Callum reached for Bethoc just as Graham finished his lunge, his sword penetrating Bethoc’s side. He caught her in his arms as Simon stepped past them. Callum watched his friend take one swing of his sword, neatly separating Graham’s head from his body.
“Bethoc!” Callum said, suddenly afraid he had misjudged the place where the sword struck her.
“I have been stabbed!” she said and, despite the weakness in her voice, she sounded outraged.
He picked her up, wincing when she cried out in pain. His hand was beneath the wound and he could feel her blood soaking through. “We will get ye fixed up first,” he promised, sighing with relief when he saw several women rushing after him as he hurried up the stairs to his bedchamber.
“Oh, nay!” she cried, coming awake as he was about to lay her down on the bed. “I will bleed on it.”
“Here, I have something to put under her.” Brenda bustled over to lay down a thick layer of dark blankets. “Now set her down.”
Callum did so and then frowned at Brenda. “Ye are the cook.”
“I ken it but I was a healer for these people ere that. Worked with a good one before that, too.” She sliced Bethoc’s gown on her wounded side and parted the material. “Having any trouble breathing, Bethoc?” she asked.
“Nay.” She took several breaths and let them out. “None.”
“Then he didnae get your lung. Didnae poke your heart, either, or ye would be bleeding out right now.”
“How do ye ken that?”
“Simon had the thought of going to war. Couldnae allow him to go alone, aye? Saw a lot of different wounds. Remembered them all. Now, afraid what comes next is going to hurt.” Brenda stood up and went to wash her hands.
“Bethoc, what were ye thinking?” Callum asked as he sat on the edge of the bed and held her hand.
“That ye were about to be stabbed in the heart from behind?”
He glanced down at her wound. “Actually, I suspicion he was aiming lower. My liver, mayhap.”
Brenda showed up beside Callum and nudged him away. “That wound would have taken your liver or cut into your innards. Bad wound. Bad death. Now, Bethoc, do ye want something to bite on?”
Bethoc glanced up at Callum who nodded, so she nodded at Brenda. A thick piece of leather was put between her teeth. She glanced at the band on her wrist and then at Callum as he sat down beside her. He smiled faintly and, as soon as Brenda urged her onto her side so her wound was facing upward, he clasped her hand. Then Brenda began to work and Bethoc was aware of nothing but the pain until she tumbled into darkness.
“Ah. Good. She has passed out. How did that old fool get a sword?” demanded Brenda as she began to stitch the wound.
“I dinnae ken. The guards were knocked down and then he was lunging for me, sword in hand. I was just turning and, if I had done so, if Bethoc hadnae knocked me out of the way, I could have been gutted. Then Simon arrived and lopped off the fool’s head.”
“Ah, mercy.” Brenda sighed. “He had to kill again.”
“He has been in a battle or two, Brenda.”
“I ken it but ’tis different when ye are in the midst of men all fighting to survive.”
He sighed. “Aye, true enough. But I dinnae think Simon will be too troubled by this. The mon did have a sword in his hand, had just stabbed Bethoc, and was still looking to stab me e’en as I sat on the ground with her in my arms.”
“I hope ye are right.” She tied off her stitches, bathed the wound again, and then bandaged it.
“Thank ye, Brenda.”
“Fah, ’tis nay a bother. Fact is, had to near fight the other lassies to get here. She has a big heart, ye ken, and is free with it. When are ye going to wed with her?”
“I should, shouldnae I.” With Brenda’s help, he began to undress Bethoc.
“Ye dinnae love her?”
“I dinnae ken. What do I ken of love?” He shrugged and lightly stroked Bethoc’s hand.
“Oh, Callum.” She hurried over to the washbowl to clean her hands. “Ye ken a lot. Ye just dinnae ken it. Ye take in women and bairns, ye collect the lost children and find them good homes, and look at the people ye gather round you. Me, Simon, Uven, Robbie. We are nay here just because ye have a bonnie face.” She walked back to the bed in time to help him tuck Bethoc in. “And then there is this lass. Her and her four lads, two back at her home. And that wee verra determined lass. Bethoc came with ye e’en though ye offered her naught but a bed.”
