Chapter 8
Shona hid her face in her hands, afraid Angus would see the tears gathering there. Her head still hurt something fierce. Even worse was the darkness. If it was permanent, she would hope to die. But that would be a sin. And a shame. Angus had expressed his belief in her ability. Hope flared in her breast for the first time in her life. If Angus accepted her ability, what she could do might be accepted by the people around her. With his support, she might learn to do more with her talent, and to help even more with the rebuilding. If she could only see! She curled her fingers into a fist. How long would it take him to figure out she could not?
She jumped again when he laid his hand over hers and pulled them away from her face. A tear trickled down her cheek, and he wiped it away with his thumb. Shona’s heart melted at the simple, caring gesture.
“Ye are tired, lass, from helping the rescuers.”
Her heart lifted. In those few words lay a truth more beautiful than she could have imagined. He did believe her!
“And ye are hurt, too. I would take ye away from here, but the healer should arrive soon and I want her to see to ye first.”
“Nay! There are others who need greater care.”
He leaned in closer. Shona could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. Then he surprised her, pulling her onto his lap and wrapping her in his arms. “Lean on me and rest,” he told her. “My clothes are nearly dry. I’ll keep ye warm while we wait.”
She tried to straighten up but his arms held her fast. “Ye must have better things to do than sit with me,” she objected.
“No’ at the moment, nay.”
“But yer clan…”
“Our healer is seeing to those he can help. The work to clear the hall and start the rebuilding will wait until tomorrow. Everyone else is resting. Ye may, too. I’ll keep ye safe.”
Shona gave in and laid her head on Angus’s well-muscled shoulder, grateful, but still troubled. He wanted her, despite her revelation about her talent. She could not believe her good fortune. But the loss of her sight lay in heavy balance against the hope filling her that she’d finally found a place—and a people—who could accept her ability. What if the blindness was permanent? She’d be of no use to him. How could she use her talent or do what a clan’s lady must when she had to be led around by others?
Tears she could not stop finally began to fall. Angus shifted her closer to him and wrapped his arms more tightly around her, holding her while she gave in to her fears. When her storm of sobbing passed, she stilled, grateful he cared enough to comfort her and wipe away her tears.
Would he still care when he found out she could not see?
* * *
The Lathans’ arrival caused a stir. Tired cheers welcomed the help another twenty men would provide. Toran and Aileana came directly to Angus.
Shona still slept in Angus’s arms, and he was loathe to wake her. Still seated, he greeted the Lathan laird. “Thank ye for coming,” he told Toran. “It seems MacAnalen must rely again on Lathan assistance.”
Then he set aside his doubts and nodded to the healer. This was no time to let old resentments surface. MacAnalen needed her and whatever she could do. “Be welcome. There’s a man with a crushed leg who needs yer attention first.”
“Perhaps,” the healer answered, studying the woman in his arms. She reached out to touch Shona’s head and frowned.
Angus felt a glow of well-being suffuse him.
Coming from Aileana through Shona?
“Nay, this lass needs me first. She suffered a blow to the back of her head.”
“I ken that,” Angus told her as Toran moved away to organize his men.
“Do ye ken she canna see?”
“Aye, I guessed it.” Angus fought to keep his voice down, but hearing his fears confirmed devastated him. “She’s truly blind?” Shona’s behavior since the collapse made sense. But how did the healer know?
“For now.”
“For now?” Hope flared in Angus’s heart that all would be well. Could he trust the healer…again?
“Ye will hold her while I do what I must. Can ye?”
Angus swallowed a touch of fear. “Aye.” He would withstand anything for his lass.
