He did not regret kissing her. Not at all, but he was angry at himself for the awkward way in which he had brushed his lip against her cheek. Raghnall was not used to such things. Women had, in the past, offered themselves somewhat freely to him, acts which he found distasteful to say the least. Miss Morvell was different, she intrigued him, and he had thought long and hard that day as to what his next move might be.

  Should he speak openly to her about his feelings? They were growing by the day and soon he would be unable to contain them. She had captured his heart, his mind, and his soul entirely, and he knew that he had fallen in love with her.

  Ye are a fool, Raghnall MacCramhain, a fool for love.

  The dogs flopped down on the hearth in front of him, whining as they did so.

  “And ye lads are nay help either, all ye dae is sleep by the fire,” he said, prodding one with his foot and smiling.

  The dog looked up and barked, and Raghnall leant down and fondled his ears, just as the door to the Great Hall burst open and Andrew came running in.

  “Laird, somethin’ terrible has happened. Come quickly, ‘tis Miss Morvell. She has been taken to her chambers, ye must come quickly now, sir,” Andrew said, gesturing to Raghnall, who leapt up from his seat.

  “What has happened, Andrew?” he said, hurrying after him and up the stairs towards Miss Morvell’s chambers.

  “She was attacked, sir. On the road leadin’ out of the village. A cloaked man grabbed her from the bushes and Lord kens what he would have done with her had we nae been close by,” Andrew said, as they clattered up the stairs.

  As he burst into her chambers, Raghnall found Miss Morvell lying on her bed. Several of the servants were fussing about her and she had just been given a cup of warm milk and honey to drink. As Raghnall entered the room she looked up, her face seeming dazed and confused.

  “Miss Morvell, are ye all right? Did this monster hurt ye?” Raghnall said, rushing to her side and kneeling by the bed.

  He took her hand gently in his, looking anxiously at her, as she opened her mouth to speak.

  “I … I daenae ken … nay he did nae hurt me, he did nae have a chance. Andrew and the others, they … they saved me,” she said.

  “I should have been there with ye. I am a fool to have let ye go there alone,” Raghnall said, cursing himself for failing to protect her.

  “There was nothin’ ye could have done. He came upon me by surprise. It was dark and he pulled me into the undergrowth. I fought him, he loosened his grip and I was free,” Miss Morvell replied and Raghnall nodded.

  “Ye are a brave lass, and I promise that I shall find the man who did this. What did he look like? Did ye get a look at him? Did he say what he wanted?” Raghnall asked, but Ceana shook her head.

  “Nay, he did nae say anythin’ and I did nae get a look at his face. It was dark, he put his hand over my mouth. I managed to scream but …” she began, tears welling up in her eyes.

  “‘Tis all right, ye daenae need to relive yer ordeal to me,” Raghnall replied.

  For a moment he knelt at her side, his hand clasped around hers.

  The poor lass must have been terrified.

  His heart was aching at the thought that he might have lost her.

  “I helped Nairne, though,” Miss Morvell said weakly and Raghnall smiled.

  “I daenae doubt ye did, lass. And now I must help ye. The servants will take good care of ye,” Raghnall said, “I will find who did this. He may still be upon the road. If we go now, then we might stand a chance of findin’ him.”

  “But Laird, ‘tis late now. The road is nae safe,” Andrew said, but Raghnall dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

  “‘Tis my road and if my own road is nae safe for me to pass along it then truly we have lost our cause, Andrew,” Raghnall replied, just as the door opened and his mother appeared before them.

  “Caitlin told me what happened. Are ye all right, Ceana?” Lady Catriona said, hurrying to the bedside.

  “A few bruises, but I shall be all right,” Miss Morvell replied.

  Raghnall watched as his mother dabbed a potion from a bottle onto a cloth and gently dabbed Miss Morvell’s forehead.

  “There, that will soothe ye a little, lass and help ye to sleep,” his mother said, turning to Raghnall with a scowl.

  “It seems, then, that the road is nae safe after all. Any one of us could have been attacked. It was only a matter of time. What are ye goin’ to dae about it, Raghnall?” she asked.

  “I am goin’ to find the man who did this, Mother. And I am goin’ to set extra patrols along the road. We will find him. Come now, Andrew. There is nay rest for us this night. Gather the men. We will ride out and find this felon, before he can strike again,” Raghnall said, and with a last loving glance towards Miss Morvell, he hurried from her chambers.

  It did not take long to raise a force of men to ride out. The horns were sounded and the horses saddled, and Raghnall made ready as if riding to war. The attack upon Ceana had unnerved him and he was determined to find the man responsible.

  “Andrew, daenae return until ye ken somethin’ of what has happened. I am goin’ to remain here at Miss Morvell’s side,” Raghnall said.

  Andrew looked at him strangely, as though about to question his decision to remain behind.

  “I … aye, Laird. But …” he began and Raghnall held up his hand.

  “I need to reassure Miss Morvell—she has had a nasty ordeal. I am trustin’ ye Andrew, ye have enough experience in commandin’ the men. Ride to the village and see what ye can discover,” Raghnall said.

  Andrew nodded and barked his orders to the soldiers who rallied around. Raghnall watched. His instinct had been to ride out with the men, to hunt down Ceana’s attacker and make him pay for what he had done.

  But something in his heart had told him to remain. To return to Ceana’s side and comfort her. As he watched the men ride out, he pictured her face when he returned to her chambers. Would she be surprised? Would she look up at him in delight?

  My place is at her side.

  The last of the soldiers rode out from the gates.

  “Godspeed, men, and find those responsible,” he said, turning to hurry back inside.