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She disappeared inside, not waiting to see if he obeyed her. She grabbed a bucket from beneath the narrow table and cloths from a stack on the top. Her hand went to her healing pouch that hung from her belt. Not that she feared she wouldn’t find it there, but touching it always reassured her, reminded her that she was not alone when healing.

Shade stepped outside and went directly to the barrel of rainwater and dropped the bucket in it to fill it, then approached the man. She could not help but admire his toned body especially for a man not in his prime. She guessed his age to be around thirty or more years unless, of course, years of fighting had aged him, and he was younger than she thought.

“Your name?” she asked, finding it easier when tending to people to refer to them by name. It helped ease them, though she didn’t think this man needed easing.

“Quint,” he said.

“Quint,” she repeated as she soaked a cloth in the water and began to clean his wound. She focused on cleaning the blood away, her eyes never leaving his shoulder and arm. “So, Quint, what happened?”

“It doesn’t matter, just tend to it and I will be on my way.”

Once again, the command in his voice was powerful, but when it came to healing, her voice could be just as commanding.“I am afraid you won’t be going anywhere just yet.” She continued before he could argue with her. “The wound shows signs of turning putrid and—” She raised her hand intending to feel his forehead when his hand suddenly gripped her wrist. “Fever. I wish to feel your brow for signs of a fever.”

He released her hand, and she pressed her cool wrist against his brow and thought she heard him sigh softly. She also noticed that the storm brewing in his eyes was easing, but she was more concerned with the heat she felt on his brow.

“This is a knife wound and it went deep enough to possibly have hit the bone. It could have chipped the bone in which case it will be painful for quite a while. Then there is the slice down your arm nearly to your elbow. That tells me that you fought with the man, yanking the knife out and during the struggle the man ran it down your arm before you were able to stop him, leaving you with two wounds. Unless there are others you have yet to show me.”

“Nay, just the two,” he said, his eyes fixed on hers as if he was trying to see deeper inside her.

“I will tend to your wounds, but you need to remain here until I can be sure your fever doesn’t worsen and your wound doesn’t turn putrid.”

“Nay, clean it and bandage it and I will be on my way,” he ordered.

“I will not do that since I fear what may happen to you if it isn’t tended to properly.”

The clouds gathered in his eyes once again. “I prefer honesty. If you want me to stay to warm your bed for the night, I will oblige you, but I can stay one night only. Though, I can assure you that it will be a most satisfying night.”

Shade dropped the cloth in the bucket and stepped away from him. “You can leave right now. I cannot abide ill-mannered men or men who think so highly of themselves.”

His eyes roamed over her as if he was reassessing her. “I don’t mind warming your bed. You are not a beauty, but you are attractive enough and you have a nicely shaped body, plentiful breasts and a nice curve to your hips. I like that in a woman.”

Shade took another step away from him, a bit fearful. He was too muscled, too powerful. She was wise enough to know that she could never defend herself against him. “Leave now. You are not welcome here.”

He stared at her, then dropped his head back against the cottage wall and closed his eyes. “Give me a moment and I will leave.”

Shade shook her head. He had a fever. It was possible he didn’t realize what he was saying. Or he did know, and he assumed she was lonely and in need of a man. What then would he do if she refused him?

His groan settled it for her. He was hurting and she was a healer. She could not refuse to tend to him. She rushed inside and pulled back the blanket on her bed, then laid several clean cloths on the sheet before she returned to him and leaned down to help him up.

“Come with me,” she said softly.

“To your bed?” he asked.

“Aye, to my bed.”

“I need to rest some first or I will disappoint you and I must see to my mare, Gillie.”

“Aye, you will rest, and I will tend to your wounds and see your mare settled,” she assured him.

“I will give you a memorable night of coupling for seeing to my wounds.”

So, he thought it compensation and that annoyed her. She got even more annoyed and silently scolded herself for feeling her stomach flutter at the prospect. It was not a reaction she should be having, and she chased it away.

Shade got him into bed just in time. His body seemed to give out. She removed his boots and looked at the daggers on his belt. They would have to go. She stood debating on whether she should remove his plaid to keep him cool and his fever down.

She made the decision quickly and got to work.

CHAPTER 2