“Drink this.”
It was Lachlann that was beside him every time he opened his eyes. Lachlann nursed him along, giving him water and broth, and some sort of foul smelling tea to ease his pains. Sean wanted to ask about Thomasina but he knew better than that. Neither she nor Niall seemed to be nearby.
“Is there much pain?”
Sean shook his head but the pounding across his skull kept his movements to a minimum.
“Methinks ye’re lying through yer teeth, old man.”
The desire to laugh was there but he knew it would be painful. He offered a smile.
“There ye go. See, now I’m believing ye.” Lachlann rolled his eyes before walking back to the small fire.
The cave was cozy with the fire. A peaceful place. A quiet place where Sean could think. He’d come close to the end of his life and his biggest regret? Spending so much of his time chasing after someone who didn’t want him. He wasn’t going to make that mistake again. Once he was strong enough, he’d get back to Eire. Certainly getting there the way he’d come was no longer an option. No doubt he was a hunted man.
“My thanks for hiding me.” Sean’s voice sounded weak. He coughed to clear his throat. “Where are the sheep?”
“Aldred took care of them.”
Sean nodded. “I don’t mean to put ye in harm’s way.”
Lachlann stood beside him. “Dunna fash yerself. If not for ye being a fellow warrior, I’d have to be seeing to ye for the sweet lass Thomasina anyway.”
Sean struggled to sit up but Lachlann urged him down. “Now. Ye’re not ready for that. I dinna mean to upset ye.”
“Thomasina cares little for me.”
“Ah, spoken like a man who’s had his heart broken a time or two.”
“Yea. Once was quite enough.”
Lachlann turned to him and searched his face. “Ye’re starting to look human again. That’s good. We dunna want to be scaring the lass with yer face all purpled and swollen.”
“Enough! She would not care. She’s no different than Brighit.”
“Brighit? Of the MacNaughton Clan?”
Sean’s weakened body became instantly alert and pain shot through him as his muscles stiffened. “Yea. The same. Do ye ken her?”
Lachlann laughed. “Aye. She’s a bonny fox, that one. I had the pleasure of seeing her to the Priory.” He looked over at Sean. “She’s the ripest fruit I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Sean smiled. He couldn’t take offense. It was true. And Sean, the arse, had been trying to pick that fruit forever. “Yea, but she’s wed another.”
“Peter? Did she wed him? That doesna surprise me. The man would lay down his life for her. She will be well taken care of by him, dunna ye worry.”
Sean thought about that. It was a blessing to know she would spend her days protected and well-loved. It came as a surprise that the fact was suddenly enough for him. He realized he wanted her happy. He really hadn’t wanted her for the right reasons. “She was quite happy with him as her husband. Already carrying his bairn.”
Lachlann smiled. “She never seemed like the nun-type to me. Too impassioned. Ye ken?”
Yes, he’d sensed it, too. He seemed to have quite an ability for seeing beneath the surface. With Thomasina, even more so. He’d enflamed her passion. But it wasn’t to be. Not when the fate of a clan rested on the outcome.
“Ye need to eat. The fish jump out of the loch here.”
“Yea.” Sean smiled again. His face less stiff. “I dinna mind Thomasina thinking it was my great prowess that caught the fish. She hates to see the skinning of the bloody animals.”
Lachlann glanced at him. “Is that how ’tis with her?”
“Yea. I dunna wish to make the lass uncomfortable.”
