Highland Warrior by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online Page B

disappointment as well as fear upon her face and inwardly grimaced. Mab was undoubtedly the healer of Scarglas and Fiona had just trespassed upon her territory. The fact that Mab looked uneasy instead of furious told Fiona the woman did not feel secure in the position she had probably claimed for herself. Mab would not fight if Fiona turned her away, but Fiona knew she would feel like an ogre if she did that.
    “I tended the wounds, Mistress Mab,” Fiona said, noting that Mab’s big brown eyes held only curiosity when the woman looked at her. “There was a battle which left a few men bleeding and I thought they would make the rest of the journey here in more comfort if those wee holes in them were corked.”
    “Ye have some healing skills?” Mab asked.
    “Some. I had some training, was taught by several weel-respected healers.”
    “Who? Mayhap I will ken the name.”
    Fiona thought out her answer carefully before replying, “I spent some time withLady Maldie Murray when I was younger.” She felt that made the association sound appropriately vague, thus useless to Ewan.
    Mab gasped and clutched her small, plump hands against her generous bosom, causing several things to tumble out of her basket to the ground. “Oh, how verra fortunate ye are. Lady Maldie is a lauded healer. How I wish I could have met her ere I came to Scarglas.”
    Not sure why Mab’s coming to Scarglas would mean the woman would never have the chance to meet Lady Maldie, Fiona picked up Mab’s things and put them back in her basket. Somehow she was going to have to keep this woman from using any of those now filthy items on the wounded men. She could not shame this woman or push her from her place in the clan, not in Mab’s eyes or those of the MacFingals, but Fiona was going to have to teach Mab a few things before she left Scarglas.
    “Mayhap ye should find a basket with a top or use a bag as I do, mistress,” Fiona said. “Twould save ye the extra work of having to clean the things which fall upon the ground.” Fiona could tell by the look upon Mab’s face that the woman had not intended to clean the things nor knew why she should.
    “Oh, of course,” Mab said. “I was in such a rush to see to the lads, ye ken, and just threw all my things into the first thing I could find.”
    Inwardly, Fiona breathed a hearty sigh of relief. She had found the path to take. It would not be easy to make every lesson sound as if she was simply stating a fact Mab already knew, but she would try. Instinct told her that Mab would not take offense at more direct speech, but Fiona would do that only when they were alone or Mab asked a question. Somehow she knew that Mab desperately needed her place as the clan’s healer and Fiona could never be so cruel as to take it away, especially since she was not staying at Scarglas for very long.
    “I need to get Simon to a bed, mistress, so that we may look at his wounds,” Fiona said. “The ride here may have opened them.”
    “Of course, of course.” Mab looked at the two men who had unhitched Simon’s pallet from the back of Gregor’s horse. “If ye two could bring the lad along with us, please?” Mab grasped Fiona by the arm and started to lead her toward the keep. “Twill be wondrous to speak to someone who trained with Lady Maldie Murray. Just wondrous. I am always trying to find cures, ye ken. Tis my duty to keep the lads hale. I have recently mixed a cream that will make scars fade. I shall have to give ye some.”
    A glance over her shoulder brought Fiona’s gaze in line with Ewan’s and Gregor’s. Both men quickly shook their heads and she understood. Mab’s tender feelings were obviously protected by a lot of people. Mab’s cures, however, were obviously meant to be avoided. Somehow she was going to have to convince Mab that she was happy with her scars. Since that was a lie, it would not be easy. Fiona shook the concern aside and followed Mab into the keep, forcing her thoughts to the