Read Editor's Choice Volume I - Slow summer Kisses, Kilts & kraken, Negotiating point for Free Online Page B

of his uncle swam into view. “Home?”
    “Aye.” Rannulf helped Magnus sit and held a cup of water to his lips. “You’re back on Torkholm. You’ll be up and around in no time.”
    Magnus sipped at the cool liquid and sank back against the plump pillows behind his head. “Thank the gods. I thought it was over, when I realized I was away.”
    “It was a close call. If it hadn’t been for Dr. MacKay and Mrs. Alice taking such good care of you, you wouldn’t have made it.” Emotion they’d never express in words roughened the burr in Rannulf’s always raspy voice. “We owe them, lad. Owe them dearly.”
    “Aye. Send something.” Money wasn’t an issue. Magnus’s Norse ancestors had founded this island on plundered wealth, but subsequent generations had amassed a fortune through businesses and investments all over Britain. “Did we lose any men in that last attack?”
    “Not one—just a few bumps and bruises. As to a thank-you gift, well, we won’t need to send anything.” Rannulf’s blue eyes twinkled. “They’re both here. Right now they’re treating some of the other men wounded by that last kraken—much to the annoyance of Catriona and Edda.”
    “Bloody hell.” The mere idea of the affront taken by the island-bred herbalist and midwife made Magnus’s head ache. “Edda thinks we’ve gone too far by bringing gaslights and steam-powered pumps to the island. I’m surprised this doctor is still breathing.”
    “Aye. It wasn’t pretty, but I’d lay my money on the lowlander this time. Dr. MacKay put Edda in her place in no uncertain terms. Sent her and Catriona marching straight back to their cottage.”
    Magnus winced. “Quentin must have been thrilled.” His cousin had been one of Magnus’s closest friends since childhood, but he was moody at the best of times, and he didn’t take well to change. Most importantly, he was betrothed to Catriona.
    “Quentin was out checking on crofters, but I imagine he’ll be a bit upset when he hears.” Rannulf had a gift for understatement.
    “Obviously it’s a day for miracles. I look forward to meeting this doctor.” In truth, Magnus always looked forward to visitors, especially educated ones. It was nice to chat with people who saw the rest of the world. One could only get so much from days-old newspapers.
    “Orders were to fetch them when you woke up. I’ll go get the doctor now, and the nurse. Mrs. Alice worked with Miss Nightingale during the war. You were in good hands, lad.”
    Magnus hadn’t seen that particular light in the older man’s eyes in years. Not, in fact, since Rannulf’s wife had passed almost a decade earlier. Since the man was the closest thing Magnus had known to a father since he was ten, it meant a lot to see Rannulf smiling. “The nurse…is she pretty?”
    “Aye, pretty as can be and a widow. A mite old for the likes of you, though.” Rannulf’s grin twisted, a sure sign of mischief. “I’ll go get them and you can see for yourself.”
    What the devil was the old man up to—besides flirting with a pretty widow?
    Two minutes later, Magnus gaped as Rannulf introduced Dr. Geneva MacKay. What the hell was a tall, striking young woman doing holding a stethoscope to Magnus’s bare chest? Her hair brushed his chin and the scents of violets and carbolic acid tickled his nose.
    “I see you’ve improved greatly in just the last hour.” She straightened and smiled down at Magnus, her white teeth straight and even between plump, rosy lips. Her dark copper curls were pulled back into an unappealing knot at the back of her head, and her eyes, a warm hazel blend of greens and brown glinted with intelligence and humor.
    Part of Magnus that had no business stirring at all stood to attention. He sat up against the pillows, draping his forearms over his lap to hide his reaction. “You’re the quack?” This had to be a poor joke—perhaps Rodney or Catherine had put Rannulf up to it. His cousins had been trying to convince