Highlander's Challenge (26 page)

His aunt lifted her head and met his gaze. "I dinnae know, Colin," she said, answering his unspoken question on whether or not she would live. "She is verra ill, and terribly sudden." He moved slowly across the room to stand by the bed.

"Fetch Maighread," he ordered.

"But Colin, the lass doesna want her," his aunt said. Ian gently gripped his shoulder. "She's right, my friend. I do not think it would be wise."

He clamped his eyes closed as his fingernails dug brutally into his palms. "Fetch her, I say!" Ian released him and backed away.

"You let that witch near me, and I'll deck you, Sasquatch," Amelia rasped.

He moved quickly to the head of the bed and fell to his knees. "You're sick, lass. You need her care." She focused her weary eyes on him. "She'd rather kill me than cure me."

The freckles he tried so hard not to notice stood out starkly against her pale skin. Here was a woman stronger than any he'd ever known. A woman whom he admired, trusted, wanted. How could she come to this in so short a time?

"Fetch the leeches, then," he said, glancing over his shoulder to Ian.

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Her hand shot out from beneath the cover and gripped him by his tunic at the throat. She pulled him close with more strength than he thought possible in her condition, and peered at him menacingly.

"You bring one of those slimy things near me, and I swear I'll die right now and haunt you for the rest of your life, MacLean."

A frigid cold rushed from his head to his feet. He clasped his hand over hers where she held him. "Dinnae be talking of dying, lass."

"Then let Elspeth do her job." She took a deep, laborious breath and her fingers relaxed. "I've told her what to do." Taking her hand in his, he cradled it against his chest. She had brought his father back to him and likely knew what she was about. He would have to trust her in this.

"Aye. If that is what you want. I'll not stand in her way." She chuckled roughly. "Taking orders from a woman? I didn't think I'd see the day."

He gently brushed one of her damp ruby red curls from her cheek. "You are more than just a woman."

"About time you figured that out." He grinned at her cheekiness. "Aye. I have been most stubborn."

Fatigue softened her grip, but he saw the twinkle of humor in her eyes. "The understatement of the century. Now get out of here before I pop you one."

Laughter rippled through him, releasing the tightness in his chest. She was too strong to die, she would beat whatever 249

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made her so ill. "Dinnae think that because I let you have your way this time that you can be ordering me about." She snorted softly. "Unless you want your kilt redecorated, you'd better beat it."

He glanced at Elspeth. "Bring a basin and quickly."

"I am not puking up my guts with you in the room." She shoved weakly at his chest where her hand remained beneath his. "Get out of here. Go play with your claymore."

"Stubborn female," he grumbled. "Elspeth isna strong enough tae tend you by herself." He slid his arm around her back and prepared to hold her head over the basin. She feebly swatted at him, her strength failing at an alarming rate. "She can handle it. Leave me a little dignity, will you?" Her pathetic tone tore at his heart. Perhaps her strength, her smart remarks were nothing more than another of her masks.

The basin appeared and not a second too soon. He held her head over the container and tucked her crop of curls behind her ears. Elspeth wiped her face then took the basin away.

Resting his back against the headboard, pulling her with him, Colin cradled her against his chest. The stubble on his chin caught in her damp locks and he shamelessly relished the feel of them against his skin.

Tiny shivers engulfed her as her moist shift pressed against him. She moaned pitifully. "God, this is humiliating."

"Shh. Lie still," he said softly, sifting his fingers through her hair at her temple.

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Fiona rushed into the room. "Aileen is ill as well," she said, her breath coming in quick bursts. "How shall I tend her?"

"Ach my, no. Does it look tae be the same as poor Amelia?

Is anyone else sick?" Elspeth asked. Fiona nodded. "She's terribly weak and chilled. I left one of the other kitchen maids with her. I couldna find Maighread. I though she might be tendin' tae someone else, but 'tis only the two that are sick so far."

Ian straightened from where he stood leaning against the post at the foot of the bed. "Odd, do you not think, that only Amelia and Aileen share the same malady and so quickly?" Colin's eyes snapped to Ian's. They both had the same thought.

Poison.

Every muscle in Colin's body went rigid. "What did they eat? What did they drink at supper?" he barked at his aunt. Her brow furrowed. "The same as the rest, but Aileen didna seem tae be as hungry as Amelia," she said with a faint smile. "She had a hearty appetite after her time in the lists this afternoon."

"It couldn't have been the boar then, if she took the meat from the trencher," he said, clenching his jaw as he looked down at where Amelia lay curled in the crook of his arm, her teeth chattering.

Elspeth worried her hands frantically. "What is it, Colin?"

"I believe they've been poisoned." She gasped. "But why?"

"Someone wants a war between the MacKenzies and the MacLeans and will go tae any means tae have it." 251

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"But why Amelia?" Ian asked. "And how did they get inside the keep?"

"'Tis possible the poison was meant for another. Elspeth, perhaps. She sits beside her at the table. As for getting inside, I dinnae know, but when I find the assassin responsible, he will feel the full force of my fury." Amelia whimpered in his arms. He realized he was squeezing her tightly to him, but it would be the only time he would have to hold her, for he feared he was losing her. Colin clenched his jaw and bit back the anguish rising in his throat. This was his fault. He should've posted more guards, been more careful.

"We must do something for them," Elspeth cried, her hands flying to her mouth. "We canna let them die. 'Tis not their time."

"A vision?" he asked hopefully. She shook her head as tears gathered in her eyes. Then their lives were in God's hands. He would decide if it was truly their time or not.

Time. Could Amelia have knowledge he didn't? Knowledge from the future? She had saved his father, perhaps she could tell him how to save her and Aileen as well?

Sliding his arm out from beneath her, he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. Gently at first, but when she failed to stir, he shook harder.

"Wake, damn you!"

"Sonofabitch, what now?" She shot him a glare and rubbed her brow. "Can't a girl get some rest around here without you bellowing about something all the time?" 252

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A deep breath exploded from his chest. She had such spirit, such fight in her. He couldn't bear the thought of her dying, of her leaving him.

He stilled at the truth in that thought. But he would be leaving her when he wed Aileen.

"Go g-growl at someone else," Amelia groused. She tried to wrap herself more tightly in the covers to ease her shivering, but didn't have the strength.

He shook his head, clearing his mind. This was not the time to think on anyone leaving. Her life was at stake, as was his future bride's.

Wrapping her more tightly in the coverlet, he asked, "How do you treat poison?"

"Poison? Why? What—"

"Aileen suffers the same sickness you do. It canna be a coincidence. It must be poison. How do you treat it in your time? Tell me how!"

Her lip curled in a sleepy-eyed grin. "My time? Believing in the impossible?"

He gritted his teeth. They were wasting precious moments.

"Answer me, woman!"

Her brow furrowed deeply as her grin faded. "Are my pupils dilated?" She huffed, apparently dissatisfied with his lack of response. "Are the black parts in the middle really big?"

He cupped her pale cheeks and withheld a shiver at the iciness of her skin. "Aye. The green is nearly gone, and you have no fever. Just this blasted chill." 253

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"Damn, I thought it was the flu," she said, her eyes drooping.

He cupped her face firmly. "Nay, you canna die!" Sliding his fingers into the damp hair at the base of her neck, he frantically searched her face for any flicker of recognition.

"You have not tormented me enough," he said roughly, hoping to reach the quick-witted woman he knew her to be with his barb.

She frowned deeply and opened one eye. "Nobody likes a smart-ass."

He glanced quickly to heaven in thanks. "You ate of the meat and drank some wine. What else? You must remember."

"It couldn't be the meat. I took it off the trencher." She faintly rolled her head back and forth on her pillow. "Must've been the wine. It was already poured when I got there." Her eyes opened wide and met his where he continued to hover close. "That bitch," she snarled, trying to rise. "Wait until I get my hands on her."

"Lie still, you daft female! You'll not be going anywhere." She moaned, flopping back to the bed.

"Who, dear heart? Who are you speaking of?" Ian asked, quickly stepping to the side of the bed.

She rolled her head to the side to see him. "Maighread. She's had it in for me since day one. The woman's certifiable. Hadn't you noticed?"

It couldn't be. Colin knew she wasn't fond of Amelia, but to kill her and Aileen? "Why would she do this?"

"She's always wanted you, Colin," Ian said. 254

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Amelia's quivering hand clasped Colin's arm, pulling his thoughts from the disturbing possibilities.

"I think it's more than that," she said. "I didn't say before, I didn't think you'd believe me, but I think she was intentionally pumping your father full of drugs." He shook his head. "I dinnae understand." She sighed and took a deep breath. "She was mixing the herbs with the wrong things, giving him too much. If she's such a great healer, like everyone says, she would've known better. She was slowly killing him."

"Good God," Ian whispered hoarsely.

"Call for one of the men. My father and Aileen must be guarded," Colin ordered.

Ian rushed to the door and bellowed into the corridor. Michael appeared almost instantly.

"Place a watch on my father, on Aileen, and another on this door. No one except Ian, Elspeth and Fiona are tae enter. Then find Maighread. I want her confined tae her chamber. And have all the wine still about in pitchers poured intae the cesspit. Dinnae let anyone drink of it, you ken?"

"Aye." With a puzzled look on his face, Michael nodded then left.

Colin looked back to Amelia, her shivering growing worse by the minute, and he was still unsure of what to do to make her well. She had to get well.

"There's a chance it wasn't her," she said. He brushed the backs of his fingers across her cold cheek.

"I've already considered that, lass." 255

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Her brow furrowed deeply. "Or there may be two assassins," she mumbled and her lids slid closed. A tortured cry burst from his lips as he clasped her shoulders roughly. "Nay! You must tell me what tae do!" He ignored the pleading tone of his own voice, regardless if others saw him as weak and vulnerable for caring for her. Her eyes opened to mere slits, giving his lungs permission to breathe once more.

"Hard t-to say, not knowing what it was, but I already t-ttossed some up." She smiled weakly. "Guess it's a good thing w-wine doesn't seem t-to like me." She took a deep breath, and continued, "But I need milk. It'll d-dilute the poison." She grimaced. "God, I h-hate that stuff. Elspeth?"

"Aye, I'm here, lamb."

"Plenty of fluids and k-keep me warm and dry. Do the same for Aileen, but m-make sure to induce vomiting first then g-give her milk."

Amelia turned back to Colin as his aunt bustled out of the room. "And you..." She looked at him for several long seconds then reached out, her fingers trembling as they brushed his lips. Her eyes filled with deep concern as they lifted to his. "There's so much I want t-to say. If I don't make it—"

"Dinnae talk that way, lass. You'll be fit as ever and tossin'

my men in the bailey before the solstice," he choked out. The backs of his eyes burned, and he was terrified he would never see her again.

She chuckled softly. "You're on my list. I w-want a rematch."

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"Aye, and you'll have it." He clasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. Then an amazing thing happened. She smiled, well and true—and for him.

He gazed in awe as her entire face was transformed, her eyes filled to overflowing with warmth. For the first time he saw not the woman who drove him mad with her sharp tongue, not the she-devil who tormented him by wearing tight trews, not the intelligent warrior he'd come to admire, but the woman who had wrapped him in the finest gossamer strands and lifted the barrier from around his soul. The woman who had stolen his heart.

"Be careful, Colin," she whispered.

"Rest, lass." He released her hand, although he longed to pull her back into his arms.

Turning toward the door, he pulled Ian aside. "Guard her until I return. I wish tae speak with my father and learn of Aileen's condition. Then I intend tae see Maighread." Ian gave a firm nod. "You can count on me, my friend." Colin moved toward the door, eager to go about the rest of this business so he could return to Amelia.

"Colin," she called from the bed. He paused and almost smiled at the sound of his name once again on her lips.

"Don't kill her," she said. "I want a p-piece of her myself. And don't forget to have all the f-food stuffs guarded. And you should d-double the guard at the gates." He grinned, amazed once more by her determination, her courage, her intelligence, and her beauty. "I know what I'm about."