Highland Resurrection (Blades of Honor Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

intentions, he was a stranger and she did not want him left alone with Quinn. She had to convince him to leave.
    “I want you to go. Quinn and I’ll be fine,” she said. “We got along before you got here, and will continue to do so.”
    “If only that were true,” the monk replied. “You’re very ill and it will be a while before you’re able to care for yourself or the lad. I plan to stay as long as I’m needed.”
    She struggled to keep her eyes open. “I said we’ll be fine. I appreciate your concern, even if it has come a wee bit too late.” She bit her lower lip as soon as words spilled out. He had rescued her from her attackers and had seen that she got home safely, even if he did not do it himself. “You have made amends and I would like you to leave.”
    “Please let him stay, Sheena. At least until you’re feeling better.” Quinn folded his hands as if in prayer, his lower lip quivering. “You are very sick and I dinna know what to do to help.”
    She could never resist that pout and couldn’t fight them both. “He can stay. But only for—” she began, but soon lost the battle and closed her eyes, praying she was not making a huge mistake.

Chapter 4
    Lazarus used an iron poker to stir the coals beneath the pot of boiling water, then added some willow bark, coriander, and burdock to the potion. The medicinal plants would aid in reducing Sheena’s fever and would hopefully relieve some of her discomfort. While that simmered, he made a paste of crushed yarrow root, myrrh, coltsfoot, and comfrey to apply to the gash on her forearm.
    Sheena’s moan caught Lazarus’s attention. He took a few steps in her direction, hoping she’d awakened, but the lass remained in a restless sleep. His gut twisted with concern and regret. If he didn’t manage to get the fever to break and failed to tend to her injuries quickly, she might not make it through the night.
    When he first arrived at the hut and she assumed he was there to sate his carnal needs, the way she put her brother’s welfare before her own touched his heart. This sort of selfless virtue was something he’d not witnessed often in his tormented life and he admired it. Without his sister, Quinn would be left alone. Guilt stabbed at him, tightening his gut. If only he’d stayed and administered treatment yesterday when the incident happened.
    Quinn sat on a small stool beside his sister’s pallet, his eyes fixed on Lazarus’s every move. “Sheena doesna look well and keeps whimpering in her sleep. Are you sure she isna going to die?”
    “I intend to do everything in my power to keep that from happening.” Lazarus carried a wooden bowl filled with steaming liquid, several strips of linen, and a trencher containing the wound ointment to Sheena’s bedside. He squatted, then placed the healing supplies on the floor next to him.
    Quinn followed, then knelt on the opposite side of the pallet. He screwed up his nose and waved his hand in front of his face. “That stuff smells awful.”
    “Aye, I canna argue with you there. But it will help to heal the cut.” Lazarus carefully drew back the sleeve of Sheena’s gown, revealing her wound. He poured a bit of liquid from the bowl onto a piece of cloth, then used it to clean her arm, before covering her injury with a thick layer of herbal ointment. Once finished, he wrapped clean bandaging around her arm, then gently laid it across her chest. “With luck, this will start to take effect quickly. I would have put in a few stiches, but fortunately the wound isna too deep. Leaving the cut open will allow the poisons to escape.”
    “When will you know if it works?” Quinn asked, his lower lip quivering as he spoke. “She is all the family I have, and dinna know what I would do if anything happened to her.”
    “Let’s not think about that now. Hopefully, we have caught this in time and the ointment will take care of it. I also made a brew to help bring down her fever, which I’ll try to give