Courage of a Highlander

by Katy Baker

  There were only three patients in the infirmary today—a youth who’d been kicked by a horse, a middle-aged woman who’d come to have a dressing on a scalded wrist changed, and an elderly man with a bad cough.

  Lucy led Kara over to the old man. He was sitting on his narrow cot, whittling at a piece of wood with a knife. He looked up as they approached and gave them a wide smile.

  He appeared to be in his seventies with wild white hair and a short beard. Blue eyes peered out from a nest of wrinkles and they sparkled with intelligence.

  “Ah, young Lucy! Is it that time again already?”

  Before Lucy could reply, the man broke into a hacking cough. Lucy hurried to his side. She poured warm water into a mug, stirred in some honey and held it out to the man.

  “Here, you old hound. Drink this.”

  The man took the cup gratefully and sipped it. “Thank ye, lass,” he muttered, wiping his mouth. “I canna wait to be rid of this malady. Being cooped up in here will surely send me to an early grave!”

  “Hush,” Lucy admonished. “Don’t say things like that. You’ll be with us a good few years yet, old friend. You’re as strong as an oak tree.” She beckoned Kara over. “And I’ve brought someone to meet you. This is Kara Buchanan – the visitor you’ve heard so much about. Kara, I’d like you to meet Dougie Harris. He was Andrew’s steward when I first came to Dun Arnwick. He’s been retired a few years now, although you’d not realize it with the amount he likes to stick his nose in!”

  Dougie frowned. “If I didnae stick my nose in ye’d all soon be in a mess!”

  Kara held out her hand for Dougie to shake. “Pleased to meet you, Dougie.”

  Dougie smiled, making him appear much younger, then took Kara’s hand and kissed the back of it as genteelly as any courtier. “Mighty pleased to make yer acquaintance, Kara Buchanan.”

  Lucy rolled her eyes. “You old charmer.” She handed Kara a mug and some powdered herbs. “I’ll go and check on Elaine. Make sure he takes his medicine, Kara, and don’t let him wriggle out of it! He’ll try and sweet-talk you given half a chance!”

  Dougie gave her a wide-eyed innocent look. “As if I would!”

  Lucy smiled and then left Kara alone with Dougie. He patted the chair next to his bed and Kara obediently sat. “I’ve been dying to meet ye since ye arrived but Tyrant Lucy reckoned I wasnae up to it. So, how are ye finding Dun Arnwick, lass?”

  Kara thought about this for a moment. “Warm,” she said at last. Dougie gave her a puzzled look and Kara laughed lightly. “It’s the best word I can think of. I don’t mean in a literal temperature type sense – it’s downright freezing at the moment – I mean the people. Everyone has been so welcoming it’s like being at home but not at home.”

  “I’m glad,” Dougie said, smiling. “It must be very unsettling for ye being ripped away from yer home like that. Our Lucy was the same. I remember when she first came to us, all wide-eyed and unsure. But after a while it was like she’d always been here.”

  Kara’s eyes came to rest on the piece of wood lying in Dougie’s lap. “What are you carving?”

  “I’m nay sure,” Dougie replied. “It will find its own shape in the end – they always do.”

  He broke into another fit of coughing, chest heaving in great racking hacks. Kara patted him on the back then dropped the herbs Lucy had left into the water and stirred it. It gave out a sour, acrid smell. What she wouldn’t give for a packet of lozenges right now. Or even better – some antibiotics!

  “Easy,” Kara mumbled, rubbing Dougie’s back. “It’ll pass in a moment.”

  The coughing fit eased and Kara handed him the medicine. Dougie took it gingerly, sniffed it, and pulled a face.

  Kara gave him a flat look. “Drink it. All of it.”

  Dougie frowned. “My, ye are as bad as Lucy.” But he drank the mixture, wincing at the acrid taste and handed her back the empty cup. “I hear there’s been nay sign of Irene MacAskill. I’m nay surprised. That woman is mischief incarnate.”

  “Irene? You know her?” Kara asked eagerly. “Do you know where she lives?”

  Dougie shook his head. “I’ve met the woman a few times is all. She came to attend Lucy when both Aiden and Beth were born. Didn’t talk to her much. Scared me a little, truth be told.” He scratched his head. “Ye have to be careful where the Fae are concerned and I’d rather say nothing at all then say something wrong and end up offending her. As for where she lives – nobody can answer that one. She turns up where she wills, when she wills it.”

  Kara sighed.

  Dougie patted her hand. “But she’ll be back when she’s good and ready.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Kara said, forcing a smile.

  The morning passed in easy companionship. Kara bustled around the infirmary, helping Lucy and Beth with the patients. She found herself singing softly as she worked.

  She suddenly realized that the room had grown very still. The hum of Beth and Lucy’s conversation had stilled. Kara looked up to find them both staring at her with an odd expression on their faces. She froze in the act of unrolling a bandage.

  “What?” she asked. “Oh wait, I haven’t got my dress on inside out have I? Or food smeared around my mouth?” She meant it as a joke but neither Beth nor Lucy smiled. Instead they shared a long look.

  “What is it?” Kara asked again. “You’re both looking at me like I’ve grown a second head!”

  “What were you singing just now?” Lucy asked.

  “I...um...” Kara stammered. “It wasn’t that bad, was it? It’s nothing. Just nonsense words.”

  “Not nonsense,” Lucy said. “Gaelic. A very old dialect of Gaelic in fact.”

  Kara gave them a puzzled look. “But I don’t know any Gaelic.”

  “And the song ye were singing was old too,” Beth added. “A song every child knows. It tells the story of how the Fae founded Alba many millennia ago.”

  “Oh,” Kara said. “Isn’t that strange? I must have picked it up as a child.” But for the life of her she couldn’t remember ever having heard it before.

  “Well, ye seem to have a knack for it,” Dougie said from his bed in the corner. “Although yer pronunciation is a little odd.” He rubbed his chin. “I could teach ye if ye’d like.”

  Kara thought of all those books in the library written in Gaelic. How much knowledge would she have access to if she could read them? “You’d do that?” she asked.

  The old man waved a hand. “It’s not like I’ve much else to occupy my time now is it? I’d be delighted.”

  “Then I’d be delighted to learn. Thanks!”

  Kara finished her round in the infirmary and then made her way back into the castle proper. She was beginning to know her way around and managed to find her way down to the Great Hall without getting lost. She stuck her head in but saw that it was almost empty at this time of day, with just a few maids sweeping. She made her way outside and stood on the top steps, looking out over the bailey. Jamie approached her with a big bundle of sticks perched on his shoulder.

  “Good day, lass!” he boomed. Jamie never seemed to do anything quietly. “How are ye this fine Highland afternoon?”

  Kara smiled at him. Aiden’s uncle was always ready with a smile or a joke. Kara had liked him immediately. “I’m very well. And if you call this a fine afternoon I’d hate to see an ‘unfine’ one.” The sky was slate gray and the wind howled around the bailey like a banshee.

  Jamie barked a laugh and moved past Kara and through the door. He paused on the threshold and looked back. “Oh, ye’ll find him in the stables by the way.” He winked at her and disappeared inside.

  Kara didn’t need to ask who he was referring to. Her cheeks warmed. Was she that obvious?

  She hurried down the steps and across the bailey to the stables. She heard voices within and halted in the doorway where she got a good view of the dim interior. Aiden was standing on the far side, surrounded by a gaggle of Dun Arnwick children.

  “A
nd then what happened?” one of them asked. “My da says ye beat ten men with yer bare hands!”

  Aiden laughed. “Yer da should know better than filling yer head with such stories. No man could face such odds.” He crouched so he was at eye level with the children. “Aye, we won that battle but only because everyone worked together. A real warrior is really only as strong as the comrade guarding his back or the loyal steed carrying him.” He reached out and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Ye’ll learn that when ye are old enough to begin yer training.”

  The boy, a small, sandy-haired youth of about eight, sighed dramatically. “But that’s ages away! I want to start training now! I want to fight for the king just like ye did!”

  Aiden shook his head. “There’ll be plenty of time for that, lad. Dinna be so keen to grow up.”

  Kara smiled and her heart swelled at the sight of Aiden with the children. He was a big man, tall, muscular with an inborn strength. A warrior born and bred. And yet around the children he was gentle and patient. He would make an amazing father.

  Aiden looked up suddenly and spotted her. “Now, why dinna ye go and pester the Lady Kara?”

  The children looked her way and their eyes widened. They came rushing over and surrounded her, just as they had Aiden.

  “Lady Kara!” said the same boy who’d been quizzing Aiden. “Can we have another story? I want to hear more stories from America!”

  “Aye! America!” the others piped up.

  Kara laughed. “Was the story of Tom Thumb not enough for you?” She’d soon discovered that sixteenth century highlanders were suckers for stories. They couldn’t get enough of them. Kara had been dragged into telling one by the fire in the Great Hall every night since she’d arrived. It looked like she wasn’t about to be let off the hook any time soon. “Okay!” she said, holding up her hands in surrender. “You win! How about I tell you the story of the Princess and the Pea tonight?”

  The children cheered, nodding enthusiastically.

  “Off with ye now,” Aiden gently chided. “I’m sure yer mothers have chores ye should be doing and I have a horse to groom.”

  The children filed out, leaving Kara alone with Aiden.

  “Ye’ve made quite the impression,” he said. “Ye are a natural with them.”

  “As are you. Who would have thought it—Aiden Harris, baby-sitter extraordinaire?”

  He laughed. “Who would have thought it—Kara Buchanan, clan storyteller extraordinaire?”

  His gaze caught hers and held it. “Yes,” she murmured. “Who would have thought it?”

  For a moment they stared at each other in silence then Aiden cleared his throat and walked over to a stall at the back where his big black stallion was munching on a nose-bag. Aiden took a curry comb from the rack and approached the stable.

  “What can I do for ye, lass?” he asked.

  “I wanted to run an idea past you.”

  “Oh?”

  “I want to do something to repay everyone’s kindness. Dougie is going to teach me Gaelic so I can decipher the books in the library. A lot of them are histories and genealogies. I’d like to write a history of the clan. What do you think?”

  Aiden thought for a moment. “A history of Clan Harris? I’m sure it will be a bloody tale. We weren’t always as civilized as we are now. Still, it would be an interesting tale nay doubt.”

  “That’s what I thought. There are scraps of stories and family trees in the library but they’re all over the place. I thought it might be nice to collect them all in one place.”

  Aiden nodded. “And I’m sure Dougie and some of the older clansfolk can help ye out with oral histories as well. That tends to be the way stories are passed down. It’s a shame Old Mona isn’t with us anymore. She was the housekeeper when I was a lad. She was full of old stories.”

  “So you think it’s a good idea?”

  He smiled at her. “Aye, lass. Why not? Anything that keeps ye out of trouble is a good thing in my opinion.”

  “Trouble? I don’t get myself into trouble!”

  “Oh? Climbing fences, breaking into warehouses, stealing artifacts?”

  “Oh, yeah. Apart from that.”

  They grinned at each other and Kara felt her breath catch in her throat. The shafts of light coming through the windows caught and illuminated Aiden’s form, turning his skin to burnished bronze. Her stomach tightened.

  She stepped back hastily and cleared her throat. “Right. Great. I’ll leave you to her your...um...horsey things.”

  Aiden nodded. “Aye. I’ll see ye tonight at supper?”

  “You bet.”

  She turned and walked away thinking that the few hours between now and supper would seem like an eternity.

  Chapter 11

  “Would ye both care for more mint tea?” Elsa asked.

  Aiden shook his head but Kara held her mug out gratefully. The crofter made the most wonderful tea Kara had ever tasted. She smiled and nodded her thanks as Elsa refilled her mug from a big kettle hanging over the fireplace in this cozy one-roomed cottage.

  Aiden handed his empty cup to Elsa and then leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees. He looked at Machie, Elsa’s husband, who was seated on a chair by the fire, enjoying a dram of whisky.

  “So tell us what happened,” he instructed the man, a balding farmer somewhere past his middle years. “Is it right ye saw Irene MacAskill?”

  Kara found herself leaning forward eagerly. Word had come to Dun Arnwick this morning that Irene had been spotted near a croft to the east of the castle. It was the first news they’d received since Andrew had sent out riders over three weeks ago. She and Aiden had ridden out straight away, with three of Dun Arnwick’s guardsmen for company.

  Machie rubbed his bristly jowls. “I canna say whether it was this Irene woman ye speak of,” he said in a deep voice. “She didnae introduce herself but she fits the description that came down from the castle. I wouldnae have thought anything of it if we hadnae heard word ye were searching for such a woman.” He threw back the rest of his whisky, put his cup down on the small, rickety table by the fire and leaned forward. “It was two days ago now. Late and already dark. I was doing my rounds of the fields, checking all was well before I turned in for the night. Normally I see not a soul, us being a long way from the road and all that. But this night I spied a light moving along the trail ahead of me. I thought it mighty strange as any traveler out here must be lost indeed so I caught up with the light. Turns out it was a tiny woman old enough to be me dearly departed mam. She was carrying a lantern and striding along as happy as they come.”

  He sat back in his chair and stretched out his legs, lacing his fingers over his ample paunch. “I asked her if she needed any assistance and she reached up and tousled my hair as though I was naught but a child and told me she was fine and to run along as Elsa would be waiting. And I did. I dinna know why but it was like I couldnae disobey her even if I wanted to. Well, I told Elsa about it when I got home but by the morning I’d all but forgotten her. It wasnae until yer father’s messenger came this way with her description that I remembered.”

  “And this was two days ago ye say?” Aiden asked.

  “Aye.”

  “Have ye seen any sign of her since?”

  “Nay, lord. Naught. Not even any footprints in the mud the next day. She was heading east if that’s any help.”

  Aiden nodded. “Ye have my thanks. It’s the first news we’ve had of her and I’m grateful for ye bringing it to us.”

  Machie waved a hand. “Always a pleasure to be of service, my lord.”

  Kara smiled at Machie and Elsa. “You’ve been most hospitable. Thanks for your help.” She frowned in concentration and then said, “Tapadh leat.” Thankyou.

  Machie and Elsa smiled and replied. “S e do bheatha.” You’re welcome.

  Kara nodded. She’d been at Dun Arnwick for over three weeks now and had taken every opportunity to practice the Gaelic Dougie was teaching her. In truth, she was e
njoying learning it. There was something about the language that felt natural, like a language she’d once known and forgotten.

  She and Aiden stood and, bidding farewell to the crofters, made their way outside where the three guardsmen were waiting with the horses. Kara balked at the sight of the big black mare she’d been given to ride. She’d been assured that she was the most placid horse in the Dun Arnwick stables but Kara was still less than confident as a rider.

  “I’m sorry, lass,” Aiden said. “I was hoping we’d get more. If the sighting was two days ago Irene could be anywhere by now.”

  Kara nodded. She’d been so excited this morning when word had come to the castle of a sighting of Irene. For the last three weeks worry had been gnawing at her. She wondered what Devereux would be up to, what damage he was doing. She had to get back to her time and stop him. And yet, as she thought about it, she wasn’t quite as disappointed as she should be. She glanced up at Aiden then quickly away when she found him watching her.

  “At least we know she’s still nearby,” she said. “And which direction she was heading.”

  “Aye,” Aiden agreed. “I will send riders to the villages in that direction. Dinna worry, lass. We’ll find her soon.”

  For some reason that thought didn’t make her feel better. Instead, it made her sad. When they found Irene MacAskill, she would be going home and that meant leaving. Leaving Dun Arnwick and her new friends.

  Leaving Aiden.

  He was still staring at her. She couldn’t read the look in his eyes but she didn’t like the effect it had on her. More and more in the last few weeks she’d found herself drawn to him. She found herself looking for him when she walked into a room. She found herself thinking about him when he wasn’t there. She found herself dreaming about him at night.