An Honest Mistake

by Bethany Hauck

  “You make me happy,” she said to him, “now let’s go make Da happy. He’s been hinting for a grandchild for a while now.”

  “That he has,” Connor answered, extending his arm to her. Jacqueline took it and let her husband lead her to his father’s study that was located not far from the hall. They knocked and were immediately directed to chairs near the Laird’s desk.

  “Is there something wrong?” Connor’s Da asked a bit concerned. Although he spent plenty of his time each day with his son doing clan business, it was not common for Connor with Jacqueline to seek him out during the day.

  “Can’t a daughter come looking for her father by marriage for no reason?” Jacqueline asked him, teasing him just a bit.

  “Of course she can,” Laird Fraser said, relaxing seeing Jacqueline was in a teasing mood. “It’s just she never has before so there must be a reason for it to start now.”

  “There is, Da,” Connor told him. “But it’s a good reason, not a bad reason.”

  “Well is someone going to tell me what it is or are you both just going to sit there smiling at me like idjits?” Laird Fraser teased back.

  “Idjits?” Jacqueline acted offended. “Well, maybe I won’t tell you now.”

  “Well, you have to admit you both look a bit giddy. Neither one of you can seem to quit looking at the other and grinning. Do I need to guess at the news?” he asked them and grinned.

  “You already know don’t you?” Jacqueline asked surprised.

  “Know what?” he asked, but couldn’t keep the grin from escaping. “I know my daughter was sick this morning, I know the midwife was called to check on her, I know that some bread and water was sent up to her room, I know that a little while later she came downstairs and was fine. So do I know for sure? Nay. Have I had two children and know the signs of a woman with child? Aye. So I am really, really hoping you’re both here to tell me I’m going to be a Grandda soon,” he finished hopefully.

  Connor looked at his Da surprised while Jacqueline busted out laughing. “Well,” Connor said, “I guess it’s not a surprise, you’re going to be a Grandda.”

  “Woohoo,” Laird Fraser hollered, jumping out of his chair and rushing over to the couple, pulling first Jacqueline and then Connor into a bear hug. “I can’t even begin to tell you how happy you’ve made me. I can’t wait to hold a wee Fraser babe again.”

  “Even if it’s a girl?” Jacqueline asked him seriously.

  “Even if it’s two girls,” Caiden Fraser told her. “Let me explain something to you both. I don’t care if you have a dozen girls as long as I get to bounce them on this old knee before I pass on. Boy or girl, it makes no difference.”

  Jacqueline felt tears well in her eyes at the kind words of Connor’s Da. She hugged him once again and only muttered the words, “thank you.”

  That night at the evening meal the family was having a wonderful evening. Jacqueline was just finishing her meal when two visitors came through the doors of the main hall.

  “Alastair, James,” she called out as she jumped out of her chair and ran to meet them. Alastair scooped her up on a big bear hug and began to swing her around. When he was done, he passed her off to James who did the same. “I’m so happy to see you both.”

  “We’re happy to see you too, little sister,” Alastair said to her. “We were just on our way back from Glasgow University and decided to stop here for the evening.”

  “What were you doing at the University?” Jacqueline asked.

  “Da has agreed to let me study there,” James told her. “I’ll be leaving in a month, but I couldn’t go without telling you goodbye.”

  “Oh,” Jacqueline said, happy for her brother, but also sad he would be going away. “Part of me is happy for you, and part of me is sad for me. I will miss you.”

  “I miss you every day,” James told her hugging her again as Connor and Owen walked up behind her. “But I’ll be back in a few years.”

  “I know,” she said softly.

  “Alastair, James, welcome to Tarmon,” Connor said to the brothers. “Are you hungry?”

  Alastair and James quickly greeted Owen with brotherly embraces before Alastair replied, “I don’t know about this youngster I’ve been traveling with, but I’m starving.”

  “Then come, join us, I’ll have the servants get you a trencher and some wine,” Connor said leading them to the main table where he introduced them, “Alastair and James McCabe, I’d like you meet my father, Caiden Fraser and my sister, Fiona.”

  “Welcome,” Caiden said to the pair, motioning them towards chairs, “Sit, eat.” The brothers did as requested and soon were digging into full trenchers.

  “Can I have your attention,” Connor yelled out to the members of Clan Fraser who were also just finishing eating. “My wife and I would like to make an announcement.” Connor waited until everyone had quieted and settled before continuing, putting his arm around his wife and pulling her close. “First I’d like to welcome our guests, these two gentlemen are my brothers by marriage and the blood brothers of my wife, Alastair and James McCabe. I’d like to extend clan Frasers offer to stay as long as you’d like. In fact, I know my wife will enjoy your visit very much. There is also another reason for this speech tonight. Having the McCabe’s here just makes this even more special for my wife and me. I’d like you all to be the first to know; next spring, there will be a new addition to the Fraser clan.”

  At first, the hall was quiet as the member’s processed what Connor was telling them. For a second Jacqueline was just beginning to worry when the first of clan Fraser’s soldiers understood and began to cheer, soon more and more joined in as understanding spread. Jacqueline looked over at her brothers, James was sitting at the table beaming, while Alastair sat in stunned silence. Then he locked eyes with Jacqueline, he pointed to himself and mouthed the words, “uncle?” Jacqueline nodded, and had to laugh at the excited yell he let loose.

  Chapter 12: Missing

  “What are your plans for today, Jacqueline?” Fiona asked her as they were breaking their fast.

  “Since I’m finally feeling better, and the midwife has finally convinced my husband that it’s safe, I’m going to go to the practice fields and do some target shooting,” Jacqueline answered.

  “Would you mind if I join you?” Fiona asked. “I’ve been practicing regularly since our lessons. I’ve gotten much better.”

  “I’d love for you to join me,” Jacqueline told her. Then elbowed Connor in the side as she added, “then maybe this guy will go do something with the men and stop hovering over me for the day.”

  “I’m just trying to keep you safe,” Connor told her. “You were so ill the last two months.

  “I wasn’t ill, Connor; I’m going to have a baby. I feel much better though now, so you need to quit watching my every move. You’re making me crazy,”

  “How am I making you crazy?” he asked, surprised by her words.

  “Husband, you are trying to keep me from doing anything,” Jacqueline said to him getting annoyed. “If you had your way, I’d never even get out of bed each morning.”

  “If I could get you to stay there I would,” he agreed with her, then leaned over and whispered, “you didn’t seem to mind being in bed last night,” Jacqueline just giggled and blushed, thinking about the things they’d done to each other last night. “That’s better,” he said grinning at her. “You know I love that laugh and smile. Target practice is fine this morning. In fact, I’m glad Fiona is going with you. I worry when you’re alone.”

  “You’re becoming worse than a woman, son,” Laird Fraser said, laughing and winking at Jacqueline. “You’re suffocating the poor girl; I’ve even noticed it. She’s doing nothing wrong, leave her be, she looks healthy and happy.”

  “Thank you, Da,” Jacqueline said to him.

  “To the practice fields and back then,” Connor said to her as he got up from the table. “Da and I have some contracts to go over this morning, so we’ll be tied up in th
e study most of the day.” He leaned down, giving his wife a quick kiss.

  “We won’t be gone long,” she assured him as he walked away. “Let’s grab our bows and go,” she said to Fiona, “before my husband can find some reason to change his mind.”

  “You’ve really improved,” Jacqueline said to Fiona a short time later, impressed with her confidence with the bow. “I’m going to have to watch out, or you’ll be better than me.”

  “I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about that,” Fiona told her and giggled. “You are an incredible shot. How do you do it?”

  “Well,” Jacqueline replied, thinking about how to answer the question, “I’m not sure. I practiced a lot, but truthfully, it’s just kind of always been easy for me. I can’t really explain it.”

  “I think it’s wonderful,” Fiona said.

  “Well I’m very impressed with how far you’ve come,” Jacqueline again honestly told her. “You hit every target, and close to the middle. That’s really good considering you’ve only learned to shoot a few months ago.”

  “I had an excellent teacher. I’ve seen some of the other women that you taught come to practice now and then. Most of them have improved also. Angus is so proud of his wife that he brags and makes her shoot at a target for anyone who shows up at the fields,” Fiona told her and laughed.

  “That’s wonderful. I wish more of the women would have come out when I offered to teach them. I think too many of them were still loyal to Catherine at the time. I think they’re starting to like me a bit now. What do you think?” Jacqueline asked.

  “I agree with you. Catherine was a bitch. Don’t tell my brother I said that,” she answered laughing. “I’ve noticed you get a warmer reception from many of the village women lately. Oh speaking of the village, I need to run to the candlemaker. She was making a special order for me,” Fiona said. “Do you mind if I don’t walk back to the keep with you?”

  “How about I join you on your walk to the village? I would love to stretch my legs. I’m feeling so much better lately,” Jacqueline said, her belly just starting to be visibly rounder. “Soon winter will be here, and we’ll all be stuck inside. That cookoo husband of mine will probably never let me out once the snow flies.”

  “Hey,” Fiona said laughing again. “Watch what you say, that cookoo husband of yours is my brother.”

  “If I didn’t love the man so much, I’d shoot him,” Jacqueline joked back.

  “Will you be in trouble with my brother?” Fiona, becoming serious again, asked. “I heard him tell you to practice and come straight back.”

  “You heard him say he would be with Da all day in the study. He’ll never even know I’m gone,” she told Fiona and giggled. “Unless you tell on me.”

  “My lips are sealed,” Fiona said. “What should we do with our bows?”

  “We’ll have to take them,” Jacqueline told her and slipped hers over her shoulder. Fiona followed suit.

  The walk to the village was uneventful, and the two strolled together quietly, enjoying the sounds of nature around them. The village was teeming with activity when they arrived. The fall harvest was just ending so the mill was busy grinding wheat into flour. They stopped at the candlemaker and then plenty of the other small shops located there. It had turned into a fun afternoon, and the two had quickly lost track of time. They stopped in at the home of the Fletcher, who was also making some special arrows for the women. Jacqueline was in the process of inspecting one when she heard someone call her name.

  “Lady Fiona, Lady Jacqueline” greeted Alice, Angus’ wife as she walked up to them. “I was looking for little Angus and Rodney, Have you seen them?”

  “Nay,” said the two women. “How long have they been gone?”

  “Since after breaking their fast,” she said, sounding a bit worried. “They didn’t come home for their afternoon meal, which is very unusual.”

  “Alice,” called one of the other women in the village. “Have you seen Aiden? I was hoping he was with Rodney and Angus. He hasn’t come back home since finishing his morning chores.”

  “My boys are missing also,” said Alice sounding even more concerned.

  “Are you looking for your boys?” another woman passing by asked. “I was looking for my girls. Something is very wrong. Where are all the children today?” The group of women standing around looked out around the village and also noticed that none of the children seemed to be in sight.

  “Go to the castle and report this to the Lairds,” Jacqueline said to Alice. “Fiona and I will keep looking for your boys. Something is obviously wrong, and the Lairds need to know.”

  “Aye, Lady Jacqueline,” Alice replied and hurried off towards the Keep castle.

  “Let’s have a look around,” Jacqueline said to Fiona, she was so worried she didn’t even realize that as she walked away, she still held one of the arrows from the Fletcher.

  It was only minutes after when they heard the sounds of screams coming from the direction of the village Kirk and ran that way. As they came around the corner, Jacqueline was shocked by what she was seeing.

  “Catherine, what are you doing?” she asked alarmed. Catherine stood on the steps of the kirk with a young girl no more than seven summers held in front of her. In her other hand, she held a lit torch.

  “There she is,” Catherine just about growled. “There is the whore who stole Connor from me.”

  “I didn’t steal him from you, Catherine,” Jacqueline said as other members of the clan began to gather. “He was never yours to begin with. What are you doing with that little girl? Let her go, Catherine.”

  “Let her go, Catherine,” she mocked back. “Who are you to tell me anything. These were my people, my clan and you turned them against me. Look at how they are all looking at me as if I’m the one who’s wrong.”

  “Let the little lass go, Catherine,” Jacqueline said once more.

  “I’m going to teach the people of this clan a lesson. They are all so happy their future Laird is going to have a bairn. It should have been my bairn, not yours. I’m going to teach this village a lesson and take all your children from you, then I’m going to kill you, Jacqueline Fraser, and Connor will be mine again.”

  “What do you mean, Catherine? How are you going to take the children?” Jacqueline was becoming very scared, Catherine had obviously gone crazy.

  “They’re in the kirk,” Catherine said and laughed crazily. “You see a few sweets, and they all were easy to coax inside. They aren’t able to get out now, and I’m going to burn it down.”

  For the first time Jacqueline noticed the liquid that was poured all around the outside of the kirk, it was also splashed up onto the walls. If Catherine touched the torch to any part of the flammable liquid, the kirk would go up in seconds.

  “Stop, Catherine,” she said. “You’re angry with me, let the children go, and you and I can settle this together.”

  “It will be settled as soon as you’re dead and Connor is mine again,” Catherine spat at her. Jacqueline could hear the cries and pleas of the parents that had gathered around her. Every Time one of the villagers inched closer to her, Catherine would move the lit torch closer to the kirk walls.

  “Stop,” they heard Connor Fraser yell out. “No one else steps toward her.” Connor had heard enough to know Catherine had gone mad and would light the kirk on fire killing all the children. He needed to stall for time so he could plan what to do next. “Catherine, let the little lass go and come hand me the torch. Let’s end this peacefully.”

  Jacqueline turned towards Connor hearing his voice. She wasn’t surprised to see him, and his Da arrive with close to fifty of the keep guards. What she was surprised to see, was her own Da riding with them.

  “Are you alright, daughter?” he asked her.

  “I’m fine, Da,” she replied, shocked he was there. She hoped she would have time to find out why later. Instead, she turned back to Catherine. “It’s me you want, Catherine, let the children go and I’ll
let you take me instead.”

  “I want you to take that dirk off your leg and give it to Fiona there, then I want you to step towards me,” Catherine said to her. “Maybe if you follow directions I’ll think about letting the children go.”

  Jacqueline turned and handed Fiona the dirk from her thigh and the arrow she still carried from the Fletcher. She whispered quickly into Fiona’s ear before turning back to Catherine. “I’m coming to you, Catherine, don’t hurt the lass.”

  “Don’t you dare go to her, wife,” Connor yelled to her. He went to get off his horse.

  “Stay where you are, Connor, or the kirk goes up,” Catherine yelled to him as she inched the torch within a foot of the kirk’s damp walls.

  “It’ll be fine, Connor,” Jacqueline called to him. “I can’t let her hurt the children.”

  “I swear, Jacqueline Fraser, I’ll spank you like you’ve never been spanked before if you take one step closer to her,” Connor yelled, but Jacqueline ignored his threat.

  Jacqueline moved slowly towards Catherine afraid if she spooked her she would light the walls, killing all the children inside. She tried to drown out the sounds of the parents who had gathered around and were begging Catherine to let their children go. She also blocked out the calls of her husband, Da, and father by marriage, who she could tell were not happy with her.

  “Let the lass go, please, Catherine,” Jacqueline said softly one more time as she stepped within an arm span of Catherine. “She’s done nothing to you, please, let her go.”

  “I’m going to make you watch these children die, and then I’m going to kill you so your baby will die also,” Catherine hissed at her.

  Jacqueline moved so quickly Catherine never had a chance to react. She sprung forward, with one hand snatching the lit torch out of Catherine’s grasp and the other grabbing the little girl Catherine had loosened her grip on. Jacqueline quickly flung herself with the little girl on top of her to the ground just as an arrow penetrated Catherine’s chest dead center, killing her instantly. Jacqueline looked over at Fiona who still had her bow held in position.