Page 18 of See A Highlander (A Highlander Across Time #10)
CHAPTER 18
T om had been in a state ever since he spent the night with Annie as they waited for a sign at the doorway. It had been a very good night for him and one that he couldn’t stop thinking about. Especially because before he lay with her, he’d considered himself unworthy to be her lover or her partner in marriage. But now that he had bedded her, he planned to do it again. He’d fallen for her hard and hoped to marry her. He was now determined to get his situation in order so that he could take care of her and any family that they might have together.
He decided to go to see Cameron and discuss his future. He needed to know that he could support Annie and a family. So he’d made an appointment and then gone to see him.
“Come in, Tom,” Cameron called, when Tom knocked on the door. “What brings you in? Don’t tell me there is an illness to deal with. I don’t think we are prepared to have numerous guards ill.”
Tom shook his head. “No, it isn’t that. This is more of a personal meeting.”
“Oh? Personal like the last meeting? Are you and Miss Mills wanting to watch the door again?”
“No, well, probably eventually she’ll want to, but that’s not why I’m here now.”
“All right, well tell me what’s on your mind,” Cameron said, leaning back in his chair.
“I’m in love with Annie Mills.”
A smile crossed the Laird’s face. “Is that so? Well that didn’t take as long as I thought it might,” he said.
Tom didn’t register his words. He was too caught up in trying to get what he needed to out. “I hope that you aren’t disappointed. I know that I’m not worthy of her, being that I am a mere healer. But I find that I am completely taken with her and I’d like to make her my wife. The problem is that I am in no place to provide for her or for a family that might come along. That is my predicament. You have been very gracious in giving me a good position here in the castle and I don’t want you to think that I am ungrateful to you?—”
“Slow down, Tom.” Cameron chuckled. “There is no need for you to get this anxious. You are of course welcome here, tis your home, you’re a MacLeod and we’re proud to have you serving as our healer. Now, if you have a need greater than what your need was when you first arrived, that can be arranged. Have you spoken to Miss Mills about your feelings?”
Tom frowned. “Not as of yet. I think she is aware of them, but no we haven’t spoken. I wanted to speak with you first, about my situation, before I asked her to be my wife.”
“I see. Well have no fear on that regard. The castle has numerous quarters, and I can arrange for you to be assigned one when that moment arrives. You’ve got my blessings, Tom, if that is what you need.”
Tom’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? I could seek work back in Glasgow if it is too much?—”
Cameron shook his head. “Why would you do such a thing? This is family. You are family. This is your home as well as mine and every other MacLeods. We need you here, Tom.”
Tom smiled. “Thank you, sir. I didn’t want to overstep my place.”
Sighing, Cameron said, “You’re not. No one here is lower or higher than anyone else.”
Tom chuckled. “You are.”
“Okay, well perhaps that part is true, I am, but everyone else is equal. We are not the English.” Cameron grinned. “So do not worry any further about your place here.”
“I won’t,” Tom agreed.
“Now, go speak with Miss Mills and let me know when I’ll need to make those rooms ready for you.”
“Thank you, sir. I will,” Tom replied, unable to wipe the smile from his lips as he stood up. He nodded to Cameron and left the room to head back to his office. There were several guards he wanted to check in on, but he needed his bag before he did so.
After packing up his bag, he left his office, only to see Annie coming toward him. She was a beautiful sight, and he couldn’t help but pull her close and kiss her hello. The only problem was, her annoying cousin Bella had interrupted them. She’d brought a message for Annie to go see Lady Maria on an urgent matter.
He hated to agree with Bella that Annie should go at once, but he didn’t want to upset the Lady of the castle when the Laird was being so generous to him. So he’d encouraged her to go.
Once Annie was out of sight, Bella stepped in front of him. He knew that she was going to cause some sort of annoyance, but didn’t think anything of it.
“Miss Grantham, I must get to my work. If you will excuse me,” he said.
“If you want me to move you will have to pick me up and move me aside with your strong hands,” Bella said, a devious smile on her lips. Then she started laughing very loudly.
Tom thought it was strange because he didn’t find anything funny in the matter, but she apparently did.
“I will do no such thing. Now move aside. I must see to the guards and do my rounds. I have work to do.” He gave her a stern look.
However she still wouldn’t move out of the way. He wasn't going to pick her up and move her as she asked because he didn’t trust her. Tom did need to get to work and move past her, but pushing himself past her in the narrow corridor would probably hurt her considering the size of his broad shoulders and strong arms.
“That's why I have come to see you, though. It’s about work,” Bella said.
"Work? What work?” he asked.
"I've realized that I have nothing to do here. I’m so bored. It isn’t my fault, considering that my job back in my own time had to do with new technology and that doesn’t exist here. So I was thinking about what I could do here to pass the time and learn something new. That was when I saw you walking around working, and I realize you didn’t have anyone to assist you. What happens when you need to go away from the castle to the village or you take some sort of trip? Who is here to fill in for you?”
Tom had thought of this before but hadn’t made anyone his apprentice just yet. He had only arrived a few months before and was still getting his bearings Though he knew that every healer needed a good assistant eventually.
“Eventually I will take on an assistant,” he said.
"What about me? I already know all the guards. I don't faint at the sight of blood, and I’m a quick learner,” she said.
"You? I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he said, knowing that Annie wouldn’t like the idea of him working with Bella, and he really didn’t want her hanging around him all day anyway. He needed someone far more serious for the type of work he did.
But Bella didn’t give in so easily. She wouldn’t move aside and she continued to plead with him, making up all of these excuses and a list of reasons why she would be good at the job. Tom hadn’t realized how much time had passed. It took him a moment to remember that he needed to get an herbal tonic to one of the guards so that he wouldn’t become ill again. He’d had enough.
“If I say I will consider it, will you move aside,” he asked.
Bella pouted. “Oh now you’re just trying to get rid of me. Well I don't give in so easily and I have a feeling that you don't either,” she said.
Tom decided to try and move past her. He started edging along the wall, sliding his back against the stone. But then Bella took advantage of this in a way he didn’t foresee. She pushed him against the wall and moved up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. She pushed hard, pushing his head back against the stone and it caught him completely off guard.
“What the hell is this?”
Tom pushed Bella away from his body and turned to see Annie standing in the corridor. There was shocked and hurt on her face.
“Annie, tis not what you think,” he started.
But it was no use, Annie turned and ran away from them.
Bella laughed and laughed, as he pushed her away from him, giving her an angry look that he usually wouldn’t give any woman. She stopped laughing and walked away.