Highland Destiny Read Free Page B

might not continue to be cutdown in such great numbers.” She grimaced with distaste as she quickly removed the dirty rags covering the man’s wounds.
    “’Tis nay unreasonable to believe that a mon who has attained the honorable title of a knight will act as befits his position.”
    Balfour frowned at the soft, deeply scornful noise she made. It was just a little noise, but it carried within it a wealth of emotion—anger, bitterness, and a complete lack of respect. Although her coarse black gown implied that she was lowly born, she offered no deference to a man of his higher standing, nor to anyone of higher birth if he judged her correctly. Balfour wondered who had wronged her, then wondered why he should even care.
    He studied her carefully as she bathed Nigel’s wounds and bound them to slow the bleeding. Nigel was already looking more at ease. Balfour decided that her claim of having a healing skill was not an empty one. It was almost as if her mere touch was enough to ease Nigel’s pain. As he watched her smooth the hair from Nigel’s forehead, Balfour found himself thinking of how her small, long-fingered hands would feel moving against his skin. The way his body tightened startled him. He struggled to shake aside the thought and the ill-timed arousal it had invoked.
    There was a lot to be drawn to, he reluctantly conceded as he thoroughly looked her over. She was tiny and her gown was old and worn, fitting her slim, shapely form with an alluring snugness. She had high, full breasts, a tiny waist, and temptingly curved hips. For such a small woman she had very long legs, slim and beautifully shaped, which led to feet nearly as small as a child’s. Her wild raven hair was poorly restrained by a blackened strip of leather. Thick, curling tendrils fell forward to caress her pale cheeks. Her rich green eyes were so big they nearly swamped her small, heart-shaped face. Long, thick black lashes framed her lovely eyes and delicately curved dark brows highlighted them perfectly. Her nose was small and straight right to the tip, where it suddenly took a faint turn upward. Beneath full, tempting lips was a pretty, but clearly stubborn, chin. Balfour wondered how she could look so young and delicate yet so sultry at the same time.
    I want her , he thought with a mixture of astonishment and some amusement. His amusement was born of wanting such a tiny, impertinent, disheveled woman. His astonishment was born of how quickly and strongly he wanted her, faster and more fiercely than he had ever wanted a woman. The hunger she stirred inside of him was so deep and strong it almost alarmed him. It was the kind of hunger that could make a man act unwisely. He struggled to clear his head and think only of Nigel’s health.
    “My brother already looks more hale,” Balfour said.
    “Words courteously spoken, but which tell me that ye ken verra little about healing,” Maldie said as she sat back on her heels, wiped her hands on her skirts, and met Balfour’s dark gaze. “I have done little more than bathe the blood and filth away and bound the wounds with cleaner rags. I dinnae have what I need to tend his injuries as they need to be tended.”
    “What do ye need?” His eyes widened as she recited a long list, many of the things unrecognizable to him. “I dinnae carry such things to battle.”
    “Mayhap ye should. After all, ’tis in battle that ye fools gain such wounds.”
    “’Tis nay foolish to try and retrieve one’s young brother from the grasp of a mon like Beaton.” He made one short slash with his hand when she began to speak, silencingher. “I have lingered here long enough. I cannae be certain Beaton’s dogs are back in their kennels. They may weel be baying at our backs. Nigel also needs to be sheltered and cared for.”
    Maldie stood up and brushed herself off. “Aye, that he does, so ye had best hurry along.”
    “Ye have done so weel in tending him even without all ye said ye needed. I will be most