The Scot's Angel - Keira Montclair Page 0,20

their storage box to give her aunt her complete attention.

“She’ll be better in time. Gracie and Merelda did a fine job straightening the bone, so I only had to make a slight adjustment before I wrapped her leg up tightly.”

“Are you leaving right away?” She adored her auntie, so she hoped the answer would be no. They did not get enough time together.

“Nay, I’ll stay a few more days, mayhap a sennight, just to make sure the bone doesn’t move. You must help her whenever you can, especially for the next sennight. Once the bone begins to heal on its own, it’s less likely to move. Bones are quite magical, you see. They will fix themselves, though it takes time. And once it finally heals, your mother will be afraid to use it at first. You’ll have to help her when that time comes. Go ahead and open your package.”

“Aunt Jennie, you did not need to bring me a gift.”

“I’ve had this wrapped for a while. Aedan had another batch shipped in, and I thought you could put it to good use.”

She untied the twine and pulled the wrapping back carefully. There were two parts to the gift. One was a sheaf of paper, so rare it was as precious as any gem to Claray. Aunt Jennie had given some to her before, for Uncle Aedan periodically had it shipped in from Europe so that Jennie might chronicle her healing adventures.

The second gift was in another box. She looked at it and then back at her aunt because she had no idea what could be inside.

“Open it. Go ahead,” her aunt prompted.

She took the cover off the box and peered inside. There were various chunks and a few different colored sticks. “Many thanks to you, Aunt Jennie, but what are they?”

“You know how much the ink stains if you’re not careful? This is chalk. Aedan had quite a bit of it shipped to us. Their natural form is in the earth and artists search for the right size and shapes to cut into sticks they can use in their artistry. Some are from Germany. ’Twill allow you to add color to your drawings.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t know quite what to say. What an amazing gift. Thank you, Aunt Jennie.”

“I brought wee gifts for everyone, so don’t feel that I slighted anyone, but yours is extra special.” She giggled and left.

The door barely had a chance to close before it sprung open again, and Dyna flew in. “Mama is sleeping beautifully. Aunt Jennie fixed her perfectly. So I have some thoughts.”

“Go ahead.” She concealed her need to beg Dyna to find Thorn. Past experience had indeed told her that her sister would do nearly anything to help her. Dyna had her own family to worry about, and the last thing she wished to do was take her away from her children at Yule.

“We’ll wait until the day after morrow, and if you haven’t heard anything about Thorn, Derric and I will go look for him. And if we don’t find him, we’ll return to escort Aunt Jennie back home, and we can search the area around Cameron land.”

“May I come along?”

Dyna thought for a moment, but then nodded. “Aye, you may come along. We’ll be bringing plenty of guards, and I know you wouldn’t consider staying home. What’s in the box?” She glanced at the gift Claray was putting away.

“More drawing tools. Something new from Germany. I’ll try them later. I wish to visit with Mama.” She rushed over to Dyna and threw her arms around her neck. “My thanks. I can wait a day. We should know by then if he was at Castle Curanta. I fear…I…”

“What, Claray? Just say it.”

She took a deep breath, and in a whoosh said, “I think I’m in love with Thorn.”

Her sister smiled and said, “Then we better find him.”

She hugged her sister again. “I can’t lose him now, Dyna.”

Nay, she’d already lost too much.

Chapter Nine

Thorn had kept his mouth clamped shut for the most part. They were headed to Lochluin Abbey, but they were definitely taking the long way around, stopping to steal where they could. When they knocked out four reivers just to take their food, he knew he’d be pressured to contribute before long.

“What skills have you, big Grant warrior? You need to help us find food if you want to eat,” Ewan said.

“Give me my sword, and I’ll help.” While he doubted they’d fall for it, he had to