“Bloody hell!” he muttered to himself. “Don’t tellme you’ve run off again?”
Colin dropped the load and went out, his resolveobliterated in an instant.
All he knew was that he had to find her.
Protected from the worst of the wind in the yardbetween the crumbling stone walls of the ruined church and theancient cemetery, Tess moved quickly among the sheep. Beyond thelow cemetery wall, a nanny goat stood watching the proceedingssuspiciously.
From the first moment Tess had noticed the lamenessin a few of the sheep and had discovered the cracks and abrasionsbetween their toes, she had used the direct method that Garthalways used to treat the flock. Move them to higher ground andspread the salve that he had taught her to make on the feet of anysheep that might be developing the condition. And after three weeksof it, she was happy to see that they were finally responding tothe treatment.
The cutting drafts of wind that snaked into the yardwere still cold, but the sky was brightening. Glancing up, shethought that the sun might even break through before long.
Kneeling among the sheep, Tess finished rubbing thesalve on another of the animals’ feet. As soon as the ewe wasturned loose, she butted and pushed her way into a safe placeamidst the rest of the flock.
Tess looked about her in search of her last patient.She found the pregnant ewe standing alone and watching her warilyfrom the cemetery wall. “Come here, Makyn.”
The ewe pawed the ground gently.
“You’ve been talking to the nanny goat, haven’tyou?”
Makyn looked away.
“Come here, good mother. This is the last time we’llbe doing this.” Tess spoke softly and took a small handful of oatsfrom a pocket in her dress. When she held it out, the ewe stillrefused to look at her.
“Getting a wee bit of your own treatment, Isee.”
Tess felt her pulse quicken at the sound of theHighlander’s voice, and she cursed her own treacherous heart. Hewas leaning over the cemetery wall and looking with interest at thepotions at her feet.
“Well,” he said with a glint in his eye. “Frompersonal experience I can say that if she doesn’t want anything todo with that poisonous brew, I don’t blame her.”
“She is just not feeling well today. Otherwise shewould come.” A breeze, riffling through his long hair, tugged atthe ends of his tartan. The blue of his eyes this morning were asure match for any summer sky. She tore her gaze away from hishandsome face and stared at the ewe. “Come, Makyn.”
The sheep edged a little down the wall toward Colin.Tess pushed herself to her feet.
“Stay where you are,” Colin said. “I’ll bring her toyou.”
“Do you know about tending sheep?”
“I’ve never had any interest in the silly creatures,to be honest. The women tend them where I come from.” He jumpednimbly over the wall. “Never looked very difficult, though.”
Tess bit her tongue and sat back on her heels. Justas she’d expected, as soon as he approached, Makyn scurriedaway.
“Hold there, ewe,” he ordered. “I’m not the one withthe poison potion.”
Makyn bleated loudly and ran frantically toward therest of the flock. Colin rushed the animal, but his abruptmovements only served to rile the entire flock. In an instant,Makyn had blended in with the rest of the bleating, scurryingbundles of wool.
“Where the devil did she…? Ah, there you are, youbloody....”
Stifling a smile, Tess stood up and walked towardColin. She put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “Not to be criticalof your shepherding, but I shouldn’t think Makyn is in anycondition for this. The creature is probably only a day or two awayfrom lambing. I think she’s had enough excitement, don’t you?”
His gaze fell on her hand resting on his bare arm.He had rolled up his shirt to the elbows. His skin was so warm, andTess withdrew her fingers as if she’d been burned.
“Very well. I am your attentive pupil,mistress.”
Tess didn’t dare look up to meet his gaze. Instead,she focused her attention on the terrified ewe in the far end ofthe yard.
“Sheep must always be handled firmly, but calmly andgently, too” she said softly. “Running and exciting them will onlyinvite trouble.”
“I always thought the same could be said abouthandling people,” he whispered in her ear. “I was firm, calm, andgentle when I met you, butyoustill ran away.”
