Challenge
by Jo Barrett
Several minutes later, she dried her hands on a bit of cloth. "There, the worst is over. You'll survive." Ian, now several shades paler than when he'd first been brought into the room and likely a bit light in the head from drink, grinned. "Thanks to your tender loving care, my dear." She sniffed and shook her head. "You're a real piece of work."
Lifting her head, she looked at Elspeth, who had watched her with utter fascination.
"We need to keep the wound clean," Tuck said. "The bandages will need to be changed regularly. Never touch his shoulder without first washing your hands thoroughly with strong soap or whiskey. The last thing we need is for an infection to set in. Assuming there aren't any antibiotics lying around."
Elspeth shook her head slowly.
"No, I didn't think so," she said with a heavy sigh. "Then I've done all I can. Let's just hope it's enough."
"If you are quite finished, woman , I'll have a word with you," Colin snarled, growing more irritated by the minute. An- ti-bi-ot-ics? What was she blathering about ?
Ian chuckled softly and took hold of her slender fingers.
"Ah, so the truth comes to light. Do not be afraid, dear heart, he's harmless." He pressed his lips to her hand. "Most of the time," he added with a broad smile and a wink. Her mouth opened a fraction then snapped shut as she pulled free of his grasp. "Not much scares me." Crossing her arms, she turned and met Colin's gaze openly. "And the name is Tuck. Not lad, not woman. Tuck. I 56
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
suggest you use it, or you'll find yourself becoming better acquainted with the floor."
Clenching his jaw, he bit back the urge to throttle the shrew. He traversed the room in a breath and towered over her. "I'll call you whatever I like ... woman ." He hated the twitch of pleasure he got from the deep green fire glinting in her eyes. "Tell me what you have tae do with the MacKenzies."
Her brow furrowed, and he took note of the spark of confusion on her face before she expertly hid her thoughts behind a blank mask.
She dropped her fisted hands by her sides. "I don't have a clue, nor do I care who the MacKenzies are."
"They're the ones who ambushed us, you taupie!" He ignored Elspeth's soft gasp, she would know the details soon enough. First, he had to deal with his present problem. The irritating woman growled, her rosy lips parting over her perfect white teeth. "You listen to me, Sasquatch. I was minding my own business, when you followed me into the woods. And, I might add, if it weren't for me, you'd be dead right now!"
"You'll be wishing I were, if you dinnae watch your step."
"As amusing as this is, I think I would prefer it if you took it outside," Ian said with a soft chuckle. Their heads snapped to the side, facing the bed.
"I have caused enough grief for poor Elspeth here," he continued, patting her hand. "I do not think she would appreciate any more blood being spilled on her fine linens." 57
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
"Ach, my, no." Elspeth glided to the woman's side and took her by the arm. Pulling her toward the door, she said, "Come with me, lass, and we'll get you cleaned up and proper." The bothersome female shot Colin a look over her shoulder as Elspeth led her from the room.
Ian grinned like a buffoon as the door closed behind them.
"She's amazing, is she not? Never in my life have I met a more captivating woman."
"You've gone daft from too much drink, mon. That—" he pointed toward the door, "—isna a woman. Not in the way you mean."
Ian grinned broadly. "I can see you like her as much as I. Well, my friend, you shall have to wait until I am fully recovered before we can fight over her."
"If you weren't already wounded, I'd be happy tae break your nose."
"Come now, Colin. Even you have to admit, she has an unusual fighting skill. And she did do you a great favor by pulling you off your horse," he said with a chuckle, then winced. "A sight I never
by Jo Barrett
Several minutes later, she dried her hands on a bit of cloth. "There, the worst is over. You'll survive." Ian, now several shades paler than when he'd first been brought into the room and likely a bit light in the head from drink, grinned. "Thanks to your tender loving care, my dear." She sniffed and shook her head. "You're a real piece of work."
Lifting her head, she looked at Elspeth, who had watched her with utter fascination.
"We need to keep the wound clean," Tuck said. "The bandages will need to be changed regularly. Never touch his shoulder without first washing your hands thoroughly with strong soap or whiskey. The last thing we need is for an infection to set in. Assuming there aren't any antibiotics lying around."
Elspeth shook her head slowly.
"No, I didn't think so," she said with a heavy sigh. "Then I've done all I can. Let's just hope it's enough."
"If you are quite finished, woman , I'll have a word with you," Colin snarled, growing more irritated by the minute. An- ti-bi-ot-ics? What was she blathering about ?
Ian chuckled softly and took hold of her slender fingers.
"Ah, so the truth comes to light. Do not be afraid, dear heart, he's harmless." He pressed his lips to her hand. "Most of the time," he added with a broad smile and a wink. Her mouth opened a fraction then snapped shut as she pulled free of his grasp. "Not much scares me." Crossing her arms, she turned and met Colin's gaze openly. "And the name is Tuck. Not lad, not woman. Tuck. I 56
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
suggest you use it, or you'll find yourself becoming better acquainted with the floor."
Clenching his jaw, he bit back the urge to throttle the shrew. He traversed the room in a breath and towered over her. "I'll call you whatever I like ... woman ." He hated the twitch of pleasure he got from the deep green fire glinting in her eyes. "Tell me what you have tae do with the MacKenzies."
Her brow furrowed, and he took note of the spark of confusion on her face before she expertly hid her thoughts behind a blank mask.
She dropped her fisted hands by her sides. "I don't have a clue, nor do I care who the MacKenzies are."
"They're the ones who ambushed us, you taupie!" He ignored Elspeth's soft gasp, she would know the details soon enough. First, he had to deal with his present problem. The irritating woman growled, her rosy lips parting over her perfect white teeth. "You listen to me, Sasquatch. I was minding my own business, when you followed me into the woods. And, I might add, if it weren't for me, you'd be dead right now!"
"You'll be wishing I were, if you dinnae watch your step."
"As amusing as this is, I think I would prefer it if you took it outside," Ian said with a soft chuckle. Their heads snapped to the side, facing the bed.
"I have caused enough grief for poor Elspeth here," he continued, patting her hand. "I do not think she would appreciate any more blood being spilled on her fine linens." 57
Highlander's Challenge
by Jo Barrett
"Ach, my, no." Elspeth glided to the woman's side and took her by the arm. Pulling her toward the door, she said, "Come with me, lass, and we'll get you cleaned up and proper." The bothersome female shot Colin a look over her shoulder as Elspeth led her from the room.
Ian grinned like a buffoon as the door closed behind them.
"She's amazing, is she not? Never in my life have I met a more captivating woman."
"You've gone daft from too much drink, mon. That—" he pointed toward the door, "—isna a woman. Not in the way you mean."
Ian grinned broadly. "I can see you like her as much as I. Well, my friend, you shall have to wait until I am fully recovered before we can fight over her."
"If you weren't already wounded, I'd be happy tae break your nose."
"Come now, Colin. Even you have to admit, she has an unusual fighting skill. And she did do you a great favor by pulling you off your horse," he said with a chuckle, then winced. "A sight I never
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