Page 44 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“Can ye walk?” she asked as he leaned on her.

“Aye, I think so. I’m just a wee bit woozy, is all,” he replied. “Ye’re nae hurt, that’s all I care about,” he told her, giving her a squeeze with his arm.

Slowly, for Odhrán had a few dizzy spells on the way and they had to stop, they managed to navigate the garden and arrive back at the hall. The place looked a little emptier than before and was more peaceful now the stream of wounded men had ceased after the battle.

“I suppose many of the wounded have been treated and gone home to their beds to recover,” Maddison observed looking around. “Och, there’s Alana, over here. Come on.” She walked Odhrán over to where the healer was talking to her assistant Kate. But as soon as she saw Maddison and Odhrán approaching, with the laird leaning heavily on his wife, she broke off her conversation and hurried over to them, looking worried.

“’Tis nae yer head again, me laird, is it?” she asked, the blood running down his face and neck a telltale sign she was right.

“Aye, one of the enemy soldiers attacked me at the cottage, and Odhrán took a nasty blow tae his head again rescuin’ me,” Maddison explained, pushing Odhrán into a chair. “He says he keeps feelin’ dizzy, and I had tae help him get back here without fallin’ over. Can ye have a look at him, please, Alana? I’m worried he may have a concussion again.”

Alana examined Odhrán’s head, grimacing when she saw the gaping gash on his scalp.

“Well, it’s a deep cut all right, but it looks tae be closin’ up by itself. I’ll clean it up, and ye’ll have tae dae the same as before I’m afraid, Maddy, keep him awake fer as long as ye can before ye let him sleep.”

“Ach, nae again,” the patient protested. “There’s naethin’ wrong with me, I tell ye.”

“What about yer dizzy spells, then? Did ye imagine those, eh? And ye would have surely fallen on yer backside several times on the way back if I hadnae been there tae prop ye up,” Maddison pointed out to him sternly.

“I’m nae takin’ any of that foul concoction ye gave me last time,” Odhrán grumbled.

“Ye’ll take whatever medicine Alana says ye’ll take if ye ken what’s good fer ye,” his wife told him in no uncertain terms, eliciting a deep sigh of resignation from him.

“How’s Tadgh?” he asked.

“Och, he’ll make a full recovery. It turned out his jerkin protected him from the worst of it. ’Tis mainly a flesh wound, the Lord, though there’s a nasty nick tae his hip bone. He was lucky the blade missed his vital organs,” Alana explained, smiling wearily.

“Thank the Wee Man,” Odhrán breathed, rubbing his temples in obvious relief.

“That’s grand news!” Maddison said, taking his hand and squeezing it.

“Aye,” Alana went on. “Liam’s taken him back tae his chambers, but he’s supposed tae be comin’ back here tae speak with ye about the battle.” She began to clean up Odhrán’s wound, while Maddison fetched him a mug of ale, as he was complaining of a dry throat. She kept him company while Alana worked on him. A short while later, Liam reappeared, looking much more cheerful than before.

Odhrán greeted him warmly, saying, “Alana told us about Tadgh. ’Tis good news, eh?”

“Ye can say that again,” Liam replied. “I honestly thought he was a goner for sure.” He looked curiously at Odhrán.

“What happened tae yer head?”

“Och, ’tis naethin’. I got hit on the head by a sword hilt in a fight,” he explained, “by one of Rollo’s men.”

“He was attacked at the infirmary while savin’ me life,” Maddison put in, “and he’s likely got another concussion.”

“At the infirmary? I’d better get over there with some men and search the place. Did ye see where he went?” Liam asked, suddenly all business.

“He ran intae the woods behind the cottage,” Maddison told him.

“Right, I’d best be off. I’ll see ye later, Odhrán.” He rushed out to rally some men to accompany him on his search.

A little while later, with clear instructions for Odhrán to rest and try to keep awake as long as he could, he and Maddison entered their chambers. As before, she supported him until they reached the bed. She pulled of his boots and trews and coat, all drenched in blood, and let him lay back against the pillows.

“I’ve still got some of that salve from when ye fell down the stairs, and I think there’s even a wee bit of the tonic left for ye tae drink,” she teased him, sitting beside him and stroking his forehead gently.

“I’m nae drinkin’ it. Bring me a dram instead, will ye?” he said, catching hold of her hand and kissing her palm.

“All right.” She got up and fetched the whisky and poured them both a large dram. “I think I’ll join ye. It’s been quite a day. Tae think ye’ve fought a whole battle. Slàinte mhath!”

“Slàinte mhath,” Odhrán replied as they clinked glasses and drank.