Page 8 of Wendy Meets the Highlander Hamish (Scottish Highlander I Never Knew #5)

W endy sat by the window, her eyes scanning the courtyard below.

She’d found herself sitting here watching for Hamish to return on almost a daily basis.

He’d been gone for a little more than a week this time and she was worried.

She knew she shouldn’t be though, because Annabelle and Catherine had both assured her this wasn’t unusual.

The guards were often gone, traveling around Islay seeing to various things in different towns who were aligned with the Donalds.

It turned out that though the Campbells were the owners of the land, the people rarely turned to them for their needs, and instead trusted the Donalds to act in their favor.

And while it was great for them to put their trust in the Donalds and therefore Hamish, it also meant they were often away from the fort.

It also meant that Catherine and Annabelle were gone at times too, because sometimes they’d each go out with their husbands when they were going somewhere on clan business.

On this particular day, Wendy had dined in the dining hall for breakfast, spent the rest of the morning in the library and then came to her room with a platter of meats and cheeses and some tea for lunch.

She’d finished eating and was now sitting a vigil at the window, wishing Hamish would return as she daydreamed.

Her day dreaming was disturbed a little while later as urgent shouts rang through the air, echoing with a sense of alarm. “Hurry! Get him to the healer,” a voice called.

Jumping to her feet, Wendy leaned out of the window to get a better look.

Anxiety filled her as she noticed Artair and Crisdean ride in with Hamish a top his horse between them.

However something was wrong. He wasn’t seated as he normally was, proudly in the saddle.

Instead he was slightly hunched over Thunder’s neck.

As Artair and Crisdean dismounted, they each held onto Hamish, keeping him on his horse, it was painfully obvious that he was hurt. They moved to assist him down and other guards rushed over to help. It was then Wendy noticed that both Artair and Crisdean were injured as well.

Acting on impulse, she swiftly left her bedchamber behind, her feet propelling her through the castle's corridors.

She had to reach him, to understand the extent of their injuries, and to offer any help she could.

The ache in her chest at the sight of him in pain was unbearable, and she needed desperately to be by his side.

Wendy bolted from the castle door, her footsteps echoing in the courtyard.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way directly to Hamish, who was leaning his weight on a couple of other guards.

“Hamish!” she cried out as she moved to him, wanting to pull him into her, but also not wanting to injure him further. “What happened? How bad are you hurt?”

Wincing as her hands landed on his chest, Hamish gasped in pain.

“Was kicked, lass. We attempted to capture one o’ the kelpie and it put up a fight.

It chased us and knocked me from Thunder with a powerful kick, nipped at us too.

Barely got away before it turned back toward the loch,” he grunted out.

Wendy's eyes scanned him, feeling distressed about how to help him. “What can I do to help, I don’t want to hurt you further,” she said, frantically.

With a faint smile, Hamish said, "Ah, lass, you do care then.”

Wendy looked up at him with a severe frown. "Of course, I do, Hamish. I don't want to see you hurt like this. I’ve been really worried about you. You’ve been gone more than a week."

“I was jest fine until this morn. My armor is pretty sturdy, or it t’was until this encounter. Now I jest need ta lie myself down in my bed and pray for the pain to ebb.”

“What about the healer? What was her name? Aine? Can we call her and get her to help you?” Wendy asked, her nerves shattered at seeing him ready to collapse from the pain.

As she looked into his eyes, Wendy's feelings for Hamish deepened, and she found herself caring for him more than she had ever imagined was possible.

Before they could fully make it into the castle, Cam MacDonald came striding directly toward Hamish. "What happened, Hamish?" he asked before anyone could answer Wendy’s questions about the healer.

With a hint of weariness in his voice, Hamish proceeded to recount the day's events, detailing their encounter with the kelpie.

“Cam, he’s injured, he needs to lie down,” Wendy said, firmly.

“Aye, I can see that, lass.” He smiled. “Go get some rest, Hamish, see to your injuries. If you need me to send for Aine, let me know.”

“I’ll stay with him, make sure he does rest and he’s healing. And I’ll let you know if he needs this Aine woman.”

Cam smiled. “I am sure with you tending to him, lass, he’ll recover in nae time.” He turned back to Hamish and added, “Listen to your nurse, Hamish and be quick with your healing. I’m goin’ ta need you fit for duty again soon.”

“Aye, Chief. Will do my very best,” Hamish grunted.

“What about your brothers? Are they injured as well?” Cam asked before they could move off.

“Aye, but merely bruised, neither were kicked as I was.”

“That’s good to hear. Go get some rest.”

Wendy had no idea where Hamish’s rooms were, so she followed as the two guards who were holding him up helped him up the stairs.

She would have rather it been her, but she didn’t want him further injured.

When they reached his room, she said, “I can take it from here. Thanks for helping to get him here.”

“Of course, lass.”

“Thanks, Shaw, you too Marc,” Hamish grunted as Wendy let him lean on her.

They entered the room, and she noticed that it was nearly as large as Mae’s and Niall’s rooms. There was a sitting room with a settee and a couple of chairs in front of a massive hearth.

There was a four person wooden table and chairs to one side, and a desk with another chair to the other.

On the back wall were two doors, one was open and led to a bedchamber, which she moved toward, her arm around his middle to help steady him.

“Sit on the bed and take off that armor and your shirt so I can see how bad you’re hurt,” Wendy said firmly.

Hamish moved to do as she asked, but in the end, she had to help him because he couldn’t lift his arms very high. He was sweating by the time they got it all off of him and groaning in pain.

Tears filled Wendy’s eyes as she stared at the bleeding hoof prints on his chest. He could have been killed.

They weren’t too deep, but the skin was broken and bruised.

She blinked the tears away, knowing now was not the time for it.

She moved to the wash bowl and poured some water into it.

“I’m going to clean them, and then while you’re resting, I’ll see about getting some bandages and wrapping your chest. I think you may have some cracked ribs. ”

“Aye, you could be right, lass.” Hamish scooted back on the bed, laying down with his legs still hanging off the edge. His eyes were closed, and he looked very uncomfortable.

Moving back to him, she couldn’t help but take in his muscular chest. He was very drool worthy, but she needed to focus on her task.

She cleaned up the wounds from the kelpie’s hooves and then bent down to remove his boots so he could lay more fully on the bed.

“Are you okay for now? I’m going to go find those bandages. ”

“Aye lass, I’ll be fine. Jest donnae be too long.”

“I won’t I promise.” Wendy hurried from the room and was halfway down the stairs when she ran into Jen. “Sorry, Hamish was hurt, I need to go track down some bandages,” she said, starting to rush past her.

“Wendy, stop, I’ve got them right here. Along with a poultice that Aine sent. Apparently, she knew and showed up here as you and Hamish were heading upstairs.”

Wendy stopped and turned back. “The half-Fae woman? Where is she?”

“Sorry, she’s gone already. She doesn’t like crowds, so she dropped this at the gate, said it was for the injured and then was on her way back to her isle.”

Feeling slightly disappointed, Wendy nodded. “How does it work?”

“Put this on his wounds, bind them with the bandages, repeat for the next few days.”

“Okay, got it. Thanks, Jen.”

“Go take care of him. I’ll have Sally bring up dinner for you both.”

Wendy nodded and returned to Hamish’s rooms. With gentleness and precision, Wendy applied the poultice and carefully bandaged his chest. She took her time, ensuring that the binding was secure.

As she worked with gentle fingers, she noticed Hamish watching her with a twinkle in his gaze. He still seemed to be in pain, but he was taking it in stride and not complaining. She couldn’t figure out if he was actually happy to have her here nursing him or if he was just happy that someone was.

Wendy dedicated two whole days and nights to the meticulous care of Hamish's wounds.

Her ministrations ranged from cleaning his injuries to replacing the poultice and bandages with tender precision.

With each passing day, their connection deepened, and the castle kitchens provided nourishing foods that Wendy brought to his side.

As the third day dawned, Wendy woke and went to check on Hamish. She’d taken to spending the nights on the settee where she could hear Hamish if he called out to her. Part of her wished she could just share his bed, but that would be way too formal, she thought, so she’d settled for the settee.

Hamish smiled upon seeing her. “Lass, you’ve taken such good care of me, I cannae thank you enough.”

Wendy felt a blush creeping up her neck and heating her cheeks. “Of course I have. I’ve been so worried about you, but this poultice Aine sent is amazing and you seem almost completely healed.” She ran her hands over where the wounds were just about gone.

Hamish caught her hands to her chest and held them there as he leaned forward slightly.

He was a hair’s breadth away from her as he met her eyes.

A moment later, his lips pressed against her’s in the softest and gentlest kiss she could ever have imagined.

Especially since the moment his lips touched hers an entire wildfire was set aflame inside of her.

That kiss left no doubt about the fact that Hamish had feelings for her that matched her feelings for him. He’d left her breathless and glowing as he’d risen from his bed and said they should go down to the dining hall for breakfast.

Wendy wasn’t sure what that kiss had meant.

Had he merely been thanking her for her nursing job or was there something more?

Were they now moving forward in their relationship?

Were they going to start actually dating?

Or was it courting? She didn’t know, but she certainly hoped so.

She could see herself falling in love with him and she really hoped that meant he was too.