Page 19 of The Lyon and the Lass

The door to the carriage opened and Kerrigan stuck his head in. He looked as though he’d been pushed into a pond. Not only was he soaking wet, but he was also covered in mud. “I think I will ride Fergus to the next village so I doona get ye all wet and muddy.”

“Is the carriage out of the mud, then?”

“Aye, but one of the wheels doesna look sturdy enough to continue the rest of the journey, so we will have to secure another carriage.”

Another delay.

She moaned and turned her head to the wall.

“I think I will ask about a doctor or healer when we reach the next village. Ye have me concerned, lass.”

Why, oh why, did she get her monthly flow now? Were they at his castle, she was sure there was someone who could takecare of her. Rather than argue with him, she merely nodded and within minutes there was another jerk that almost tossed her to the floor before the carriage moved on.

With the ground being slippery, Kerrigan tried his best to keep her from getting dirty as he helped her out of the carriage, his arm wrapped snugly around her waist. She was bent over like an old woman, barely able to walk.

The inn they stopped at looked like it had been built during the Crusades. And with no renovations since then. Of course, the continuing deluge didn’t help the inn’s appearance. Kerrigan opened the door, and they were immediately welcomed with odors of ale, meat grease, and smoke.

Christine moaned again and hoped the contents of her last meal remained where it was supposed to stay. Kerrigan continued to study her, frowning. If only she had the nerve to tell him what she had was perfectly normal, and he should stop looking at her as if he expected her to pass from this life any minute.

The innkeeper greeted them with a smile, a contrast to the surroundings. Although the place left much to be desired, the man was cheerful and seemed delighted to have paying guests. “It appears ye have been caught in the rain,” he said. “I will get my wife to help ye into a room.”

Chistine was so cold she began to shake which only increased the look of worry on her husband’s face.

After patting her hand, he switched his attention to the innkeeper. “Do ye ken of someone who can rent us a carriage for the rest of our trip? We are headed to East Lothian.”

The innkeeper didn’t even pause. “Nay, I’m afraid no’. This is a small village. What is wrong with the carriage ye have now?”

“It got stuck in mud, and when the driver and I managed to pull it out, it damaged one of the wheels.”

“Wheesh,” the innkeeper said as he wiped down a dirty table with an even dirtier cloth. “We have a mon who comes here all the time who can fix the wheel for ye.”

“That would be welcomed,” Kerrigan said. “My driver is outside with the carriage now. Do ye have someone to send a message to the mon ye speak of? My wife is quite anxious to finish our trip.”

“Aye. I will send my lad to fetch him. Give me a minute to find my wife and have her direct ye to a room.”

Kerrigan turned to Christine as the innkeeper headed up the stairs. “I’m going to ask for a healer also to look at ye.”

She tried to smile but didn’t quite make it. “No. It is nothing, I assure you.”

The innkeeper’s wife arrived, wiping her hands on a soiled apron. “Welcome to The Fish and the Turtle. My name is Jess. Let me show ye to yer room, lass. It looks like ye’re in need of clean, dry clothes.”

“That would be wonderful. May I request a bath, also?”

The woman looked at her as if she asked for an audience with Prinny.

“Ach, ’tis sorry I am, lass, but we doona have a tub or anyone to lug up water. When we need to, we bathe in the loch a bit up the road. I will bring up a jug of warm water for ye.”

No bath.

“That would be fine, mistress.”

She had to get away from all these people who looked at her as if she was from another country. Then remembering she was indeed from another country, she burst out laughing which only appeared to increase the confusion of Kerrigan, the innkeeper and his wife.

“My wife is no’ feeling well. Is there a doctor or healer about?” Kerrigan said, studying Christine.

“Aye. I am able to do some minor healing. Did ye hurt yerself when the carriage had its accident?” Jess asked.

“No. My husband worries overmuch, but if I could just be shown to a room, I would be most grateful.”