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

  “Be of good courage, men, ye are brave and yer bravery shall be rewarded,” he said.

  “Some of them are still only children. They have seen too few winters,” Ceana said, and the Laird turned to her with a grave expression.

  “And some have seen too many. These are dangerous times, Miss Morvell, and every man who can, must fight to defend our way of life. ‘Tis the reason I am glad of my fearsome reputation. If it were nae for that then this castle itself would be under attack. These bandits will soon report to others that they have been victorious over Raghnall MacCramhain’s soldiers, a fact which will make others bolder. I have ordered the gates to be barred and from now our patrols will be doubled and well-armed. Come, let me show ye somethin’ here,” he said, leading her towards the battlements, which yesterday Andrew had forbidden her to walk upon.

  She followed him until they were standing upon the wall, looking out at the heathers beyond. The sun was red upon the horizon and much of the moorland still in the shadows of the early morning. A mist drifted across in the tops of trees over in the distance. There was no sign of a single soul anywhere in that beautiful place, as Ceana and the Laird stood looking out.

  “These walls command a fine view,” she said, and he nodded.

  “Aye, the enemy can be seen from many miles off. All that ye can see laid out before ye is under my protection and much that ye cannae see, too,” he said, sighing, and leaning his hands heavily on the battlements.

  “‘Tis a grave responsibility in someone so young,” she said, turning to look at him.

  The first rays of sun now fell upon his face and Ceana could not help thinking again how handsome he was. His face was noble, weather-beaten, and bore a grim determination. There was a strength to him, not only physical, but born out of a lifetime of responsibility, one he appeared to carry with pride.

  She had little knowledge of men for she had no brothers and had not known her father. The only men she knew of were those in Kirklinton, foolish boys and those who had passed a comfortable and unhampered life, growing fat upon their farms and caring little for the world about them. The Laird was very different and as she spoke, he turned to her and smiled.

  “‘Tis a responsibility I have always known to be mine, lass. I was raised for it and have carried it all my life. These people are my people and I am their Laird. ‘Tis up to me to protect them and see to it that nay harm comes to them. ‘Tis a task which becomes harder by the season. Ye ken, when I was a child, I used to run across these moorlands with nae a care about me. But now when I look out, all I can see is danger,” he said, and sighed heavily.

  “I … I have lived a sheltered life. The dangers of the borders always seemed so far away, though of course they were nae. I know nothin’ of war or conflict,” she replied.

  “Yet ye tended the wounds of my men with all the skill of one who kens just what she is doin’. I have nae seen such healin’ powers in anyone except my mother before,” the Laird replied.

  The mention of Lady Catriona caused Ceana to blush and she wondered if she had embarrassed Lady Catriona over her knowledge of the yarrow root. That was the last thing she wished to do and Ceana had been surprised at just how well they had worked together.

  “Yer mother is a fine healer, though I hope I did nae embarrass her by my knowledge of yarrow root.” Ceana replied and the Laird shook his head.

  “Tis nae yer fault, lass. Ye had knowledge that she did nae possess, ye cannae help that,” he replied.

  “I mean her nay disrespect and I daenae wish to offend her,” Ceana replied.

  “Ye will nae have done, I assure ye of that. My mother has always believed herself superior in all things. Ye are nay threat to her, daenae worry,” he replied.

  For a moment, they stood in silence, as the coolness of the early morning now began to disappear, replaced by the warm rays of the sun. It would be a beautiful day ahead, the sky devoid of clouds, and the heathers now shimmering and purple. Ceana took a deep breath of the sweet-scented air and gazed back across the borders. Her grandmother was never far from her mind and she wondered again what had happened to her. How would she ever find her, and if she did, what would happen to them then?

  “Ye seem lost in thought, lass. What troubles ye?” the Laird asked, and Ceana was brought back from her daydreaming with a start.

  “Oh … I was thinkin’ about my g … about home. Though I suppose now I have nay home. ‘Tis all gone,” she replied, a tear forming in her eye.

  “Ye daenae have to be alone, lass, nor without a home. I watched ye this mornin’ and I was amazed by yer skills as a healer. My mother was too, though she would never admit it. We have much need of one like ye here, one who kens the ways of plants and herbs. Someone to tend the sick and see to it that the injured are taken care of. If ye say ye have nothin’ then what is there to leave for? Stay here with us and ye may practice yer arts of healin’ here in the castle. What say ye?” the Laird asked, and Ceana smiled at him.

  “I … I … well, yes, thank ye,” Ceana replied, for if truth be told, the thought of leaving now scared her.

  She knew the road ahead was not safe and with no money and only meagre possession she could not hope for anything good to come her way. The vague thought of making for Edinburgh now seemed foolish, for what would she do when she got there? With the key about her person she felt vulnerable, and there was no hope of keeping it a secret should she be set upon by bandits.

  Ceana wondered what her grandmother would say. Would she counsel her to remain? She had said nothing of what Ceana was to do, only that she was to keep the key safe and secret. The castle seemed the perfect place to do that, for despite the dangers of the road, the fortress of Mhaol Chalium was a mighty defense against the enemy and if she were not safe here then she would not be safe anywhere.

  “Ye will be a great asset to our clan, Miss Morvell, I can see that and … well, ye shall be company for me, too,” the Laird replied, as they made their way down the steps to the courtyard below.

  “And yer mother will nae mind me bein’ here?” Ceana said, to which the Laird laughed.

  “Oh … she will mind, but she will have to accept it. Besides, she sees herself as above the day-to-day work of a healer. She will nae begrudge ye tendin’ to the bumps and bruises of the children or collectin’ herbs and plants upon the moors,” the Laird said.

  “So, I am to be allowed to walk on the moorlands?” Ceana asked. “Alone?”

  “Nae alone, lass. I will come with ye and ye can teach me somethin’ of the ways of plants and herbs. I should like to ken them better and ye seem like the perfect person to teach me,” he replied.

  Chapter 7

  Over the coming weeks, Raghnall and Ceana spent much time in one another’s company. He was the ever-attentive host and she the ever-obedient guest. It had seemed prudent to Ceana to accept Raghnall’s offer and she was content, for now, to act alongside his mother in the work of healing at the castle.

  There were all manner of ailments to see to and she spent her time happily engaged in tending wounds and dealing with sickness. The children came to her when their stomachs were upset and the men came when they had cuts and bruises in need of care. The women sought her out for advice on their children and remedies for this and that.

  Ceana always found herself busy, her attentions distracted from thoughts of the past and the reason she found herself at Mhaol Chaluim as guest of the Laird. But her thoughts were never far from her grandmother and as the weeks went by, she found herself dwelling more and more upon the fate of the woman she missed so dearly and whom she longed more than anything to see.

  “There now, all better,” Ceana said, as she patted one of the children on the head, after she had cleaned his wounds after a nasty fall out of an apple tree.

  “He will have some fine bruising upon him,” Lady Catriona said, smiling and shaking her head.

  The two of them had come to something of an understanding over Ceana’s work in the castle. Lady Catriona saw to the preparation of remedies, whilst Ceana would tend to minor ailments and collect the herbs and plants which the Laird’s mother needed for her preparations. Ceana still had something of a healthy fear of Lady Catriona and she knew her reputation to be fearsome but the Laird’s mother appeared to tolerate Ceana, if not secretly enjoy her company.

  “But he shall live to climb another tree,” Ceana replied, sending the little boy off to play, as she rinsed out the cloth with which she had tended his wounds.

  “We are low on several herbs. If I write a list for ye, will ye go out onto the moorlands and collect them?” Lady Catriona asked and Ceana nodded.

  “Aye, I shall dae. The Laird will wish to accompany me, of course,” she said and Lady Catriona smiled.

  “Aye, he seems to accompany ye everywhere now, lass,” she replied.

  The tone in her voice sounded almost critical and Ceana wondered if the Laird’s mother was disapproving of she and Raghnall’s growing affections.

  I cannae help it if he enjoys my company.

  She composed her expression into as innocent a look as possible.

  “I am sure the Laird can choose who he accompanies on his walks but he tells me often enough how dangerous the moorlands are and that I would be wise to accept his companionship on my walks,” Ceana replied.

  “He is a good lad, and he has quite taken to ye, lass,” Lady Catriona replied.

  Ceana finished clearing away her things.

  “If ye give me the list, Lady Catriona, then I shall gladly go out onto the heathers this day. ‘Tis a beautiful day and ideal for collectin’ plants,” Ceana said.

  Lady Catriona nodded, searching through jars and bottles and muttering to herself as she did so.

  “Sundew, scabious, and burdock, that is what I am short of. Can ye manage to remember that? I have nay slate to write upon. Sundew, scabious, and burdock, remember?” Lady Catriona said and Ceana nodded.

  “I know them well enough,” she replied.

  Lady Catriona nodded and fixed her with a knowing look.

  “Where did ye learn such herb lore from? Ye say yer mother taught ye?” she asked, and Ceana nodded, not wishing to reveal too much of the lie she had created as her past, as Lady Catriona watched her reaction with interest.

  “Aye … my … my mother, she ken the ways of plants and herbs better than any woman I have ever ken, and ever will,” Ceana replied.

  “More so than I? I should have liked to have met her, she sounds a formidable woman,” Lady Catriona replied.

  “She was,” Ceana replied, not wishing to further any lies, for she had already built quite a story around the family she claimed had raised her south of the border.

  Keep it secret, keep it safe.

  The weight of the key was hanging heavily around her neck.

  Lady Catriona watched her for a moment, before nodding and turning to leave the infirmary.

  “Sundew, scabious, and burdock. If ye leave now ye should be able to make the high heathers. There is a dell there where the burdock grows in abundance. Raghnall will show ye,” Lady Catriona said and with that she left, leaving Ceana alone amidst the bottles and potions laid out on the table before her.

  Idly, she examined them. There were remedies for just about every ailment imaginable, all neatly bottled and labeled in Lady Catriona’s spirally handwriting. Being there, amidst the herbs and plants, reminded her so very much of her grandmother and it brought to Ceana’s mind her smiling face and gentle ways.

  I miss her so very much.

  Sighing, she made her way from the infirmary and down towards the Great Hall of the castle.

  Several of the clansmen greeted her, for her presence had now become familiar around the castle and she was well-liked amongst the men and women whom she served. The thought of leaving no longer crossed her mind, though she had no intention of remaining at Mhaol Chaluim for long.

  The weight of the key hung heavily upon her. But with no direction or instruction as to what to do with it, only to keep it safe, she was at a loss as to what to do next.

  But the longer she remained as Raghnall’s guest, the greater the risk of discovery. She had come to trust him, though she could tell he suspected her of keeping something from him. Often, she would imagine revealing the key to him and seeking his counsel, but something always held her back.

  Even if ye trust them.

  Those were her grandmother’s words, etched into her mind. If her grandmother had said to keep the key a secret, then keep it a secret she must.

  “Is the bairn all stitched up now, Miss Morvell?” the Laird asked her, as she came to stand before him.

  “Aye, he shall live to climb another tree and one day I am sure he will make a fine soldier for ye,” Ceana replied and the Laird smiled.

  “Ye and my mother are workin’ well together it seems,” he said and Ceana smiled.

  “We have somethin’ of an understandin’ now, I think,” she replied and the Laird laughed.

  “Anyone who can come to an understandin’ with my mother has done better than most,” he replied, shaking his head.

  “She has asked me to collect some plants from up on the moorlands, ‘tis urgent that our stocks are replaced. I intend to walk up there now to collect them,” Ceana said and the Laird nodded.

  “Then I shall come with ye. I could do with the walk and ‘tis …” the Laird began.

  “‘Tis too dangerous for me to go alone,” she said, finishing his sentence.

  “‘Tis too dangerous, Miss Morvell,” he replied, making ready to depart.

  “Threats lie all around us and ye have seen what happens even to my soldiers when they ride out onto the road. Besides, I enjoy yer company and ‘tis nay hardship to walk with ye onto the moorlands. We shall go now, if ye wish?” the Laird replied and Ceana smiled.

  His words caused her stomach to turn and a shiver to run down her spine. Did he really enjoy her company? It seemed strange to think that a man as powerful and noble as the Laird should wish to walk out with a simple healer like her. But she did not resent his company—far from it, in fact. The more time she spent with the Laird, the fonder she was becoming of him. He was kind and gentle, but had a strength of character about him which she found endearing. His reputation was far more fearsome than the reality of the man she had come to know. She enjoyed his company and it was evident that he enjoyed hers.

  And what will the Laird speak of on our walk, I wonder?

  They made ready to depart.

  It was a warm day, a gentle breeze blowing, and as the castle gates creaked open, Ceana breathed in the sweet scent of the heathers, the moorlands seeming to stretch endlessly out before them.

  “‘Tis the dell over yonder that ye be wantin’ I suppose? Where the burdock grows?” the Laird said, as they began their walk.

  “Aye, Lady Catriona should have sent ye. Ye ken the moorlands here far better than I. I am a mere stranger to these parts,” Ceana replied.

  “My mother had me collectin’ herbs when I was a knee-high lad. She would carry me on her back all over the moorlands, showin’ me the plants. But I am nay healer. I ken the names well enough and ken the uses, but takes a certain kind of hands to be healer,” the Laird said, pausing, and looking out across the moorlands.

  “And I suppose ye will tell me that I have those hands, as does yer mother,” Ceana said and he turned and smiled at her.

  “Show me yer hands, lass,” he said and she blushed, holding out her hands to him, as he took them gently in his.

  A shiver ran through her, quite unlike any sensation she had felt before. His own hands were rough, hands which had worked and strained over the years, the hands of a noble warrior. Her own were soft and smooth, hands which had known little of manual labor, nor the hardships of a rough and ready life. He turned them over, as though examining every part, nodding his head and causing her to blush.

  “What … what dae ye see?” she asked, and he smiled.

  “The hands of a healer, just as I suspected,” he replied and for a moment they lingered together, his eyes fixed on her intensely, as she blushed.

  “I have my mother’s hands,” she said, feeling her cheeks turn red.

  “Ye have beautiful hands, the hands of a healer,” he said and smiled. “Come now, we should go on,” and he hurried along the path.

  How strange that sensation.

  Ceana followed him along the path across the moorlands.

  She had never felt such a sensation, the gentle touch of a man—a man who filled her with such feelings as she had never felt before.

  I am nae fallin’ in love. I cannae, I have the key to keep safe, he would find out about it and then what?