Highland Healer

by Florence Love Karsner

  "Where's Jack? And Hector?" asked Ian, trying his best to be as brave about his condition as he was sure his older brothers would be. Being a MacKinnon meant you had to always carry yourself with pride and your actions should always be honorable, showing a certain amount of self-determination and fortitude. So, to give in to his feelings at the moment, of helplessness and self pity, did not fit this expectation.

  "Our brothers are safe, nearby, camped out in the forest. We're just waiting for the healer to let us take ye home. But she says we can't go just yet, so ye just keep quiet as she said. We'll be going home soon, lad, I promise."

  Ian was exhausted just from this small exchange and lay back down again without looking at his wounded leg — with the lower part missing. It was too much to take in just yet.

  Walking out the cave entrance, Caitlin gave the silent "come" signal to Willie, and he was immediately at her side. Alex came out behind her, and was surprised when the wolf nudged him behind the knee.

  "Well, now, I don't believe I've ever met a wolf before." But, he was glad the animal didn't think he was a threat. He WAS a very large wolf and Alex had seen first hand what wolves can do when they are angry. He slowly scratched the wolf behind the ears, like he did his own two herding dogs at home, and the beast seemed to like it too.

  "Willie seems to approve of you. And he keeps secrets well also." Caitlin smiled at Alex and walked with him over to the trees where his horse was tethered. Most animals, especially horses, don't want to be in the presence of wolves. But, Willie seemed to have a way of communicating with other animals, and this was amazing to Caitlin. When she first started taking him with her to the village, the people were a bit wary, but somehow none of the other animals seemed to fear him. Uncle Wabi always said that some animals have ways of talking to their fellow creatures. Caitlin was sure that Willie was one of those.

  "Did ye know that ye have a 'resident' great horned owl?" asked Alex, smiling down at the healer. He had seen the large bird yesterday when they came, and the gorgeous creature was here again this morning.

  Caitlin put her hand up to shelter her eyes, spotting the rather large owl high up in the tree. The owl looked back at her also, his huge eyes never leaving her face.

  "Oh, yes, he showed up the same day I found the cave and seems to have made himself at home in that rowan tree. I rather like having him around as he greets me every morning and again in the evening if I venture outside, which I don't do very often. Uncle Wabi says owls are good to have around. He thinks they are more intelligent and have special powers. But then, Uncle Wabi thinks everything has special powers!"

  "Uncle Wabi? What an usual name, I would think. Don't believe I've heard that one before."

  "Well, that's not exactly right. After my grandparents passed on, Wabi stepped in and cared for me as well as they had. That seems surprising in a man, you might think, but not for him. Caring for others just seems to be part of his nature. Anyway, his proper name is Rusephus Rhoden Wabi-Sen-su. And, he's not actually my uncle. He was a close friend of my mother and father, and he actually lived next door to my grandparents when I was a child. Apparently the name Wabi has been used for many generations in his family, and is the name he prefers. He was always at all family functions, and he just became Uncle Wabi to me. He's a most interesting man and I love him dearly."

  She grinned just thinking about Uncle Wabi. He was such a special person and she missed him greatly. He had taught her so very much about life and animals, and was a great storyteller. He knew more folklore than anyone. She listened to his stories every night as a child. Some of them were very interesting and, at times, she felt she had actually known those people by the time he was finished with his story.

  "Does you uncle live close by also?" Alex found it most disturbing that the healer was alone inside a cave with only a wolf and an owl for companionship.

  "Oh, no. He still lives on the Isle of Skye, as I did until rather recently. A very long story I'm afraid," and her voice trailed off and she hoped Alex wouldn't push the issue. Caitlin could tell this man was very perceptive and had probably already figured out there was more to this story than he knew. There were just some things she needed to keep to herself and she hoped he understood that.

  "The Isle of Skye, ye say? If memory serves me, my people originally came from there, but my memory is not the best! Our bard, Uncle Andrew, will know for sure. His memory is something to behold." He walked up to his horse and adjusted the stirrups on his saddle, twisting them a bit and pulling on the leather.

  "So, will we be able to take Ian with us tomorrow, healer?"

  "Oh. I don't know, Alex. He's young and strong, but he's been gravely wounded. Let's see how he is tomorrow and then we can make plans for him to go home with you. I know that's what you want, and it's what I want for him. Being home will be the best medicine for him all right."

  "I see. Then I'll call tomorrow, with yer permission, of course." He smiled as he thought about Caitlin admonishing him for "barging" in earlier.

  "Yes. See you tomorrow. And remember. Tell no one where you're going and be sure no one follows you. Our agreement."

  "Yes, Caitlin. I remember." He mounted his horse then and disappeared quickly into the trees beyond.

  * * *

  After riding for some time, Alex found his brothers just where he had left them earlier that same morning.

  "Ho, Alex! But where's wee Ian?" Jack was on his feet grabbing at Alex's mount and holding the animal so his brother could climb down.

  "He's no with ye? I knew not to trust that woman! What did she do with him? Remember, one of the villagers whispered she might be a witch or a sorcerer!" The horse was shying to one side trying to get away from the fear he sensed in the loudly speaking brother.

  Alex swung his leg over the horse and dismounted.

  "Hold on, big brother. Ian does well. The healer's taken great care of him, and he's resting as best he can. I spoke with him for a few minutes, and he's aware of what's happened. 'Twas hard for him, but he's a MacKinnon after all. Made of strong stuff, he is. And if she's a witch, then, that's all right too. She knows her business and our Ian is proof of that."

  "So, why is he not with ye?" Hector had joined the other two and, in his usual way, was trying to figure out what was really going on .

  Alex took the mug of coffee Hector was holding out and swallowed with a gulp.

  "Well, the healer says he's doing well, but we can't move him just yet. I'm to return tomorrow and she'll tell me what we must do."

  He started pacing slowly, walking between the brothers, sipping the coffee. The warm drink was welcome as it was getting to be a bit chilly the higher up the country they went.

  Alex stopped abruptly, "But, I've been thinking on this while riding back here. We need to put our heads together and come up with a plan of our own, just in case we don't like hers!" Alex was unaccustomed to letting others make plans for him or his family. But, this healer, this Caitlin, was a formidable person, no question of that. He was still thinking about her smile, her hair with its many shades of the sunset, and watching her hands as they worked their magick on Ian. Yes, quite formidable.

  CHAPTER 8

  Last evening when Caitlin was doing her final check on Ian before retiring, she would have sworn she smelled a scent that she recognized, but could not place. She knew it was from a very long time ago. But even this morning she still couldn't put her finger on it. She had been leaning over Ian, tucking his blankets close to his thin body. Then as she laid her hand on Ian's cheek and stroked it gently, she almost remembered her own cheek being touched — like a mother would stroke a child's cheek. But, she had never known her mother, so that memory couldn't be real, could it? That's so strange, she thought. She was always able to attach a memory to most scents.

  The healer had spent a restless night. Whether that was due to the fact she kept checking on her young patient, or found herself thinking far too much about Alexander MacKinnon, she wasn't sure. Whatever
the reason, morning came too soon. She draped her plaid over her shoulders and walked out the cave entrance. The dawn was just breaking, with pink streaks of light just at the top of the far away mountains. And, as usual, the great owl was on his perch in the rowan tree and greeted her with a "hoo hoo." He never failed to let her know he was still about. Willie had accompanied her outside and was running about, frisking in the early morning dampness, and there was a definite chill in the air that spoke of much cooler days to come.

  Somewhere, not too far off, someone must have started a fire and the smell of pine resin filled the air. Would she be warm enough in the cave? She didn't think about that when she took up residence. At the time, it was just a readymade place of safety for her and, so far, she found it to be quite comfortable. Actually, more than comfortable, very pleasant. And, she may have to think about getting another place, but not today.

  She returned to her cave and went about her morning ablutions, then tidied her "home" and herself, again pinning up the long tresses so they were out of her way when tending her young man. At present he was resting well, after the early morning brew she insisted on him drinking. She observed that he didn't even have the beginnings of a beard as yet, and he responded eagerly to her comforting touch. Yes. Just a child.

  No sooner had she gotten herself ready for the day than Willie went flying out of the cave, announcing their visitor had arrived.

  "Some watch wolf you are!" Caitlin called after him.

  She could hear a deep voice talking to the animal and shortly they were both standing at the entrance. Willie's bushy, black tail waving from side to side told her he trusted this man, so perhaps she would too.

  "And a good morning to ye healer, er Caitlin," called Alex.

  Caitlin noticed a fresh, evergreen aroma wafting in his draft. The scent seemed exactly right for him, clean and fresh, with some remembrance of another time she couldn't quite find a memory for.

  "Tis a great morning to be sure, and I'm hoping our wee brother fares well?" More of a statement than a question, but she thought he was waiting for an answer.

  Alexander MacKinnon filled the entire opening of the cave. She took note of his freshly shaven face, and his thick dark hair had been neatly combed, still curling at his collar. Yes, She had been right yesterday. He was indeed quite handsome, but she didn't think he was aware of it. She somehow had a sense he was not entirely comfortable around women. Interesting, she thought.

  "Ah, Alex, come in please. Yes, Ian is indeed doing well considering the terrible ordeal he has endured, and is still enduring I might add." My medicines will relieve some pain, but they also bring about drowsiness, and most often, sleep. But, he fares well, Alex."

  Once again, Alexander found himself having great difficulty finding words, a situation he was beginning to realize happened when in the presence of this small woman. What was it about her that caused his brain to freeze and his tongue to follow suit! But, she just seemed to brighten up the cave when she smiled, and her hair was again arranged up somehow, and again, it was beginning to fall down in wispy tendrils in various places. He felt his fingertips tingle just thinking about touching it.

  "Good Lord, man, get a grip on yeself!" he uttered under his breath. He was starting to talk to himself now it seemed!

  "Come. We'll make a pot of tea and discuss plans for Ian's return with you to your home."

  "Tea. Yes, yes, anything will be better than that bitter brew Hector serves us. He likes being the 'cook,' but some of his dishes could stand a little improvement, so some tea would be most welcome, healer."

  They sat down at her small table, and Caitlin got a large mug for him, the same one he used yesterday, and put out a smaller cup for herself. Then she poured their tea from the small teapot she kept on a shelf in her kitchen area. She had seen this small pottery teapot at one of the stalls in the village the first day she ventured out of the cave, her first outing to find out what sort of place she had landed in. The small teapot had etchings on the side that made her think of one Uncle Wabi had in his kitchen at home. He had told her the pot was passed down in the family, and it was made by an old potter from generations back. She picked it up carefully, and it fit her hand so well she decided she would ask its price, knowing she had only a very limited amount of funds to her name. Then, shaking her head, realizing she couldn't afford it at any price, she put it back down.

  Just a few days later Caitlin had set up her medicine station in the village, offering to treat the many soldiers that came through and any locals as well. So, when the old woman from the pottery stall showed up on Caitlin's first treatment day with a very swollen ankle, she had no means of paying, but offered to pay Caitlin in the manner of bartering, most common in remote villages. Apparently, the old woman remembered seeing Caitlin holding the pottery teapot some days ago.

  "Madam Healer, I have very little money to pay with, but I can offer you this teapot as payment for your services. Would you consider that?"

  Caitlin carefully lifted the teapot and looked at it again. There were etchings of a raven, a wolf, and a young girl with long hair, then a few words in a language unknown to her.

  "It is more than enough payment. I will treasure it."

  She had smiled at the old woman and carefully packed it inside her medicine bag and brought it home. She used it every day now and found the drawings most interesting.

  Turning her thoughts back to Alex, she heard him say, "So, then, Caitlin. It seems I no can take him today. So what about tomorrow?" He took a swallow of the tea, which was quite a treat for him, and reached for one of the cakes she had placed on the table. It had been some time since he had eaten food this delicious.

  "Umm. Can't remember when I've had cake. Certainly not any this good since Mam passed."

  "Some of the villagers left it at the entrance to my cave. They seem to appreciate my presence here, and I find their 'gifts' and am grateful for them. Uncle Wabi always says to never question good fortune, but accept that someone cares for you."

  Alex wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and looked directly at the woman.

  "Healer, I would eat another, but something tells me my Mam is watching and she'd call me a pig or even worse, a Highlander with poor manners. Yep. She'd pin my ears back about that for sure!" He laughed.

  The healer talked about how best to get on with taking Ian home. As it was, Alex and his brothers had already made a plan of their own, which entailed some bit of work, but Alex had decided they would proceed with it, hopefully with the healer's agreement as well. But if not, then they would probably do it anyway.

  Caitlin looked at the big Highlander sitting across from her. It seemed so natural to have this ease of conversation with this man, one who was so accustomed to being in total charge of most everything around him. He actually seemed to be listening to her and understanding what she had to say, as if it could be important.

  "Well, no, I actually think it would be better to wait another day or so, but as you need to be putting some space between yourself and those that might be seeking to find you, then maybe we should try to ready Ian for traveling as best we can. I have some personal understanding of needing to seek a place of safety, as it were, though I wish it were not so."

  "Oh, aye, our thoughts exactly. Today, Hector and Jack are making a kind of litter, if ye ken what I'm saying. It's a kind of litter that we can lay Ian on and then put it up on his horse. That way he can keep his leg, or what's left of it, straight out without bending and maybe that will keep him from jostling so much as ye talked about."

  "Yes, a litter of some kind. That might just work, Alexander MacKinnon!" Caitlin certainly understood the feeling of needing to be somewhere else, anywhere, just to stay alive. But her first concern was for her young patient.

  "Alex, you must understand the gravity of Ian's wound He's a very strong and brave young man. But, if he starts bleeding, it could be disastrous for him and all of you. You'd have to stop, bind the wound tightly, and hope that keepi
ng him still would help. But, there are no guarantees that will work. But, if you don't leave, it may be you all could find yourselves in a most difficult predicament. So, let's plan for you and the others to bring the litter here early tomorrow morning, and with everyone's strength combined, we might be able to rig this litter on the horse and gently ease Ian onto it."

  She didn't particularly like this idea, but knew they would most probably do it anyway, even without her agreement. She was quite sure when Alexander MacKinnon made a decision there was no turning back.

  "Then, that's what we'll do. I'm also afraid of moving Ian, Caitlin, but we don't have much choice in the matter. If we can just reach the upper Highlands, we can get lost in there from any outsiders. We've lived there our entire lives and know every inch of every glen and hillside. 'Tis our home and we are most anxious to return to it."

  Alex almost seemed to be talking to himself as he was staring off in the distance, and his last words were spoken almost in a whisper.

  "Aye, then I'll have him ready, early," she replied.

  Alex was loathe to leave her. He, too, was feeling that conversation with her seemed so natural he wanted to continue it. She certainly was much better company than those two heathen brothers he had to go back to!

  "So, if I may be so bold to ask, how is it ye have an understanding of seeking safety? Are ye in some danger also?"

  Alex was reluctant to press her for information, but felt she might need someone to listen also, as had he.

  "Ah, well, that's a long story, Alex, and I feel sure you would find it boring."

  "Nae, lass, anything is more interesting than going back to spend the day with those louts, Jack and Hector! Besides, they have work to do and if I leave them alone, they'll do a very fine job. When I'm around, they argue and I'm forever having to settle their disputes! So, tell me about yer troubles, healer."

  Caitlin smiled at him. It was not very often she was offered an ear, usually she was the one who was listening to the sad stories, and there were so many of them it seemed to her.