He examined her, with Mac and the others watching and looking at her wound. Finally, the captain declared it not serious.
“Ye are cut but ye will live.” He smiled at her and winked when he declared that bit of news. “I want to clean the area, and then we will do somethin’ aboot yer habit.”
“I have hose and a tunic and belt in my bag,” she advised him. “Mother wanted me to wear my habit on this trip, but I had thought something a bit more rugged was better suited. If I had a chance or a reason to change, I would. Now, I have both.”
Morgann was quick to give up his water so the captain could clean her wound. Will offered his as well, as did Padrig and Mac. The captain smiled at all of them and shook his head. “I will clean her with some whisky.”
Their expressions dropped.
“Our whisky?”
“D’ye have someone else’s whisky we could use, Will?” the captain asked dryly.
“This will burn,” he told her a short while later, holding a cup of whisky over her. She nodded and closed her eyes then cried out at the stinging pain. His touch was light and careful. He finished by wrapping her head in the thin coif of her headdress. He and the others then left her alone, guarding her perimeter with their backs to her while she changed her clothes.
Riding her horse should be easier now, she thought, slipping her legs into a fresh pair of thicker hose. She had already been wearing boots, so she pulled them back on. She looked around and trusted that neither the captain nor his men would spy on her.
She changed quickly into her woolen tunic, leaving her torn chemise on underneath. The tear wasn’t too bad, and there was a chill in the air.
She clasped her belt and pulled her hair from beneath her bandage, pushing the longer front strands free off the cloth. Her wimple and veil were stained with blood. She wouldn’t put them back on until they were clean. How would she ever clean them? A river?
When she was done, she called out to Galeren. “You and your men may return.”
He’d saved her. She would never forget it. How could she? Aye, what he’d done was brutal, but brutality was sometimes granted. The man had meant to rape her. She was thankful for Captain Galeren and his men. She smiled at him when he appeared from the other side of the trees. She liked the way he walked with purpose toward her.
She felt a pang deep in her heart. Something pulled it toward him. No! She would give her heart to no one. It wasn’t hers to give.
“Ye look nice.” His voice was temptation itself.
He’d saved her. She looked up and smiled then she lowered her gaze. “Thank you, Captain.” She handed him his plaid, remembering how he had covered her with it.
“How do ye feel?” he asked. His potent green gaze was filled with concern for her. “Does yer head pain ye?”
She lifted her fingers to the bandage. “Nay, there is no pain. Where did you learn to mend wounds? On the battlefield?”
Reaching them, Will grinned at her with pity in his eyes. “We dinna mend anyone on the battlefield, Sis—”
The captain shot out his hand and Will disappeared from her vision. She covered her chuckle behind her fingers.
“Aye, ’tis how I learned it.” The captain took the plaid and squinted his eyes on her. “Did ye not have a cloak?”
She blinked. She did have one. “It must have fallen off somewhere. ’Tis fine. I do not need it.”
“I can go back and get it,” Morgann offered, reaching them and hearing what they said. “I will be quick,” he promised when his captain nodded.
“Go with him,” Captain Galeren told Padrig. The giant left without a word.
“Morgann has been very kind to me,” Silene told him. “You all have. I intend to tell my uncle how kind and respectful, and protective you all have been to me. I will also pray for all of you every day.”
The three who were left smiled at her. The captain’s smile lingered a moment longer than the rest—and they were already staring at him as if they could see right through him.
When the moment was over, he glared at them until they looked away.
“Are ye ready to go then?” the captain asked her, his smile returning yet again.
“Aye. I would like to try to ride my own horse,” she let him know.
His smile faltered, compelling her to retract her words. “Of course. My horse canna carry both of us fer much longer.”