Free Highland Knight by Hannah Howell

tend to his injury.
    “One dead, one who may be dying, three wounded but nay mortally if the wounds are tended weel.” She frowned as, done with washing the wound, she smeared an ointment on it. After a close study she shrugged and began to bandage it. “I could stitch it if ye would rather. ’Twould lessen the scar that may remain.”
    “Let it scar.”
    Avery was not surprised by his reply. The same men who could leap into battle and face death and pain without flinching always quailed when faced with the prospect of needing a wound stitched. It never ceased to amaze and amuse her. She collected her things and stood up, ready to go help the other wounded. Impulsively she bent down and lightly kissed Cameron on the mouth. The look of total astonishment on his face made her moment of weakness worthwhile. She hurried away before he was able to shake free of his shock.
    “Looks as if ye are closer to winning than I thought,” drawled Leargan.
    Cameron blinked and stared at his cousin for a moment before his wits returned. “Ye are still here.”
    Leargan snorted in disgust as he slowly, wearily rose to his feet, then helped Cameron stand up. “I may as weel have been a rock for all the two of ye noticed. Although at least the lass took a wee moment to be sure I wasnae wounded.”
    “She obviously has some skill in healing.”
    “Both of them do.” Leargan nodded toward where Gillyanne was helping Avery. “’Tis said that one of the Murray women, Lord Botolf s wife, I believe, is a famed healer.”
    “Of course.” Cameron shook his head and nearly staggered. “I begin to think there is nothing a Murray cannae do. ’Tis annoying.”
    Leargan chuckled, then grew serious. “They saved our lives.”
    “Aye, they did.”
    “They gave up a verra good chance of escaping.”
    Cameron sighed heavily. “Aye, they did. Although, two wee lasses wandering about on their own could also have stumbled into a lot of trouble and danger.”
    “Ye arenae going to give this up, are ye?” Leargan snapped out the demand aftercursing heartily for a moment.
    “I cannae.”
    “For your sister’s sake?”
    “Aye. Avery Murray could be as pure and sweet and giving as a nun and I would still do this. ’Tis my duty to restore the honor stolen from my sister. Avery Murray is the surest way to do that. Just as I cannae turn my back on my sister, so Sir Payton Murray cannae turn his back on his. I will, however, temper my actions.”
    “Ye willnae try to dishonor the lass?”
    “I cannae promise that.”
    “Nay, I didnae think ye could?’ Leargan shook his head. “Ye truly do fair stink of want for her.”
    “Cover your nose, then,” Cameron grumbled. He looked around. “We cannae stay here, but we cannae travel too far, either. I dinnae wish to risk the lives of the wounded.”
    “I will tell the men to break camp, then go find us a new site.”
    Cameron watched Leargan walk away and then turned his full attention to his people. The bodies of the DeVeau men were already stripped of all valuables and were being dragged away to be discarded in the wood. His men had acquitted themselves proudly, he decided as he reached the place where four of his men were laid out. One was already wrapped in a shroud, one was lying ominously still and pale, and two were complaining and cursing as the Murray women tended their wounds. Cameron felt sure those two would survive, and he knelt by the too-quiet, more seriously wounded man.
    A pang struck him as he saw the youth of the soldier, probably not much past eighteen. It was Peter, a young man who had thought the journey to France would bring him wealth and adventure. Too young, Cameron thought. Too young to feel the chill of death, and to be cut down for so paltry a reason. This was no battle for king and country, but the attack of a dishonorable fool who did not want to lose the coin paid to mercenaries.
    “He may yet live,” Avery said as she stepped up and looked down at