“You are a healer?” Annis asked.
“I am, thanks to my mum. She taught me. She was fearful I would be left on my own here one day with no healer to help me if necessary.”
“How wise and loving of her. Did she travel the misty path?”
“Nay. She warned me to stay away from it, especially after one of our own was found near it and Lord Balloch’s warriors took the old man away to the dungeon.”
“Lord Balloch sounds nothing like his son,” Annis said.
“To me, he is a cruel man. I should not have said that.” Una chastised herself. “My da warns me that Lord Balloch has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“There is no one here but you and me and I will say nothing,” Annis said.
“I would like to call you friend, Annis, even though when you finish here, we will probably never see each other again.”
“I am pleased to call you friend, Una, and we will see each other often when I am done here, and the curse is broken,” Annis said, her confidence as strong as ever.
“I pray you succeed, Annis. I truly do,” Una said, tears filling her eyes.
Annis was surprised when she woke the next morning to find herself alone, Una gone. She was even more surprised when she stepped outside to see everyone gathered around a fire, talking with Brogan, some looking hopeful and some skeptical.
She stepped closer, though kept herself out of Brogan’s view, wanting to hear what he was saying.
“I will see the list of repairs you request are done before winter.”
“That is generous of you, Lord Brogan, but will your father agree?” Iver asked.
“I will see that he does,” Brogan said.
“His word is law in the clan,” Iver reminded.
“I will see it done. You have my word,” Brogan promised.
But could he keep that promise or would his father deny him, Annis wondered, and she could see from the look on the surrounding faces that they thought the same.
“Annis,” Una called out with a smile. “Come and enjoy a hot brew and bread.”
“A hot brew will be most welcome on this chilly day, but we cannot tarry. Brogan and I must be off shortly.”
“You will return here when you finish?” Una asked hopefully.
“If you don’t mind our staying here until we finish,” Annis said, taking the tankard the young woman held out to her.
“Truth be told, I enjoy the company,” Una said honestly and with a generous smile.
“We’ll hunt again when I return,” Brogan said. “And if you can gather at least some of what we need to build a shed to hold the meat, we will get started on that as well.
“Build?’ Annis asked eagerly.
“That’s right,” Brogan said with a grin. “I forgot you are skilled at building things.”
“I am and I can show you how to build a sturdy food shed,” she said proudly. “But the ground will have to be cleared and made level first.”
It was an hour before Annis and Brogan took their leave, Annis talking with Iver and two other men. They discussed where it was best for the shed to be built, the material they would need, and what had to be done first. She left the men with precise instructions, and Brogan offered Belle’s help if they should need it. Otherwise, his horse would remain where she was enjoying the wild onions in the open area near the few dwellings.
“It is good you help them. They are in need of it, but will your father allow the repairs to be made?” Annis asked as they walked toward the hills.
“I will make sure he does,” Brogan said. “Did you sleep well? I thought you might miss me so much you couldn’t sleep.”
Annis grinned. “I had the most wonderful sleep.”
“So, you dreamed of me then.” He grinned and winced.
“You are smiling far too much. Your wound will bleed again if you are not careful.”
“I do not want to be the cause of you fainting again,” he said, “though it is your fault I smile so much.”
“Is this where you tell me that you cannot help but smile when you look at me because I am so beautiful?”
His grin remained. “Nay, it is usually the unexpected things that come out of your mouth that has me smiling, though I will admit—and not reluctantly—you are beautiful.”
“How odd? I feel the same about you.”
“You think I am beautiful,” he said with glee.
“Nay, it’s the things that come out of your mouth. Though I suppose you do have fine features.”
“You say that with reluctance,” he chided teasingly.
“Because, no doubt, you’ve heard it often enough.”
“But I never cared until now when I heard you say it.”
She turned her head away after catching the passion that suddenly sparked in his blue eyes and made him even more appealing, if that was possible.
“Do not lie and tell me you do not feel the sparks between us, Annis,” he said, aching to take her hand but thinking now was not the time, since he wanted more than to just hold her hand.