Page 70 of Highlander’s Claim

Colum and Seoras were two giant statues. She’d seen both fight, and they were relentless. Highland warriors in their prime, unstoppable and terrifying.

And yet, now they were rooted to the spot and helpless.

“Can I bring ye some raspberries, my lady?” asked Artur, peering from behind Colum.

“Can I bring something for the laird?” asked Ceana, one of the orphan girls.

Jenny realized how strangely quiet it was outside. The usual sounds of a living and breathing medieval castle didn’t come through the slit window of Aulay’s bedchamber. There was no hammering of metal against metal. No laughter and talking. Dogs didn’t bark. Even the usual squawking of birds and bleating of animals didn’t reach her ears. Since they’d brought Aulay home, the clan, like the laird, had been quiet.

Distantly, the church bell tolled in the village, and Jenny shuddered. In the complete silence, the sound lashed against her nerves. “Why are the bells tolling?”

“Everyone’s in the church, praying for the laird,” Colum said.

She nodded and brushed the cloth down Aulay’s ashen face. His long, black eyelashes fluttered as though a ripple went over his handsome face. How she wished his eyes would open. His beard had grown over the past three days, and she let her fingers smooth over it.

“Oh…right.”

Colum moved to her and dropped to his knees before her. He took her free hand in his. She’d never seen him like this… Desperate, small. His dark eyebrows crawled up, and his mouth twitched. “Ye will save him, Jenny, aye?”

She blinked. “I—”

“Ye saved my nephew, Sìomon, and my sister-in-law. Ye worked a miracle there… Please, make another one with him.”

Something tiny and hot crawled down her cheek and a wet droplet fell on her wrist. “I don’t know if I can this time, Colum… He needs antibiotics…”

“Anti— Dinna matter. Anything he needs. Where can we get them?”

“We’re already giving them. Bhatair and I have been putting the antibacterial mixture with garlic and honey on his wound, but it hasn’t done enough to help. He needs proper medicine, something very strong.”

Colum squeezed her hand tighter. “Tell me where to get it and I’ll go.”

Another tear crawled down her cheek, leaving a burning trail behind it. She began shaking. It’s in the future, was the answer to his question. But she couldn’t say that.

“Lad,” said Bhatair.

Colum and she both looked at the physician. Bhatair locked eyes with her. They both knew what this meant. Infections like this…

“There’s nothing that can help him, lad,” Bhatair said. “Unless ’tis a miracle from God. But it looks like God is calling for him.”

No, no, no. This cannot be happening.

Colum dropped his head and stood up, helplessly clenching and unclenching his fists.

“Leave…” Aulay’s voice was weak.

Jenny’s gaze shot at him, and she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. He had his eyes open and was looking at the people in the room.

“What did you say?” she asked him.

His eyes found hers and he managed a shadow of a smile. “I told them all to leave. I want to spend my last hours with the woman I love.”

Her chest exploded in pain. His last hours… Everyone else stopped existing.

She thought she heard Colum say, “Aye, Uncle.”

Then there was the shuffle of shoes against the floor, the soft click of the door, and then silence. She moved to sit on his bed and cupped his face. His skin scalded her.

“These aren’t your last hours!” she said firmly, pressing out a smile for him. “I won’t let you die.”