Page 29 of Highland Storm

“We need to keep her close,” said Storm. “If they do no’ go for a trade then our only choice is to make an alliance and have one of ye marry the girl.”

Phoebe’s head snapped up at hearing that suggestion. She didn’t like it one bit. There was no way she was going to marry a MacKeefe. They were the MacNabs’ enemies. Besides, with her luck, they’d betroth her to Hawke and she’d end up dead just like her cousin.

“I willna marry any of ye,” she retorted.

“Really?” Hawke asked with a chuckle. “And what will ye do when the MacNabs refuse to make a trade and tell us to keep ye, just like yer clan members did when I captured ye?”

“They didna mean it,” she said, feeling very nervous. “My faither will make the trade. I’m sure he will. There will be no need for a battle or to make an alliance.”

Phoebe looked from one MacKeefe to the next, not able to picture herself as the wife of any of them. She hoped her father’s health was getting better and that he wasn’t already dead. Because if Euan and Lennox were in charge, she had no chance at all of coming back to the clan unmarried.

Chapter 10

“Hold still so I can change the bandage and check yer stitches,” Phoebe told Hawke that night after they had retired to his solar.

“Are ye sure ye ken what ye are doin’?” asked Hawke.

“I told ye, I am still learnin’ but ye need no’ worry. Orrick loaned me his book and I’ve been readin’ it and learnin’ a lot.”

“What book?” he asked as Phoebe finished her ministrations. “I hope it’s no’ a book of spells. I dinna want ye cursin’ me.”

“Now why would I do that?” she asked, putting the ointments back into her bag.

“Because we’re enemies and ye had no qualms in admittin’ that ye’d like to see me dead?”

“Nonsense.” She peeked under his bandage and applied more cream. “If I wanted to kill ye, ye’d be dead by now.”

“Now that’s a reassurin’ thought.”

“Here’s the book,” she said, wiping off her hands and taking the book out of her travel bag. She reverently held it in two hands in front of Hawke.

“Ye act like ye’re holdin’ the king’s crown or somethin’,” he said with a chuckle. “I assure ye, it’s only an auld book and holds no value.”

“On the contrary, this book is very valuable to me.”

“Why is that?” he asked, taking the book from her and thumbing through a few pages. “Plannin’ on bein’ a witch? After all, Orrick is a sorcerer so ye’d better be careful around him. I’m no’ sure I even like the man. Ye’d better stay away from him for now.”

“I think Orrick is a wonderful man to help me find the herbs I’ve been searchin’ for. And ye have no idea how important this is to me.” She tried to snatch the book away from him but he put it down next to him and lay back on the bed.

“Why is that, lass?” he asked, sounding suspicious of her. “Ye act like it’s a matter of life or death.”

“It might be,” she said, feeling flustered just thinking about her father. “There are some herbs I need. To heal a very sick man back at Crookston Castle. I found out from Orrick that the herbs are only found in one place.”

“And where’s that?” he asked with a yawn. “Inside a magic lantern?”

“Stop it, Hawke! This is nothin’ to be jestin’ about when a man’s life hangs in the balance.”

“Ye’re really upset about this.” Hawke’s face took on a serious expression.

“I am. But unfortunately, I’m a prisoner here and the herbs I need have to be picked while they’re bloomin’ or I’ll have to wait another year. By then it’ll be too late.”

“Well, mayhap if yer clan hurries up and makes a trade and we get our chieftain back, then ye can go look for yer herbs.” Hawke closed his eyes and rested his hands on his chest, not at all concerned.

“I wish that were true. But even if it happens, I’ll have no way to get to the isle.”

“The isle? What isle?” His eyes popped open.

“Orrick told me the only place the herbs grow are on the Isle of Kerrera which is a boat ride away from Oban.”