Free MacDougall 01 - Laiden's Daughter by Suzan Tisdale Page B

been drunk before, Aishlinn imagined her current state might closely resemble the after affects of being in one’s cups far too long.   She blinked a few times, rubbed her eyes and winced for they were still quite swollen and sore.  
    The little girl was sitting on the edge of the bed and looking quite concerned.   Aishlinn could not help but smile at her.   “Who are you?” she asked.
    “I be Mary,” the child answered quietly.   “Does it hurt much, Lady Aishlinn?”
    “Aye, but only a bit, thanks to the good care you and your mother have shown me.” Her little face beamed at Aishlinn’s compliment.   “Mamma says I’m a very good helper.   And I’m smart too.” She continued to stare at Aishlinn’s face.   “Mamma says a very bad man did that to ya.”   She said.   “Was it him that cut yer hair too?”
    “Nay. My brothers did that.   As a punishment.” Regrettably the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.   
    Mary’s look of concern turned instantly to one of anger.   “That’s mean!   Did ye beat them up for it?” she asked as she thrust her tiny hands to her hips.   Aishlinn could only wish she had possessed the nerve at the time to have beaten them senseless. She noticed that Mary was casting a deathly glare at someone.   Aishlinn turned to see that Mary was staring at two boys, most likely her older brothers. They had the same dark blonde hair and blue eyes that Mary possessed.
    “We’d never do that to ya, Mary,” the oldest boy said sternly.
    “Aye.   Papa would beat ya dead if ya did!” She stuck her tongue out at the two of them.
    “Aye. But only a coward would do such a thing.” With heads held high, both boys left the room.  
    Very soon Duncan appeared with Rowan and Manghus behind him.   Duncan looked relieved to see Aishlinn awake.
    “Mary,” Duncan said. “Could ya leave us be for a moment, lass? I’ve a need to speak to Aishlinn privately.”
    The little girl crawled down from the bed and returned her hands to her hips. “Ye’ll take care of her well, won’t ye?”
    “I do so promise, Mary.” Duncan said with a warm smile.   Mary studied the men for a moment. Apparently convinced they would take proper care of her charge, she disappeared behind the curtain.
    “How be ya, lass?” Duncan asked.
    “Better than when you found me.” Aishlinn told him.
    “Good.” Duncan said as he put a hand to her forehead.   Although it was the simplest of gestures, Aishlinn was not prepared for the way his hand felt upon her skin.   Men never touched her that way.   Tears welled and she fought hard to hold them back.  
    “What be the matter lass?” Duncan asked.   “Are ye in pain? Do ya need Rebecca?”
    Aishlinn shook her head.    “Then why do ya cry?” he asked.
    How does one explain to a complete stranger that his simple touch brought back a flood of memories and feelings she had not experienced since she was a bairn?   She did not have the words to express how she felt at that moment.    “I know not why you’re all being so kind to me!” she blurted out.   “You know me not and yet you all watch over me as if I were one of your own.”
    “We be Highlanders, lass!”   He said as if that was all the explanation necessary.   He gently brushed the tears from her cheek.   “We help those who need it.” For Duncan, it was simply how things were done. You helped those who needed it.  
    He gave her a few moments to compose herself.   “Do ya think ya might be able to travel in the morning lass?” he asked her.   “We dunna ken how close the English be. We’ll be much safer at Castle Gregor,” he told her.   “But if ye feel not up to it yet--” Aishlinn stopped him with a wave of her hand.
    “I want to waste no more time lying abed.” Aishlinn said.   “I could ride now if we needed.” It was a little lie, but one she felt necessary.   She knew the longer they lingered here, the closer the English might