Highlander's Trials of Fire

“I’m fine, Ma.” Jonet squeezed Matthew’s hand. “I have Matthew here with me and ye ken he is always tryin’ to make me feel better.”

“And I ken ye have a bad habit of blamin’ yerself for things that arenae yer fault.” Rinalda cast her tender eyes on Jonet, reaching out to grasp her hand. The moment she did, Jonet’s eyes pricked with tears. “Are ye sure ye are all right?”

Jonet swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I’m scared,” she admitted.

Rinalda patted her. “Of course, ye’re scared. Anyone would be. But as long as ye ken that this isnae yer fault, and that yer Faither and Uncle will strike down anyone in their path to make ye safe.”

“I ken.”

After the Laird’s fruitless interrogation of the brigands, he and Dougal had joined Jonathan in weeding out the person responsible inside the Castle. They had not ruled out the possibility that it might be someone on the outside, but even so, there had to be a person helping them within the Castle’s walls. When they found them, Jonet was the first person they would come to.

In the meantime, she was under strict orders to stay indoors, keep to Matthew’s side, and relax. She found that last bit far too difficult.

Rinalda’s eyes drifted over to Matthew. “I take it ye have been keepin’ watch over her.”

“I have been,” he assured her. “I havenae allowed her out of me sight.”

“Ye have been sleepin’ in her bed?”

Jonet sat up straight, her eyes wide. “Maither!”

Matthew chuckled as Rinalda lifted her brows in question. “Did I say somethin’ wrong? He did say he hasnae allowed ye out of his sight. Surely that means he has been stayin’ by yer side even while he sleeps.”

Jonet pinched the bridge of her nose. “Ye ken very well that was a very inappropriate thing to say.”

“It isnae if Matthew has nay problem answerin’ it.”

“It isnae for Matthew to decide!”

“I see. So, he has been sleepin’ in yer bed. Yer cheeks are far too red for it to be otherwise.”

Jonet gaped at her, now not knowing what she should say. Thankfully, Matthew decided to talk up.

“It isnae what ye think, Rinalda,” he said. “I have been sleepin’ in her bedroom, aye. But I have taken up me spot between the door and the window.”

“She lets ye sleep on the floor?” Rinalda asked, lifting her brow again.

Jonet sighed in frustration. She silently thanked Matthew for coming to her rescue, even though her mother was completely right about them sleeping in the same bed. In each other’s arms, as a matter of fact.

“He was the one who thought it best that we do that, Ma,” she said. “Why do ye insist on tryin’ to make me embarrassed?”

“I daenae ken what ye’re talkin’ about.”

Jonet sighed. She stared at her mother, watching as the older woman lifted her eyes up to Matthew and gave him a secretive look. Jonet did not bother to look at Matthew, knowing very well that he was doing the same.

After a while, Jonet relaxed. She suddenly knew what her mother’s intentions were. She was trying to distract Jonet from the threat… and it was working. Jonet had not thought of it the moment Rinalda put the letter down and the very idea made her lips twitch.

“I heard quite a few things have been going on lately,” Rinalda spoke suddenly, her tone serious. “If it isnae brigands attackin’ ye both, then it is threats.”

“And poison,” Matthew added.

Jonet whipped her head around to face him. “Poison?”

He looked grimly at her, letting go of her hand to wrap it around her back. “I dinnae say anythin’ to ye because I dinnae want to worry ye.”

“I think it might be a little too late for that, Matthew,” Rinalda murmured, almost idly.

Jonet ignored her. She turned to face him fully. “What do ye mean, poison? What happened?”