Surviving Scotland Read Online Free Page B

offered me another and I drank it, as well.
    “That’s good, lass. Ye are certainly on the mend.”
    She helped me lie back gently on the mattress and my eyes grew heavy once more. What ’ s wrong with me ? All I wanted to do was sleep. I fought against it this time, needing to know what had happened and where I was.
    “Where am I?” My voice cracked over the words. The woman’s expression changed from kind to concerned.
    “Donna ye ken, lass? Ye’re at home.” She spoke quietly while watching my face intently.
    “Home?” I considered her words as I glanced around the room once more. Everything was unfamiliar. The sensation of being on the edge of remembering but unable to grasp onto the memory tormented me as I searched for something to trigger my recollection.
    “Aye, lass, this is yer room. What do ye remember last?”
    The woman’s warm hand grasped my own as I searched my memory. Faces and broken shards of memories flashed through my mind with confusing speed. When I tried to remember anything, my mind was blank, utterly and completely blank.
    “Ach, lass, donna you worry. Sometimes that happens with a fever.”
    “Fever?”
    “Aye, ye were terribly ill. Sometimes, when the fever rages, a body can forget things. ‘Tis possible, then, ye will remember it later. Donna fret. All will be well.”
    I didn’t understand. Oh, it made sense that I had been sick. My body testified to that truth readily, but memory loss? Something still wasn’t right. But before I could summon the strength to ask, darkness consumed me.
    ****
    The meadow was warm against my skin and I daydreamed, watching the fluffy clouds pass by. A man stood over me and called my name, caressing it with his voice. I smiled, but he didn’t return the gesture, rather his expression was concerned and worried. I blinked and the meadow faded away and was replaced by my room, but the man remained.
    “Elle? Are ye awake?”
    I blinked again, trying to determine if I were dreaming or awake. The man was familiar and I had a flash of memory where he spoke to me in a meadow but I wasn’t sure if it was real or a dream I had experienced.
    “Elle?” He touched my cheek with care and began caressing it with his thumb. I closed my eyes and leaned against his hand, savoring the tingling sensation.
    “I tho’ we were ta lose ye, lass. Tell me, do ye ken who I am?”
    I opened my eyes and studied him. His shirt was open at the collar just enough to give me a small view of his chest, and I had a mental image of him only half-dressed. In that moment I remembered his name. A few scattered memories flooded back as well but all in a mixed jumble.
    “Ioan?”
    “Aye, lass, ‘tis Ioan. ‘Tis Ioan.” His tone was reverent and laced with relief. He grasped my hand, and his green eyes were tender as he gazed at me.
    The woman who had been nursing me walked into the room with muted footsteps. She offered me a secretive grin before sobering and regarding Ioan.
    “I told ye she was on the mend. Had ta see fer yerself, eh?” she scolded playfully.
    Ioan’s face flushed, and I was curious as to why he was embarrassed. He recovered so quickly I wondered if the blush was imagined.
    “I see she’s been in good hands.”
    “Aye, ‘tis true. Now, lass, can ye sit up fer me?”
    I tried to lift myself, but Ioan reached down and pulled me upright with a gentle yet firm grasp on my shoulder.
    “Thank you.” The words were mumbled as the movement created dizziness in my vision.
    “Easy now,” the woman whispered as she sat on the bed next to me, nudging Ioan further away. “Can ye drink this?”
    She handed me a mug of what looked like tea. I drank it happily only to choke on the bitter taste.
    “Sorry, lass. ‘Tis the herbs, but ‘twill give yer body some help in healin’.”
    I nodded and forced myself to drink it all. Ioan and the woman watched me carefully ‘til I handed the cup back.
    “I feel terribly rude. You’ve taken such good care of me, and I