One of the men collected Erik’s discarded clothes and brought them over. Erik pulled on his trews and boots, but didn’t bother with the rest. He lifted Fiona into his arms. Even sopping wet and shivering, she seemed to weigh less than a bairn, but he would warm her. And care for her for as long as they lived.
Tormod sent one of the men on ahead to build up the fire in their cottage hearth and sent another for buckets of fresh water for them to use to wash the salt from their bodies and hair. “What else will ye need, laird?”
“Only Fiona.” He looked down at her, gratified to see her smile up at him. “Only my love, forever.”
CHAPTER 13
Fiona roused when the warmth surrounded her from the fire roaring in their cot’s hearth. “We’re home?”
“Aye, love, we are. How do ye feel?”
She took a second to take stock. Her arms and legs ached, her hair was cold and sticky with salt water, and her skin itched with drying salt. But Erik didn’t need to know all of that. “Tired, but grateful to be in yer arms,” she replied, then covered her mouth to stifle a yawn.
“There’s fresh water on the way to wash with, then we’ll lock the door and spend the rest of the day and tonight together. No interruptions.”
“Promise?”
“I do.”
A knock sounded, so Erik set her in a chair by the hearth, grabbed a plaid from the bed to cover her, and opened the door to Tormod and several others carrying buckets.
“’Tis the water ye asked for,” Tormod announced, carefully keeping his gaze on Erik and not letting it stray past his laird to find Fiona. “And Cook is bringing hot food and drink.”
“Thank ye,” Erik said, and stepped aside to allow them entry.
The men trooped into the cot and placed the buckets at Fiona’s feet, lined up in front of the hearth to warm. “Thank ye all,” she told them as each set down his burden. Two more came in carrying a large, empty basin. It might serve as a tub for a shorter person. Fiona didn’t think either she or Erik would fit.
“Be well, Lady Ross,” one told her and the others added their wishes for her good health before they left. Tormod, the last to go, finally looked her way. “Is there aught else ye need, milady? The clan stands ready to provide for ye.”
Fiona’s heart lifted at his words. “Tormod, what a blessing ye are, and everyone else, as well. Thank them for me. I’m sure I’ll be fine once I clean up, eat, and rest.”
Erik raised a brow at his tanist, making Tormod smile. “I’ll take that as my permission to leave. As soon as Cook visits ye, lock the door. I’ll post a guard to ensure ye are no’ disturbed.”
“Ye anticipated my request,” Erik told him. “Thank ye. Ah, here’s Cook,” he added, as the older man arrived with his apprentices and several more young helpers, including Sara, Ciaran, and Roban in tow, all carrying a pot or a dish or a pitcher, and the last weighed down with bowls, cups, and eating tools for two.
Their determination to care for her charmed Fiona and she touched each one as they passed by her.
“Here ye go, put all that on the table, there,” Cook directed them. “Good, yer task is done. Excellent work, all of ye. Now, go on with ye.”
“Thank ye all,” Fiona said, smiling at each child. “With yer help, I feel better already.”
“Well timed, Cook,” Erik commented. “Thanks to ye and yer helpers for yer care of my wife and myself.”
“Glad to do it,” Cook announced, and the lads and lasses with him, wide-eyed at being in the laird’s cot, nodded theiragreement. Their smiles warmed Fiona’s heart as she watched them leave. Cook took a final bow and followed them out.
Tormod made to follow, but Erik put a hand on his arm.
“Ye have Teague and Tira?”
“Aye. They’ll be waiting when ye are ready to deal with them,” he said softly, then added, louder, “Rest well,” and left.
With a sigh, Erik closed the door and, as he’d promised, locked it.
“We’re alone. Which would ye like first? Food and drink, or to rinse off the salt?”
“That. I itch!”
“Let me help ye.” He crossed to her and removed the blanket, then helped her stand and stripped off the remains of her now-damp clothes. With a cloth he dunked in the first bucket, he wiped down her skin, from forehead to feet, then wrapped a sheet around her and had her sit and lean her head back into the basin.
