Highland Angel by Hannah Howell

Author:Hannah Howell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: ereads.com
Published: 2003-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was not easy, but Kirstie hid her feelings of horror over the bloody and bruised little boy Callum brought to her. She had come into Payton’s ledger room to try to compose a letter to her family, one that would tell them enough to assure them she was safe, yet not enough to alarm or enrage them. That problem seemed very small compared to the one that confronted her at the moment.

She heartily wished Wee Alice was home as she sat the boy down and, with Callum fetching the things she needed, did her meager best to tend to his injuries. Poor Simon seemed unable to stop shivering, even after she served him some watered wine and honey cakes. The way he devoured the honey cakes, revealing all too clearly that he was starved for food, both saddened and infuriated her. By the looks of the couple who were supposed to care for children like Simon, the Darrochs fed their own healthy appetites regularly. She pretended not to notice how Simon shoved two of the cakes into the pocket of his ragged coat.

“Better now, Simon?” she asked, although the boy still acted terrified.

“Aye,” he answered and quickly took another gulp of wine. “I had to come here.”

“Of course ye did,” she murmured in a soothing voice, although she thought it a rather odd thing to say.

Kirstie wished someone else was at home, that it was not just herself and Callum. It felt odd to be so alone. Since Roderick had come to his door a week ago, there had been an uncomfortably close guard kept on her and the children. Today, however, being warm and sunny, had prompted Wee Alice to convince Ian that the children needed to get out. With the judicious use of coats and caps, she felt they should be able to safely take the five youngest out into the wood to collect herbs and berries. Callum had been invited to go along, but had declared himself Kirstie’s guard for the day. Ian had taken one of the three guards Payton had posted outside with him and Payton was back at court trying to dim the poisonous effects of Roderick’s campaign against him. That left two guards outside and, although she scolded herself for being a nervous coward, Kirstie suddenly did not think it was enough.

And why had those guards not brought Simon to her, she asked herself as she slowly stood up. It was possible Simon had gotten to the back entrance unseen, but not very likely. Kirstie did not like to be suspicious of a child, yet what better way to keep her too occupied to notice anything was wrong than to send her a battered child in need of care? Had she not stayed in one place, never questioning, never looking?

“Callum, did ye see Donald when ye opened the door to Simon?” she asked.

“Nay.” Callum scowled. “He should have been in the back, aye?”

“Aye.” She saw how pale Simon was and began to think it was not all due to the pain he must be feeling.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.