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“There,” she said.

She was disheveled, hair falling over her sweaty forehead. She had smudged her face with the poultice.

She turned to the boy’s mother. “I will give ye some herbs in case he runs a fever and something for the pain.”

The boy had stopped crying and was dozing in his mother’s arms, exhausted. The mother was looking at Isla as if she were a savior.

“I will come in a week to check on him. If something comes up, send word to the castle,” Isla advised. “Tell the guards the bravest little boy needs assistance, and I will come.”

The mother grabbed her hand and kissed it. “Thank ye, me Lady. Thank ye.”

“Please, daenae.”

Isla was stunned by the gesture. Then she realized that she was not alone. The whole village had gathered around her and had watched the whole thing unfold. They all looked at her with admiration as they nodded and whispered.

“Such a gentle woman.”

“The new Lady MacLeod is kind and caring.”

“I heard she isnae a Sinclair, but a Murray. They were good people, the Murrays.”

Isla rose to her feet, coughing a bit awkwardly. She dusted off her skirt and smiled at everyone.

Lady Moira came to her side. “I kent ye were something special,” she said. “A true lady.”

Everyone murmured their agreement, and Isla felt her heart swell.

The crowd helped the mother and the boy along, smiling at her openly as they went. She hadn’t realized, until just now, that she had needed that—the smiles, the quiet acceptance of people who were now hers to take care of.

She took an old rag to clean her hands at the nearby water fountain when she felt a presence behind her. She turned to find Ewan standing there. Her back stiffened, and the small hairs on the back of her neck rose.

“What now? Ye think I had the arm of that boy broken so I could make a good impression?” she scoffed.

He looked at her, doubt flickering in his eyes. “Ye didnae have to help the boy.”

“He was in pain, and no one kent what to do.”

He drew closer, and she straightened her spine, bracing for whatever came next. Of course, even this brief moment of being accepted by the village couldn’t be allowed to last.

“I still daenae trust ye,” he said. “But what ye did for the boy… it wasnae an act. Ye truly cared.”

Isla was so surprised that she dropped the rag she was holding. She looked up at him, searching his eyes. Maybe he was setting her up for the biggest insult. But no. In his eyes, she only saw sincerity and a hint of guilt.

“Are ye well, Ewan?” she teased. “I have some herbs if ye need some.”

He chuckled. “I guess I deserved that.”

“I think ye did.”

Ewan dropped his chin, his eyes shuttering. Of course it would not take only that to change his mind about her.

“I am keepin’ me eye on ye, Isla,” he warned.

“I am counting on it.”

He shot her a dark look before walking away.

Isla shook her head. Ewan was a tough nut to crack, but at least he was fair. She had too many other problems to waste her time on him.