Page 23 of Highland Dove

“Aye, I would like Annabel to read my palm,” said Eideard, walking over and holding out his hand. “Go ahead.”

Angus shot Mari another dirty look.

“I’m sorry, but I’m too hungry to work on an empty stomach,” said Angus. “I’ll require nourishment first.”

“Baldair, bring this fat gypsy some bread,” Eideard called over his shoulder.

“Bread?” Angus made a face. “I was thinkin’ more along the lines of haggis and cock-a-leekie soup.”

When it looked like Eideard was about to protest, Mari grabbed his arm. “Oh, Eideard, I would like to ken how many children we’ll have. Canna he – can she come back to the castle? My sister, Tillie, likes to cook. She can make a guid meal for Annabel.”

“Aye, that sounds guid to me.” Angus licked his lips.

“All right then,” said Eideard, putting down his arm. “We’ll go. Get on the horse.”

“I can ride in the wagon with Malmuira,” said Mari, itching her leg.

“Nay, ye are my wife and ye’ll ride with me,” he told her.

“But –”

“Up ye go.” He held her around her waist and lifted her into the saddle. Then he hoisted himself up behind her. As the horse started to move, he leaned up close against Mari, once again kissing her behind her ear. It made her cringe.

“What’s that scent and that taste on yer skin?” he asked. His tongue shot out to lick his lips.

“I dinna ken. It must be my rosewater.” She remembered she needed to be exposed to the sun to make the poison act faster. “I’m hot,” she lied, taking off her cloak. That only made him more excited. He reached out and touched her thigh.

“I’m glad to see I’m makin’ ye just as hot as I am,” he said with a chuckle. He reached out and pushed up her gown, resting his hand on her bare leg. She was about to push it away when she realized he was exposing himself to the poison by touching her. Mayhap she’d let him touch and kiss her just a little. This might work to her advantage after all.

“Aye, I guess ye’re makin’ me hot,” she said with a sly smile. Holding back the urge to itch herself, she raised her face to the sun and closed her eyes. She hoped this potion started working fast, because she didn’t know how much more of this she could endure.

* * *

Duncan rode into the Stewart Clan with the young man named Tomas, shocked by what he saw. Some of their huts were burned, and everything looked broken and in shambles.

“Bid the devil. Did Eideard do all this?” he asked.

“I told ye it was bad.” Tomas jumped off his horse. “Eideard and his men didna stay long, but they managed to do a lot of damage and even steal some of our birds as well as our livestock. Without them, the clan will starve.”

“Where is yer chieftain?” asked Duncan, dismounting and handing the reins to a young boy who ran to greet them from the stables. “Take me to Mari’s faither anon.”

“This way,” said Tomas, leading him into one of the huts that didn’t look to be damaged. He stopped just inside, letting his eyes get accustomed to the dark. A man lay still on a pallet with a woman standing over him, gently dabbing his brow with a wet cloth.

“Daniel,” he said, hurrying over to the bed. Mari’s father had bruises and stitches everywhere that his skin was exposed. His one eye was swollen shut and his lips were cracked and bleeding. “How is he?” he asked softly to the woman tending to him.

“I willna lie, he is no’ in guid shape,” said the woman. “I only wish I had herbs to heal him, but our potions were broken when Eideard attacked. Since it is winter, we canna go out to collect more.”

“I have somethin’ that might help.” Duncan pulled out the bottles of potion that Malmuira had given him. “These are herbal potions made by an old gypsy. Use them and see if they help. The bottles are all marked.”

The woman’s eyes lit up as she collected the medicine from him. “Thank ye,” she said with tears in her eyes. “These will certainly help and hopefully save him.”

“What is yer name?” he asked the woman.

“I am Forba. Daniel was once married to my sister.”

“Well, thank ye, Forba. When he awakens, send for me at once. I need to talk to him regardin’ his daughter, Mari.”

“I will,” she said with a nod as Duncan left the hut with Tomas right behind him. He took another look around.