“Hmm.” A smile played across Rhona’s face as she twisted in the chair, her legs stretching out toward the fire. “Be careful.”
“He’s a good man, mom. You were right. He didn’t kill Margaret.”
The dream began to fade. A mist started to fill the room, coming between her and her mother. “The locket’s coming, Mom. It’s all going to be all right. I promise.” She shouted the last words but by then the dream had faded and she was sitting up in the barn, not sure what was real and what wasn’t.
She turned for comfort from Tavish but he wasn’t there. She looked around in a panic. Had he left her alone? She had no clue how to get back to the loch on her own. “Tavish?” she called out. “Where are you?”
The door to the barn swung open and he appeared. “What’s wrong? Are ye all right?”
“Oh, Tavish. I thought you’d gone. I was so scared.”
“I went tae fetch some breakfast. Here, carrots.”
“Oh,” she said, already feeling embarrassed by how worried she’d been. “Thank you.”
It was some time before her heart had slowed sufficiently for her to feel hungry. As she nibbled on the end of the carrot, Tavish went again without a word, this time coming back with a jug of water and a horn mug. “Drink,” he said. “We’ve a long walk ahead of us today.”
“Great,” she said, rubbing her feet. “More walking.”
He frowned as he glanced down. “You’re bleeding. Why did ye nae say so?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just not used to so much walking.”
“Wait there.”
For the third time, he vanished. This time he was gone for a while. Lindsey drank a mugful of water and finished the carrot, finding a hidden spot far away from the barn to use the bathroom while he was gone. When he finally came back, he found her washing her face with the last of the water.
“Sit doon,” he said, pointing to the straw.
“What’s that in your hand?”
“You’ll see. Take them stockings off.”
“They’re called socks.”
“Whatever they are, get them off.”
She did as he asked. He took some of the leaves he’d gathered and dipped them in the remains of the water. Mashing them into a ball he added the rest until the water was no more than a pile of green mush.
“Lift your leg ontae my lap,” he said, sitting opposite her.
He took hold of her ankle, working the mash into the worst of her blisters. Almost at once the pain began to subside. Lindsey sighed, the relief palpable as he continued to work the rest of the poultice into her foot. “Now put your sock over it,” he said, swapping to her other foot after she’d done as he asked.
“What is that?” she asked.
“Is it helping?”
“It’s wonderful.”
“A few decent leaves can ease the ache o’ many things,” he replied. “How do ye feel?”
“Much better, thank you.” She pulled her sock up as he got to his feet.
She sat still for a moment, watching as he carried the water outside. An odd question entered her mind from nowhere. What if I stay?
She shook her head. That wasn’t something she should waste any time contemplating. Yes, he was handsome. She’d got her first close look at him while he’d eased the pain in her feet. Those dark eyes that smoldered whenever he glanced up at her, that jaw that looked as if it could take an ax blow with no damage other than the weapon snapping in half.
Yes, behind his gruff exterior there lay hid a gentleman. The touch of his hands on her feet would have told her that if she hadn’t already worked it out.
