The older man cleared his throat, interrupting the younger MacLeod. He shot him a silencing look. Ali raised a brow, but before she could ask Iain what he meant to say, Mrs. Mac returned. Ali thanked her, sniffing the contents of the earthenware pitcher. She choked on the fumes, her eyes watering. “That should work,” she commented dryly. The woman looked relieved. “And here’d be the soap you asked for.”
Ali scrubbed her hands up to her elbows in the water from one of the buckets. “If any of you want to touch Rory you must wash your hands like I am, al right? We’l set this bucket aside for washing, but the water has to be changed often.”
They stared at her like she was from another planet, which was exactly how she was beginning to feel. Ali sighed.
“You have to do as I say. We can’t let his wound become infected.”
“Mrs. Mac, the lass says the water has to be boiled before she’l use it,” Fergus informed her.
“Och, wel , she seems to ken what she’s aboot. Come, Iain, help me with these. Fergus, you stay with the lass.” The woman gave him a meaningful look, and Ali had the distinct impression they didn’t trust her.
“What can I do, lass?” Fergus asked.
“At the moment the only thing we can do is try to con
trol the bleeding. I’l wait until Iain returns and then I’l pour the alcohol into his wound to ward off infection. Hopeful y the bleeding lessens. If it doesn’t, wel , we’l 22
deal with that when the time comes.” Rory sucked in a ragged breath and Ali stroked the thick waves of hair back from his face.
“I didna’ ken you could be gentle, lass,” he murmured. She smiled down at him. “I can be very gentle, but only when my patient does as he’s told.”
“Ah, then, I promise to do whatever you want me to.”
Ali had a sneaking suspicion Rory MacLeod’s smooth tongue could be a very dangerous thing. “I’m glad to hear it. Now close your eyes and sleep.”
“Aye,” he murmured.
When Fergus cal ed out to her, Ali drew her gaze reluc
tantly from Rory’s beautiful face. He looked like a dark angel.
“Lass, I think you best have another look.”
She pushed the woolen blankets lower.
“Can you no’ leave a man some dignity?” Rory said as he watched her from beneath heavy-lidded eyes.
“You don’t have to worry—you’re decent. Besides, I’m a doctor, there’s nothing you have that I haven’t seen before.”
The older man guffawed.
“I doona’ think they’re al the same, lass,” her patient said, sounding disgruntled. She shrugged. “If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them al .”
Rory’s gaze narrowed on her. “Where do you hail from?”
“New—” she began before being interrupted.
“Rory Mor, do as the lass says and sleep. Yer questions wil wait.”
Ali removed the blood-soaked cloth. Replacing it with a fresh one, she applied pressure. Fergus caught her eye and shrugged. “He needs rest.”
“Umhmm, he does,” she agreed, raising a brow at the older man’s continued scrutiny.
“Sorry, I didna’ mean to stare, but ’tis uncanny how much you resemble the Lady Brianna, is al .”
LORD OF THE ISLES
23
“So I’ve heard.”
“But only at first glance. There’d be differences.”
Ali snorted. “I heard that, too.”
“’Tis what you get for hidin’ under my bed,” Rory com
mented dryly.
A chuckle rumbled deep in Fergus’s barrel chest. Ali felt the color rise to her cheeks. “
“How am I to sleep with the two of you yammerin’? I need a drink.”
“As soon as the water’s been boiled I’l give you some.”
“Water.” He scowled. “I doona’ want water. I want ale.”
“’Tis no’ a bad idea, lass. He’l need somethin’ to make him sleep.”
Ali looked at the blood seeping through the bandage. Sooner or later she would have to deal with it. If al they had was alcohol to knock him out, then she had little choice but to use it. Ali nodded. “Al right.”
