To Tempt Highland Fate (The Mac Coinnach Brothers) by Kella McKinnon

Though there was more truth to that then she’d admit to him.
                  James narrowed his eyes.  “I dinna think he’ll be out of that bed for at least several more days.  At the verra earliest.  If he survives. Verra likely longer; but ye have the dagger I gave ye?”
                  “Yes, James.”
                  “And the knife?”
                  “Yes.”
                  “And the…”
                  “Yes!” she laughed and shoved him towards the horses.  “I have a whole arsenal of weapons at the ready.  Some of which I’m not even sure how to use.  I shall be perfectly safe.”
                  “And Willa…”
                  “Yes James?”
                  “Ye ken no’ to leave the boundaries, ye remember where they are?  Where I showed ye?”
                  “Yes, and I have no reason to go that far.  Everything I need is right here.  Stop worrying like a mother hen, I’m a grown woman, I’ve survived this long without you, and you’ll only be away for a matter of days!”
                  “I ken, but I’ll no’ rest until I return to find ye safe.”  James heaved a sigh and looked uncertain before he finally mounted his horse. As he and Maura turned to leave, Maura gave Willa a smile and a wicked wink before turning back to catch her husband glancing between them.  He gave his wife an accusing frown, and threw Willa one last glare of warning before spurring his mount forward to catch his very unrepentant wife, who was already riding away.
                  Willa smiled and watched them until they rode out of sight through the trees and beyond a grassy rise, then she went back into the house.  A big part of her, she had to admit, was very worried about James and Maura travelling so soon after the attack.  They should be safe enough, as long as they stayed away from roads and any well-traveled trails, but now that they were out of her sight, her mind was unsettled.  She shook herself.  Nothing I can do now but wait . 
                  She was more than glad to at least have someone with her.  If he would only wake up.  Suddenly all but alone and in charge for the first time in… well, a while… she at first didn’t know what to do with herself.  After pacing in and out of the cottage door a few times, she swept a few crumbs off the table, straightened the jars on the shelf, went outside to pace around the dooryard and check on her horse, and finally went to check on her patient.  In truth, she was excited and a little afraid to have his care all to herself.  She could stroke his hair while he slept, and take as much time as she wanted washing the beautiful hard lines of his body, all without worrying someone would come in and catch her ogling the man like a besotted maid.  But if something went wrong, if he got worse… no, she wouldn’t even think about that.
                  She filled a shallow bowl with warm water from the kettle near the fire and found a clean rag, bringing them both into the small room where the warrior lay, still sleeping.  She set the bowl on the bedside table and stood looking at him for a moment.  Would he ever wake again?  And when he did, what might he say to her?  What would he be like?  She couldn’t wait to know. 
                  Willa dipped the rag into the water and held the end to his lips, parting them gently with her thumb and squeezing the water slowly into his mouth.  He swallowed convulsively and she smiled, happy he was drinking more easily every day.  She dipped the rag again and again until she was satisfied he’d had enough.  Then she settled on the edge of the bed and ran the damp cloth over his forehead and down his neck to help cool his fever.  With her other hand, she smoothed back lengths of his thick, wavy hair.  It was