Highland Yuletide Magic (The Band of Cousins Book 9)

by Keira Montclair

  “Steenie, I’ve thought of something you could make for your mother and your grandmama for Yule.”

  “You did? What?” The lad jumped to his feet, dropping the dull knife he’d been using to whittle.

  “You know your mother likes to decorate and this is her first Yule here with Braden. I think she would like some decorations.”

  “What are ’corations?”

  “We could go looking for some pine cones and berries. A collection of them could be hung on the front door or gathered in a nice bowl your mama could put in the center of the table. Or we could fill a basket with them. Some holly would look verra nice, too.”

  Steenie’s whole face lifted with his smile. “I think I heard Grandmama talking about ’corations. Can we go now?”

  The lad didn’t have a patient bone in his body, of that he was sure. Moray considered the timing and nodded. “Sure. I think there are plenty of pines not far from here. If you bring a sack, we can fill it and I’ll help you arrange them later.”

  “Come on, Paddy. We have to go!”

  The lad was fast on his feet, no doubt of that.

  Once they were out of the stables, Moray helped Steenie mount then gained his own saddle. They hadn’t ventured far beyond the gates when they came upon a row of pines. Moray pointed to a spot where they could stop. He helped Steenie down from Paddy and said, “There are lots of pine cones. We can fill your sack easily. Mayhap I’ll make something for my mama, too. She has a new hut to decorate.”

  They filled the sack in no time and Moray was pleased to find a holly bush full of berries. “You may have to put these branches in water for a while so they don’t die.”

  When they finished, Steenie hung his sack on Paddy’s saddle. Paddy took one whiff of the bag and started to act up, swinging his head and stomping his hooves on the ground. He blew twice on Steenie and the boy became upset.

  “Paddy, please don’t be mad at me. What have I done wrong? These are for Mama and Moray’s mama.”

  The horse moved over to Moray and nudged him. Hard.

  “Your horse wants to knock me over!” he said, taking a step back.

  The wee beast snorted two more times and shook his head again, as if to say it was frustrated with Moray, then moved over to Steenie’s side.

  “What is it you want?” the lad asked his pet.

  Steenie stood very quietly while the pony rested his head on the lad’s shoulder. “All right, but I’ve already made two.”

  Paddy used his hoof to paw the ground three times. “Three more swords? But why? Oh, all right. Three more.”

  Moray waited for the lad to explain himself, but instead, Steenie ran off toward the bushes. “What did he say, Steenie?”

  “I must make more swords. At least three. I have to go find some more large branches.”

  Moray wasn’t about to argue, so he followed the lad back into the trees and helped him find three stout branches big enough to whittle down. Then he led the ornery beast and Steenie back through the gates.

  When they returned to the stables, Steenie took his findings and stored them carefully in the cupboard.

  Corc pulled Moray aside. “I’ve made up a sack for you.” He lifted the bulging bag up, then handed it to him. “I put a fresh loaf of bread, two apples, some carrots, and a few turnips inside. Don’t let Steenie see the apples or the carrots. He’ll want them for the horse. The wee beast wishes to eat better than we do.”

  Moray took the sack and peeked inside. “’Tis quite a bit of food, Corc.”

  Corc sighed. “I hate the thought of a young lass starving out there in the wild. If she finds the sack, see if you can tell where she’s from. We’d welcome her here, no matter who is with her.”

  Moray nodded. They had plenty of room in this large castle. They’d started building a few more huts in the hopes that more people would join them over the winter. Braden had even discussed the possibility of bringing home some of the Channel of Dubh’s victims.

  Could this lass possibly have something to do with the Channel?

  Chapter Five

  Shona explored the abandoned hut, pleased to see that nothing had been disturbed for a long time. There was no sign of anyone having entered either the front or back entrance, and they could easily sneak out the back if anyone did return to the cottage.

  It was large enough for all of them, though there were only four pallets at the farthest end. Two large chairs sat in front of the hearth, and six stools surrounded the table in the middle of the chamber. There were utensils near the hearth, and a large pot hung over the fire as if it had been used recently, but there was nothing inside, not even any residue.

  Pleased to see a good supply of wood in a basket next to the hearth, she checked outside and found a large stack piled behind the cottage. Whoever had lived here had planned on being in residence all winter. That thought gave her pause, although the former residents had clearly moved on. If she brought the others here, she’d be able to warm Juel by the fire every night.

  Moving back inside, she searched through the cupboards, but found no food at all. Perhaps reivers had already cleaned out all the foodstuffs.

  Rifling through the one chest between two pallets, she did find several furs and a night rail. She’d give it to Jamesina.

  She left the cottage, taking as many furs as she could carry. Although the hut was a promising development, it wouldn’t put food in their bellies. She still needed to find nourishment for the others. She did her usual foray through the woods, hoping something would appear out of nowhere, either a pile of nuts, some apples newly fallen from a tree, or a vine of beans or peas she’d missed before.

  Nothing.

  She sighed, telling herself not to be too discouraged because there was still enough bread for one more day.

  But what would happen then?

  Going back to the reivers’ camp, she searched the area for anything she could take back. She was just about to leave when she noticed something that had not been there the previous day.

  A large sack leaned against a tree.

  Scanning the area for anyone at all, she crept over to see what was inside.

  Her mouth watered as she looked inside: turnips, three carrots, two apples, and a fresh loaf of bread. It was a sack from an angel. She stood there holding the sack tightly to her chest, staring around the area again. Someone had put that bag there, but who?

  And, more importantly, why?

  If she took it, she’d be stealing. True, she’d stolen bread the other day, but the reivers had admitted they’d stolen it, so she hadn’t felt it was wrong to take it for her family. But this…this would feed them for days.

  This would keep them alive until Yule.

  Tears flooded her cheeks at her good fortune. Trying to believe that the Lord had put it there because he’d known how much they needed it, she couldn’t shake the knowledge that a person had put it there from Him. But that didn’t stop her.

  She had to take it.

  It was a matter of life or death.

  ***

  Moray watched the lass struggle with the decision of what to do with the sack of food. Take it!

  Either she wasn’t as starving as he’d thought, or she had a high moral code that made stealing difficult for her.

  How he wished to shout at her. It’s not stealing! Take it.

  After much thought, she hugged the sack to her chest and walked off in a direction opposite from Muir Castle.

  He let her get ahead of him, not wanting to alert her to his presence just yet, and then followed her. They’d crept along like that for maybe half an hour when she suddenly stilled. He did the same, listening for any abnormal sounds. Her head turned around, but then she surprised him.

  She broke into a dead run, the sack held tightly to her chest.

  They ran and ran until he thought his lungs would burst in the cold. The lass was quick, that was for sure, quicker than he was because he couldn’t catch her. He yelled to her, “Wait, I only wi
sh to help you.”

  She ignored him, racing on as if he were a murderer. Then he saw the abandoned hut Corc had mentioned ahead of them. This had to be where she was hiding. Relief washed through him. He’d finally be able to stop running at that awful pace she’d maintained. Sure enough, she snuck inside the cottage as quietly as could be.

  Then he was stuck. How to approach her?

  For all he knew, someone else could be inside—her parents maybe. Not wishing to alarm anyone, he approached the door and politely knocked.

  Nothing.

  Dead silence.

  He knocked again with the same result. He opened the door, peering into the musty interior. Dark. The hut was nestled in a cluster of tall pines and there were no tallows lit.

  Empty. What the hell?

  He opened the door and searched the cabin, yelling a few times—“Anyone there?”—but he found nothing to indicate she’d been there except her footprints. When he finally looked down, he followed the wetness from her boots over to a door.

  A back door. The wee trickster had played him well.

  He opened the door and peered out.

  She’d be so far ahead of him, he’d have no chance of catching her now.

  He held onto the door handle and yelled, “I’m not here to hurt you. I left the food for you.”

  ***

  Shona went through the food sack with Jamesina, trying to divvy up the foodstuffs. She took the fresh loaf of bread out and said, “We’ll start with this.” She cut off two hunks of bread with a knife she kept in her mantle pocket and eyed the two apples.

  Juel sat up and said, “Is that not an apple? I’d love a portion of that.”

  “Juel, because I’m so pleased to see you awake, we’ll share the smaller one and give the larger one to the MacFees.”

  Jamesina said, “I think we’ll eat ours today. We can save the turnips and carrots for another day.”

  They ate in silence, the chomping of the apples the loudest. Benneit and James were also awake, thrilled to see they had two different things to eat. “’Tis a Yuletide gift for certes,” James said. “I wonder where it all came from.”

  Shona knew, but she bit her tongue. The lads didn’t seem to notice, but Jamesina caught on quickly. “You know where this is from?” she asked quietly.

  Shona sighed and set her apple core down, looking at her four companions. “I think the man in the red plaid left it for us. I found it back in the camp where the reivers were, and I know ’twasn’t there before. He saw me and chased me.”

  Jamesina gasped audibly. “How did you get away? Did you lead him to us? Has he gone to find more men to come and steal us away?” She stood up, grabbing a few items and stuffing them into her pockets. “We must leave.”

  “Nay, do not worry. I led him to the hut and then ran out the back door. He never followed me so we’re safe.” She kept the words he’d yelled after her a secret. Although she thought there was a strong chance that he could be from a neighboring clan, she knew she’d never convince Jamesina to trust him. Somehow, she had to get the nerve to talk to him.

  Jamesina nodded and sat back down. She took a small bite of bread and moaned. “This bread is absolutely delicious. Better than the other one. I’d like to meet the woman who made it. ’Tis heavenly.”

  Juel added, “And this apple is, too.”

  “But you know what this means, Shona,” Jamesina said between bites of her food.

  “That we might live until Yule?”

  “Nay, although I do believe we will. This means we cannot move into that cottage. He’s been there now. He’d know where to find us.”

  Which was exactly what she had feared Jamesina would think.

  She never should have told her.

  Chapter Six

  Moray cursed himself for being such a fool. The lass had bested him, without a doubt. He mounted his horse and headed back to Muir Castle. Who the hell was she? Why was she so desperate for food?

  He feared he’d never know.

  Once he entered the stables, Corc caught up with him right away. “She took the bait, did she?”

  “Aye, she did, but she used trickery and I lost her.”

  Corc chuckled. “Och, lad. ’Tis good to see you challenged by a lass. She’s caught your fancy for sure. Is she old enough for you to steal her away and marry her the way they do in some areas?”

  The twinkle in the old man’s eyes told Moray that he was teasing. “I would never do such a thing, but aye, she’s old enough. I just can’t figure out where she’s living or why she has no food. It seems impossible that a lass that young would be taking care of herself. And by the amount of food I’ve seen her take, I’m thinking she’s not alone.”

  “It cannot be a husband, or he’d be searching for food. God strike the man dead who makes his wife do the hunting. She must be alone.”

  “Or with another lass?”

  “I have no answer for you, laddie. Have you asked your mother what she thinks? She and Hilda could probably come up with a better idea than me.”

  Moray sighed because he had indeed asked his mother for her thoughts the night before.

  “Och,” the older man said, clucking his tongue. “I hear my answer on that. It did not go well.”

  Moray tipped his head back and forth a couple of times then admitted, “She thinks I’m obsessed with my brothers. That I’m trying to atone for what happened to them by saving this lass.”

  Corc tipped his head and nodded slowly. “There could be some wisdom there, laddie. Think on it. Have you felt some guilt over your brothers? Because the tales I’ve heard indicate you had naught to do with their death.”

  “I did not.” But he still felt guilty for being the only one still alive.

  Why, he couldn’t say, but he did.

  A wee voice from behind him said, “He’s not a laddie, Corc. I am. Moray is a man or a lad, but not a laddie.”

  “Och, laddie, ’tis what I call anyone who’s much younger than I am. Corc is getting old now, you hear me? Be kind to your elders. Now, how are those gifts for Yule coming along?”

  “Good. My grandmama is going to help me.” With that, the lad scampered back into Paddy’s stall.

  A few moments later, Celestina Grant entered the stables. The years had been kind to the woman. Moray’s tongue tended to tie itself into knots whenever she was near.

  “Greetings, my lady,” he said.

  “Greetings, Moray. All is well on the patrol? Hilda thinks there’s a storm brewing. What do you think?” She fluffed her skirts, giving them a shake, though he knew not why.

  “Could be true. Clyde said he saw a halo around the sun this morn. And you know the squirrels have been extra busy during autumn.”

  “I’m here to help Steenie make a Yuletide gift for his mama. My thanks for helping him to gather the cones and berries.”

  “Surely was my pleasure, my lady.” His hands fumbled for something to do, so he reached for a length of rope, untying the knots someone had put in it. Anything to keep his mind off the woman in front of him. Her ethereal beauty unsettled him, almost as if she weren’t quite an earthly being.

  Celestina began to hum as she headed down the middle of the stables, stopping to pet a nose or two. By his guess, the horses were as fond of her as were the guards. They all seemed to lose their tongues whenever she was near.

  “She is a bonny sight, is she not?” Corc whispered behind his back. “The horses love her the same way the Grant horses take to Maddie Grant. Those big stallions are like simpering bairns in a cradle around Alex’s wife.”

  Moray couldn’t help but admire the woman as she made her way past all the animals, not ignoring any of them, giving them each their due.

  Corc chuckled behind him. “They’re no different than your guards, Chief. They’d act the same if she’d bestow a smile on them.”

  Moray gave Corc a fierce scowl, indicating he wouldn’t discuss such a thing around the lady.

  Steenie came flying out of
the back stall again, his eyes luminous. “Grandmama! Are you here to help me with my gift?”

  “Aye, it is exactly why I’m here.” Her voice had a unique rhythm—she’d been brought up by an Englishman, but she’d adapted many of the Scottish words and dialect.

  Steenie gave her a fierce hug around the waist. “Grandmama, why are you so nice? You’re nicer than anyone I knew before I met you.”

  “Why not be nice? It is much more pleasing to have people smile back at you, don’t you think? Surely being kind to others will make your day better.”

  “I guess. Paddy, please be nice to Grandmama. She’s to help us make Mama’s gift.” He hurried into the corner to grab the sack with the pine cones and other items they’d gathered. Holding it up to show her, his face let her know how proud he was of his collection. “See. Didn’t Moray and I do a fine job?”

  Celestina turned around and said, “Thank you again, Moray. Would you do me another favor and grab the basket my husband set on the top shelf in the cupboard? We’ll be working with that one. And there’s also a supply of ribbons up there.”

  Moray did as she asked while Corc returned to his tasks as stablemaster.

  Once he brought the basket to her, she said, “Steenie, once we’re done arranging the things you and Moray found into this basket, we can add a bow with these ribbons. It will look quite lovely on the table next to the hearth.”

  She found a small work table and moved it near their area. “We can do it right here. There are plenty of supplies for us to make hanging decorations, too, like Moray suggested.”

  Paddy began to make a ruckus. Moray headed toward the small horse and said, “There will be no causing trouble inside or I’ll take you out. Calm your attitude, Paddy.”

  But the wee horse didn’t seem inclined to take his advice. His tail swished back and forth rapidly, and his nostrils became tight and drawn.

  “Steenie, I think you need to come out of there,” Moray said with a frown. “I don’t want you hurt by the beast.”

  “Paddy would never hurt me,” Steenie declared, upset by the suggestion.