She knew he would not release Maxwell’s secrets, but he might at least advise her of the best course of action to deal with her current circumstances, so she headed to his healing chambers in a rush.
“Och, Lady Macleod,” Kendrick said knowingly as she entered his room. “How good it is tae see ye. And congratulations on yer marriage.”
“Thank ye, Kendrick,” she replied with a soft smile. “How are ye?”
“I am well, my lady, as is our young boy.” The man gestured to the little lad who now sat up in the bed.
“Och, how wonderful,” Skylar breathed with a delighted smile, while at the same time moving toward him.
“Hello,” she said tenderly.
“Hello,” he replied a little timidly.
“My name is Skylar. What are ye called?”
“Ogilvie,” he said.
“Ogilvie,” she repeated. “Well, it is nice to see ye looking so well, Ogilvie. Ye did have us all worried there for a while.”
“Ogilvie was asking where he was earlier,” Kendrick said, having joined Skylar on the other side of the bed. “I told him he was safe in Dunvegan Castle. Tell Lady Macleod what ye told me, bairn,” Kendrick said kindly.
The child looked up at Skylar with big blue eyes. The soft blonde hair of his head was wispy and fell into his eyes. Carefully, Skylar brushed the strands away and lowered herself onto the bed. “What is it ye want tae tell me, Ogilvie?” she encouraged.
“I was with my mammy. She was looking for someone tae help her because I was sick. But I was too heavy, and she couldnae carry me anymore,” he explained carefully. “I dinnae remember what happened. She said she was going tae get help. And… and then, I was here.”
Skylar imagined he was too young to be able to tell them exactly where he lived, but if he could remember how long it had taken his mother to walk to the woods, they might get some idea of the area.
“And how long was your mammy carrying ye, Ogilvie? Can ye remember?” Skylar asked, still smiling to try and put him at ease.
“She carried me from our cottage,” he said easily. “It’s over the glen by the river.”
Kendrick appeared as surprised as Skylar when the young boy was able to tell them nearly the exact location of his home. “Then, perhaps on another day we can take ye home tae yer mammy,” Skylar replied. “I’m sure she’s worried sick about ye.”
The lad nodded.
“Has the fever gone entirely, Kendrick?” she asked, looking up at the older man.
“Indeed it has, my lady. Ogilvie has been in fine form for at least a day. I would say he’ll be fit tae travel tomorrow.”
“Very well. Then we must see what can be arranged,” Skylar said, now smiling at the child.
She was more than delighted that the little boy was now fit and well. The idea of them not finding him when he had been in the woods that day nearly sent a shiver down her spine.
“How about I read ye a story, Ogilvie? Would ye like that?”
The little boy beamed a smile back at her and nodded eagerly.
“Very well. I will go and fetch one.”
A small time later, Skylar returned from the library with several books. They were likely a little advanced for his age, but they would just have to do. Reading the story was not simply for Ogilvie’s benefit. With the little boy wide awake and well, Skylar did not feel she could talk to Kendrick about her troubles. She needed something to distract her, and what better way to ease both her and Ogilvie’s loneliness than to lose themselves in a story of fiction and fantasy?
CHAPTERTWENTY
Maxwell sat in his study and, with the council and Bram present, listened to Caelan’s report.
“There were a few losses, my laird, both o’ our own men and those o’ Clan MacTavish.”
“How many?” Maxwell asked. It had taken a few days to garner the information, and though they had won the battle, there had still been a price to pay.
