He patted the old man’s belly lightly, “ye will be fine.”
The boy ran into an inner room, while the older woman tinkered with a loose plank of wood on the floor. Jo’s face drained of color as she stared at the wound. She fumbled with her thumbs, biting her lips with anxiety. Duncan’s anger roiled. He hated to imagine what those rogues had done to her.
He stood in front of her, trying for a teasing tone. “Ye’ll break off a thumb at this rate.” She looked up at him, worry clashing in those pretty, deep eyes.
She whispered, “are ye certain he’ll be fine?”
He could not resist it. He brushed a thumb across the worry lines on her forehead. “Of course, I’m here.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, some of that passion returning to her features. “Arrogant,” she muttered harshly.
The boy returned and passed the items to him. He sat on the bed and collected the glass from the older woman too. He’d notnoticed that the man had come fully awake. He motioned for him to sit up. His wife supported him from the other side, then she held his hand.
“Drink,” Duncan said, placing the alcohol to his lips. “Should cushion some of the pain.”
The man winced, opened his mouth and took a healthy gulp. With the half left, Duncan wiped the wound. The man stiffened and sucked in a breath. To prevent festering, he poured the strong drink on the wound, watching it drip to the bed. The man gave a yelp of pain.
Archie yowled too and attempted to run to his grandfather. Jo grabbed him, muttering consolatory words. Duncan swabbed some more at the wound, poured some more alcohol. He made sure it was distributed properly before applying the patch. After he was done, he patted the man’s arm.
“Ye’ll be fine. Dinnae let water touch it while it heals. At least three days. Ye can change the patch an’ dae this again. His fever should break afore mornin’. Has he had anythin’ tae eat?”
The woman exhaled, “I dinnae ken it will be that easy.” Then her face fell. “Those rogues took everythin’. But I can cook…”
Duncan stood and asked her to wait, he would be back.
Archie’s wail rang out. “Is he goin’ tae die?”
Duncan wanted to go to the lad, but Jo got to him first. She squatted to his level and wiped his tear with her sleeves. “Nay, sweetie, he willnae. See that man? He’ll protect yer grandfaither.”
He was inconsolable, “Please help him. Mama left, papa too… please,” his little shoulders quivered.
“Oh, sweetie.” She held him to her bosom. “I lost me parents too. I ken ‘tis hard. But ye’re a strong lad. Ye brought help, ye did very well.”
He trembled, “Ye lost yer parents?” He asked, wet eyes wide.
Duncan turned away then. He marched outside, his heart breaking. He was almost certain that Jo was not a spy. If it weren’t for the concealed weapon and her prowess with the sword, he would have believed it fully. He spoke with Bryce and Craig and they left to bring cooked food for the ailing, old couple and their disconsolate grandchild.
Duncan returned, laden with food. He would not accept the woman’s resources, seeing that they’d just been robbed. Perched on the edge of the bed, Grace stroked the little boy’s head while his grandmother fed her husband. Duncan stood by the door, watching them, his expression inscrutable.
“Did they make threats tae return?” he asked.
The woman paused with a spoon midway, she shook her head. “Nay. They wanted supplies an’ food fer the wounded. Me daughter was killed by one o’ ‘em. Me husband wouldnae budge, because o’ that. Tis how we were attacked.”
Grace concealed her shock. She had not expected that her people could be that cruel. Back home, the story that was touted painted the Highlanders as louts whose major goal was to bring destruction. . The soldiers were only out to defend themselves and nothing more. How could she have known that they would take advantage of the old and young in this manner? She averted her gaze, inadvertently meeting the child’s own.
Duncan gave a curt nod, following the old woman’s explanation. Then he brought Bryce in. Later, Craig joined, citing that his hand would allow him to work. No matter how much Duncan urged him to stay out, together the men arranged the room. Archie helped with water and Grace wiped the stinking blood from the floor and walls.
When the room was clean, the woman dropped the bowl and grabbed Duncan’s arm. “Thank ye, thank ye!” the woman gushed. “I dinnae ken what we’d have done… wait, I have some meat.”
Duncan lowered his head, then cleared his throat. He was bashful! If Grace’s heart was not melting before, it was now. The tip of his ears were red from the woman’s praise.
He took a step back after patting her arm. “’Tis nae necessary. We have enough.”
“Nae, ye must accept. Please, ye dinnae understand. I – I have nae one but Archie and me husband. Ye helped us bring him back.”
With that, she scurried from the room, fast as her bent waist could allow. She dragged in a small wooden tub. In it, was dried meat. She saw Craig swallow with hunger and knew their meat supplies were down. With no room to refuse, Duncan accepted and carried the tub, rejecting Craig’s offer.
“We will be leaving now.”
