Her stomach knotted. "So far I've found he has two bad cuts and a head injury," she said. "Will you help me check his back?"
"Aye. Once I get these cuts stitched." He took a close look at Darack's injuries then dug into his satchel.
When he made no comment, she asked, "Do you think he will live?"
"I wish I knew."
His comment was offhand, almost careless. She clasped her fingers tightly together, praying the man could actually help Darack despite this cavalier attitude.
Sully took out a bottle of whisky, uncorked it and downed a swallow. "Want some?"
"Nay." Alarm filled her. If he became sotted, how could he stitch up Darack?
Sully poured a splash of whisky on both of Darack's cuts.
"Will that help?" she asked.
"Aye." He gave a twisted grin. "Whisky will cure anything."
She doubted that, but the man had to know more about injuries than she did.
"We'll start with his side since 'tis the longest cut."
She nodded. It was probably for the best that Darack was knocked out for this. No doubt it would be unbearably painful if he were awake.
"Here we go, lad. Good as new in no time." Sully drew the needle and thread through the two sides of the open wound and drew it together. At least, Sully's hands looked marginally clean.
Marianna felt nauseous of a sudden. She placed a hand against her throat and closed her eyes to pray silently.
"All right now, laddie! You must be still!" Sully said.
Mairiana's eyes popped open. Had Darack awakened? Aye, he was moving. That had to be a good sign.
"Can you press against his shoulder and hold him down, m'lady?"
"Of course." She held Darack's shoulder and good arm. "Lie still, now, Darack," she said softly. "Sully is here to help you."
"I'm certain he'll listen to you, m'lady. With that gentle, womanly voice, what man wouldn't?" Sully cackled.
Just sew him up,she wanted to yell at the daft man. She didn't need his silly comments. There was naught funny about Darack being seriously injured. At some point during the last two days, he had become the most important person in her life. He gave selflessly and put his own life in jeopardy to protect her. He was an amazing and caring man.
Please, God, heal his body, she prayed, blinking back tears.
"There we go!" Sully clipped the thread. "Now, for his arm."
Mairiana moved to Darack's other side and held his wrist while Sully stitched the wound on his biceps muscle. She was thankful it was not his sword arm that was injured so badly. For a warrior to lose the use of his sword arm could be devastating for him.
A half hour later, the wounds were stitched and wrapped in clean ivory linen. Sully didn't find any more injuries on Darack's back or elsewhere. The head injury did not require stitching and Sully said he could do naught to help it heal faster.
"I'll leave this with you." He handed her the bottle of whisky. "'Tis only a dram or two, but it should be enough. If he awakes in pain, give it to him."
She nodded, her stomach clenching with worry. "I thank you. Do you think he will be in severe pain?"
"Aye, 'haps so. But he's a braw Highland warrior. He will endure it. We Highlanders are a rough and tough lot." Sully grinned. "Let me know if you need help with anything. We're not too far from Inverness."
"Good. I appreciate your help," she called, watching the first mate leave and close the door. What would she do once they arrived in Inverness? She didn't know where his clan lived. Sure, Glenmoriston, but she didn't ken how far that was from the harbor or how she was supposed to transport Darack there if he was too injured to walk.
Trying to calm herself, she sat beside him and stroked his jaw, covered in the short dark beard. His breathing was strong and steady, thank the saints, but she was unsure whether to wake him. On the one hand, when he awoke he would be in severe pain, but on the other, his sleeping worried her. What if he never roused? Tears filled her eyes. He was incredibly selfless and generous to help her so much. If he died, 'twould be her fault.
