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ken anything
about these small cuts on the laird’s arm?”
    The servant nodded. “Yes, Madam. Angus came in earlier and
bled the laird. He said Laird Andrew’s body fluids need balancing so the fever
would leave. He’ll be back later in the day to bleed him again.”
    “What! Saints above, he’s lost enough blood. What is the man
thinking? Is he trying to finish what the battle ax could no’?” The servant’s
eyes grew wide. “Dinna you let one person, including Angus, touch the Laird
while I’m gone.”
    “Yes, Madam,” The gille swallowed hard then bowed.
    Maidie rushed from the chamber. She met Davina on the
stairway. “Did you ken Angus bled your brother this morn?”
    Davina’s eyes widened. “No. I had no idea Angus even saw him.”
    “Well, Laird Andrew’s about to die from lack of blood. Angus
told Alan he could get out of bed and train with the warriors. Alan’s wound is
too severe to be up and about already. What am I to do? I treat the men and
stitch their wounds, then Angus near kills them with his barbaric practices.”
    Davina placed her hand on Maidie’s arm. “Angus wanna listen to
me, but I ken someone he will listen to. Come with me.”
    Davina grabbed Maidie’s hand and led her down the stone steps,
through the great hall, and out into the bailey. Maidie saw Angus look up from
tending one of the wounded men when the two women rushed through the great hall.
She felt sorry for the man and determined to care for all the wounded that day,
herself. Mayhap she could undo some of the harm Angus inflicted upon them.
    Maidie followed Davina out of the castle gate and into the
field beyond where the warriors engaged in their daily training exercises.
Gavin evidently had tired of shooting arrows at her Cameron kertch and wrestled
a man of equal build in hand-to-hand combat. Several heads turned to watch the
women approach the training field. Maidie stopped. She spotted Alan limping
while trying to swing a claymore at an opponent. He swung then fell to the
ground. Davina took her hand again, and pulled her forward.
    “Brother.” Davina called.
    Gavin turned his head. His opponent grabbed the tanist’s arm,
twisted it, and flung him to the ground with a loud thud. The man laughed.
Gavin stood and glared at the warrior before walking toward the ladies.
    “Sister.” Gavin addressed Davina, keeping his eyes on Maidie. “What
brings you bonny lasses out to this field of battle?” He bowed.
    Gavin stood dressed in only a great plaide belted around his
waist with the long end of it girding his loins and looped into the wide belt.
His body glistened with perspiration and mud caked his legs. The shoulder
length russet hair lay tied with the familiar leather thong, and the stubble of
a beard darkened his face. Maidie felt a blush beginning at the tip of her toes
and rushing up her body when her eyes met his. He smiled at her discomfort.
    “M’Ladies, what may this humble lad do for the two of you?”
Gavin turned questioning eyes from Maidie to his sister.
    “The brute of a castle physician, Angus MacKay, is killing our
brother,” Davina released Maidie’s arm and grabbed her brother’s sweaty one. “You
must stop him from seeing Andrew.”
    “What happened to Andrew? I thought he was in the charge of
this healer.” Gavin turned to look at Maidie with an arched brow.
    Heat rose to her face under his scrutiny, but she kept her
eyes on his instead of his well-formed muscular body. “Angus came in this morn
before I awoke and bled Andrew. Now the chief lies on his death bed once more.”
Maidie’s voice grew higher in pitch as she spoke.
    Davina jerked on Gavin’s arm. “You must come at once.”
    “Calm down, Sister. I’ll go see to Andrew, and tell Angus to
leave the chief’s care to this lass.” He turned back to Maidie. “If that’s what
you wish, Madam.”
    Maidie realized the choice of caring for the chief rested with
her. Did she want the responsibility? If he should die under