Free Aidan by Elizabeth Rose Page A

thatched roof that came to a v, with holes in the sides at the top to let out smoke, but yet protected so that rain would not enter.
    She felt something on her chest, and looked down to see Aidan’s squirrel curled up atop her. She’d spent all night holding it outside by the fire, applying her poultices and herbs, and trying to save its life.
    She couldn’t have done it without the help of the three madmen. She’d almost laughed at the way these three big, strong men were jumping and running around collecting the things she needed at her command. She knew now that they all had a side to them that wasn’t as harsh as they sometimes let on.
    The last she remembered she was dozing off, leaning back into Aidan’s protective embrace with the squirrel cuddled up on her lap as they sat under the stars. She realized now that Aidan must have brought her here to sleep, and she’d been so tired that she hadn’t even noticed.
    The door to the cottage opened, and there stood Aidan with a smile on his face and holding something behind his back. In his other hand he held a bowl of food and a spoon.
    “Guid mornin’ me bonnie angel,” he said, entering the room.
    “Thank ye fer bringin’ me here last night.” She sat up, taking the squirrel in her hands and off her chest. She removed the wrapping of cloth that she’d put around it to hold closed its wounds.
    “How is Reid?” he asked, entering the room and closing the door with his foot extended behind him. The sunshine that had been streaming into the little cottage disappeared.
    “He is goin’ te survive, thanks te the help ye and yer friends gave me last night.”
    The squirrel shook its head and stretched. Then it licked its wounds, flicking its tail, and scurried off the pallet to inspect the floor.
    “I dinna ken how I can e’er repay ye fer savin’ me pet’s life.”
    “Ye dinna have to. I only did what anyone would.”
    He put the bowl of food and spoon on the table and headed over to the pallet. “I brought ye food te break the fast. It is cabbie claw. I made it meself from the rest o’ the fish ye caught.”
    Effie was familiar with the dish, which was cod fillets covered by an egg sauce and topped off with horseradish. “Well, that sounds wonderful, but I could join the rest o’ ye at the fire. I dinna need me food brought te me.”
    “Happy Birthday, me angel.” He whipped out a large bouquet of wildflowers from behind his back and handed it to her. It consisted of purple heather, pink foxglove, and even a large lilac-colored thistle sticking up from the center.
    “ Och,” she gasped in delighted surprise, taking it from him but being careful not to touch the prickly thistle. “They’re beautiful.” She started to get up, but he sat down on the pallet next to her instead. He took her hands in his, and raised them up so she could smell the flowers. She took a sniff and then let out her breath. “No one has e’er given me flowers fer me birthday,” she said with a tear in her eye.
    “I told ye I want te fill thet empty void in yer life. And since ye have no one left from yer family or yer clan o’ gypsies, I am goin’ te be the one te take care o’ ye today.”
    “Oh, ye really dinna have te do thet.” She felt horrible now for lying to him, and she didn’t deserve any of this. She tried to get up, but he took the flowers, placing them down, and held her on the pallet. He reached over and kissed her. She found herself lost in his kiss. Lost in the kindness of someone caring for her and making her feel special.
    “I want te take care o’ ye, Effie. Ye saved me squirrel, and I am e’er so grateful.”
    “Well, ye saved me life, twice now, so I guess we are even.”
    “I have a present fer ye, too.”
    “A present? O ch, no, I couldna accept it.”
    “Aye, ye can.” He rea ched over to the foot of the pallet and opened a trunk. He pulled out a woman’s long white leine with billowing sleeves and a sleeveless kirtle. The skirt was