Without another word, Aileana placed her hands on Shona’s head and closed her eyes. A sense of wonder filled Angus, though he suspected little of what the healer was doing leaked through Shona to him. The longer she stayed in contact, the better he felt. His fatigue lessened, and his many aches and pains muted. As his pain leached away, Angus’s guilt magnified. So Brodric had been right. He never should have doubted the healer, never should have let anger and disgruntlement take the place of his gratitude for the risks she’d taken to try to help his brother.
When she covered the lump on the back of Shona’s head with her hand, she remained still for many long breaths, pulling Angus’s attention back to what she was doing for the woman in his arms, and the time it was taking. Concern filled him that Shona was hurt much worse than he’d suspected. He blamed himself for not doing more for her, but honestly didn’t know what else he could have done.
Finally, the healer lifted her hands and opened her eyes. Her gaze met his, and she nodded. “I’ve reduced as much swelling as I dare. I’m reluctant to do more right now for fear ofcausingdamage. Time will have to tell us how she will fare.”
“Will she regain her sight?”
“I dinna ken yet.”
Disappointment washed through Angus, hot and angry. Not again!
“I’ll stay tonight and check on her in the morning,” Aileana continued. “I’ve laid a healing sleep on her that will last into the night. When she wakes—no matter when she wakes, ye must keep her awake through the rest of the night. Have ye slept at all?”
“Aye, I dozed while she slept.”
“Good. Take her somewhere quiet and dark. She needs to rest. I must find the man ye mentioned.”
“With the crushed leg. Craig can show ye, and assist in anyway ye need. Ye recall him, aye?”
Aileana nodded, and for a moment, her expression turned bleak, her lips compressed and her eyes hooded.
A rush of sympathy replaced the anger in his chest. So he was not the only one who still grieved that day. With a nod, he called for Craig and carefully stood with Shona in his arms. She didn’t stir.
The best place he could think to take her was to his own bed. He’d risk her reputation to make her whole and well again. And if anyone—even her uncle—complained, he had an answer for that, too. He was going to marry her the moment she was able.
His croft was warm and, with the shutters closed, dark. Once there, he pulled the bedcovers aside and laid her down, then covered her to her chin. Her clothes were still damp, but she’d warm quickly in his bed. The healer had said she would sleep for a few more hours. He would use the time to check on the rest of the clan.
Back in the clearing, Angus paused and observed Aileana at work for a while, overwhelmed and even honored, to be able to see a miracle occur. Craig seemed mesmerized, an expression of awe on his face. His hands lay on Magnus’s leg near where Aileana worked. Did he feel through them what Angus felt when Aileana touched Shona? Mayhap, Angus thought, Craig would also accept her ability, now he’d seen it demonstrated in the waning light of day.
A familiar flash of resentment disturbed his wonder. Why hadn’t Aileana been able to save his brother? He shook his head, thinking there must be some things beyond men—and women.
At that moment, Aileana’s eyes opened and her hands lifted away from the man on the ground.
“I dinna ken how ye do that,” Craig told her, respect in his voice as he, too, lifted his hands from the man’s leg.
“I’ve learned a few things since we last met,” she answered, “such as how to borrow strength from someone else, so I can work longer and be less depleted by my labor.”
Angus shook his head and moved on.
* * *
Once he’d seen the clan settled down, he returned to his croft. Even if Shona slept for hours more, he could not stay away any longer. He tended the fire and poured a cup of ale, then sat, watching her.
Sometime after moonrise, she stirred and cried out. Angus had dozed in his seat, but he leapt to his feet and knelt beside her in a heartbeat.
“I’m here, lass,” he murmured. “Ye are well. The healer has seen ye and says ye will recover.” That wasn’t entirely true, but he figured a little lie couldn’t hurt, especially if it gave her hope.
“It’s so dark,” she complained. Her arms came out of the covers. She rubbed her eyes, then gasped.
Angus suspected she realized what she’d just revealed. “I ken, Shona.” Angus gripped her hands and pulled them away from her face. “Ye canna see.Wheesht.Dinna fash,” he told her as she tried to tug them out of his grasp. “The healer said it would take a while, that’s all. Ye will be fine.” He released her and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “But I’m told I must keep ye awake the rest of the night. How do ye think I should go about doing that?”
Her eyes widened under a frown. Even though he knew she could not see him, he felt her assessing him, measuring his words, his teasing tone. Finally, she cocked her head to the side and gave him a hint of a smile.
“My headache is better. But perhaps ye could rub my neck. That might soothe the rest of it away?”
“Gladly.” He pulled her to sitting so she could lean her head against his shoulder. He ran his hands up and down her back, then stroked and kneaded her neck and shoulders, enjoying the simple act of caring for her. Her sighs told him she appreciated his efforts. He carefully avoided the back of her head. He suspected the knot there had gone away, but the wound might still be sore.
After a few minutes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled his throat.
