Hector looked over at Jack. "Tell me what ye know, Jack."
"Oh, Hector. It's a difficult story. But Caitlin's obviously struggling and we don't know what to do to help her." He stood looking down at his feet, shaking his head and rubbing his forehead with his hand. His head ached like the very devil.
"Hector, ye just had to be there to believe it! Caitlin brought down the demons of hell on that man! But, he would have killed Millie and the babe, and probably me and Alex too, otherwise."
"The babe. It belongs to the tall woman?" asked Hector.
"Millie, yes. The babe's only a week or so old, but she's doing well. Millie has managed to care for her through this whole ordeal."
"And how do ye know this Millie?"
"Oh, I don't. Or didn't. She came to the castle with Caitlin and Alex. And I was sleeping on the floor, and Caitlin tripped over me. And then Millie came down the stairs and tried to take my head off."
Jack saw the look on Hector's face.
"Hector. Listen to me. I'm telling ye it happened, man!"
"Jack, let's get some food into ye, and some rest, I think."
"Hector, I'm all right. I know it sounds crazy, and it is. But we've got to find a way to save Caitlin. She's pretty well gone, I'm afraid. And Alex is beside himself with worry."
The two brothers watched helplessly as Alex stood by Caitlin's bed, holding her hand.
"Her breathing is very shallow, and I'm no healer, but I know that can't be good," said Alex.
"Aye, I see it, too," said Jack.
"I'll get Millie back here, but she's no healer either. But, she may know something we don't know."
Jack brought Millie back, and he took the baby, holding it nestled up on his shoulder, as usual. Alex and Hector passed a look between themselves — what was this? Something here they didn't understand, yet?
Millie turned the blankets back, looking Caitlin over carefully.
"Oh my, Alex. The only thing I can tell is that her leg is much more swollen. We must loosen the wrappings and see if that will allow the swelling to go down some. I wonder if maybe the bone has been misplaced again, maybe from the jostling in the cart. But, this is not anything I know much about. We need some help. Is there no one up here?"
"Nae, lass, not just now." Daniel had come into the room.
"Annie was our healer for the longest, but she went on too, just shortly after my Alice. So we've been without a healer for some time now."
"Then we'll send to Edinburgh if need be!" shouted Alex, getting up and pacing around the room.
"We'll not let her die, I tell ye!"
He was down on his knees, taking Caitlin's hand in his. It was so very cold, so small. His fear was evident to all in the room, and fear was something that Alex didn't wear very well.
With a quick jerk of his head, Jack motioned for everyone to leave Alex with his Caitlin. He needed to talk with her by himself.
* * *
Ian's tea was a very fine one. It was a most unusual one Mam had kept in the top part of her cupboard.
"Mam said this tea came from India, and she saved it for special occasions." Smiling, he continued with his pouring of the tea as best he could.
"To me, having everyone back home is a very special occasion."
Jack's head gave him an awful ache, but he took time to give a short version of what had happened since he left. Was it truly only a short time? Somehow, it seemed like ages to him. He left out a few details that were just too difficult to explain and, thankfully, no one asked for more information. He had an inkling that Da might corner him later, but not just now.
Jack took Millie back to a fairly large room, two rooms actually, near the rear of the lodge. It was much quieter back here, and he thought Millie and the infant would appreciate some privacy. These rooms were actually the quarters where Da and Mam had slept when she was alive. But when she was no longer with them, Da had taken to sleeping in the small room next to the kitchen. He just didn’t like being in those large rooms without Alice. Anyway, this way he could always have the coffee on the stove when his boys got up and came to the kitchen. He always said the scent of brewing coffee filled the house and had them all getting up. The real reason was that it gave him a small bit of purpose, a reason to get up each day.
Millie was never so surprised.
"Oh, my! I never expected such comfort on a sheep farm! The coverings on the bed are very fine. I'm sure they are handmade. Someone spent a lot of time making those lace edgings on the sheets. And curtains that reach the floor! And this rug is like walking on the softest wool."
Jack smiled and left her to herself. She walked around the room which had another door across from the bed. Probably a closet. But when she opened it, she was ever so excited.
"What? Oh, I've landed in heaven!" There was a large, rectangular wooden tub for bathing sitting in the middle of the floor in the tiny closet. So, the bath she so longed for could become a reality.
* * *
Alex paced from one end of the room to the other, thinking, thinking. What to do. Caitlin needed help, Where could he find someone to help her?
Just then, he walked outside, looking at the sky to see if more snow was on the way. As he stood on the porch, which reached from one end of the lodge to the other, an owl came breezing by and found a resting place on a branch of the spruce tree just at the edge of the porch. Alex looked at the owl and wondered why in the world a bird would be out in this cold. Surely he had a warm nest in a barn somewhere, maybe even in their barn. But, the owl just sat there, not moving a feather. That got Alex to thinking about the falcon he had seen in the castle, sitting on the window seat. There had been an owl outside there also. They were easy to spot with their tufted spot between their ears. They were another of nature's wonders, Alex thought. He turned to go back inside and as he did, the owl took flight and with a great show of grace, sailed upward and was gone from sight within seconds.
Alex stayed by Caitlin's bedside for some time. Then, having made a decision, he came back out to the kitchen where they were all gathered. His quick, long stride revealed his state of mind.
"I'm going down to Edinburgh. There's a doctor there, one I know from my time at university. If anyone can help Caitlin, it's this man. Standing by her bed and watching her die is not my way. So, if ye all will care for her, then I'll be on my way. Hector, I need a fresh horse, And Ian, make a small packet of food for me. I need to go now."
And that same determined stride carried him outside awaiting his brothers. It was at this point that Hector saw Jack and Caitlin weren't the only wounded ones.
"Alex! What happened to yer hand, man? Git over here. Let me take a look at it."
Hector had dressed a number of wounds on the battlefield himself, and saw that this could turn out to be a very problematic one if not cleaned and bandaged properly.
"Sit down — now brother." And he carefully cleaned the wound and wrapped it with clean cloths from Mam's closet. She was always prepared for disasters as living in the Highlands had taught her to be.
Alex said his goodbyes, except to Caitlin. He refused to say goodbye to her. That was unthinkable.
CHAPTER 67
Wabi was very glad to be back home in his own cottage. The walkabout had certainly been unusual and not what he usually experienced. But, he was content that Caitlin was starting hew new life in the Highlands with the MacKinnons. Alex was a good choice for her. And she would be able to use her healing skills again. Maybe she would finally have the large family she had always hoped for.
This was the first time Wabi had ever made his trek during the cold months. Usually he went in the spring when nature was waking up again after her long winter's sleep. The air was different then. New buds were beginning to open and the next generation of the various species would be bursting forth all around. But, he did admit that walking in the snow had its own appeal. Even the trees, having discarded their clothing, had their own beauty, their naked limbs exposed for all to see. Yes,
he thought, each season has its purpose, just as we all have ours.
The leaves totally covered the ground surrounding the place, and it looked like an artist had carefully painted each leaf a different color — red, ochre, and sienna. There were even some small petals that looked like faded bluebells. Sometimes a walkabout also heightened your senses, and that was always to his liking.
This morning, seeing smoke coming from her chimney, Wabi, with old Groucho tagging along beside him, had called on Mrs. Favŕe. She was such a good conversationalist, but never asked questions that were too inquisitive. She had an understanding, it seemed, that Wabi had some characteristics unique to him, and she accepted he was more than met the eye. She was ever so glad to see him.
"Wabi, you're back. And you are well, I see. Good. And Groucho, it's always wonderful to see you, handsome man." She reached down and rubbed the old cat along his back, which was something he always enjoyed.
"Come, let's have some tea and you can tell me all about your walkabout."
Mrs. Favŕe invited him to return for dinner — bribed him with promise of one of her truffle soufflés— knowing he couldn't resist. Certainly not one to disappoint, Wabi accepted the invitation and was looking forward to the evening. He would bring some special wine for the occasion.
Chopping wood was the order of the day, however. Having been gone for some time now, he needed to complete a few chores to get things back in order. Stacking the logs neatly beside the shed, he started in again on his next small tree, beginning to chop it into pieces that would fit his fireplace. Just then his ears picked up a sound that only he would recognize. It was a friend coming in, and making a show of it as always. Owl slowed quickly and let his feathers ruffle in the wind as he landed on Wabi's shoulder.
"Well, my friend! To what do I owe this surprise?"
Wabi hadn't had a report from Owl since leaving the castle, but then didn't really expect to now that Caitlin was "on her own" so to speak.
"Master. I'm afraid this is not a casual visit. I come with disturbing news of Caitlin." Wabi put his axe down and looked at Owl.
"But, I just had communication with her yesterday. She was debating using her powers, but it was apparent to me that she did in fact use them. The communication stopped abruptly, and I'm pretty sure she acted on her impulse. So, what? Is she in trouble already? She knows how to call me." Wabi had most definitely felt Caitlin could handle herself now and really had not worried about her for one second.
"Oh, well, yes, I suppose you might call it trouble. She made a fine show of using her powers. It was a very dire scene, Master. She called upon all her intuition and powers and destroyed a most vile man, one who would have killed all of them, no doubt. But that's not the problem. Her broken leg was causing her great pain already, and then she traveled in that ridiculous cart, which was beneath her dignity! She could have used time weaving if she wished! I think traveling in that contraption reinjured her leg. The scene with the wicked Warwick man took what was left of her energies, and she collapsed. Then that soldier showed up again! And between Caitlin and the one called Alex, he was taken care of also. But, after that she hasn't been conscious at all. I fear she may not be able to contact you, for certainly she would have done so were she able. Master, she is in a very bad way."
"What? Campbell didn't die at the well? And Warwick showed up also? Oh, Caitlin. Did I let you go too soon?"
Wabi pulled at his beard, as usual, and immediately made a decision. Some things can't wait, and this was one of them. He quickly penned a note to Mrs. Favŕe and put it in Owl's beak.
"Owl, take this to Aned, deposit it at her front door. Quickly, now. Then come back here. We have much to do."
Wabi knew Aned would understand; he had no worries about that. Meanwhile, he had to mentally prepare himself for traveling, and this time it would not be on foot.
Owl was back as Wabi finished his preparations. Time weaving was exhilarating, always, but my goodness, he was getting too old for this stuff!
"Owl, you must travel with me this time. I may need your assistance when we arrive."
"Oh, Master! You know how I hate this time and place weaving business! It makes my head spin!"
"Your head spins anyway, my friend," said Wabi, recalling the times he had watched his feathered friend turn his head almost all the way around.
"Well, yes, I suppose it does. Very well then. Let's get it over with."
Wabi would find her. He took his crooked staff and lying down on the ground, prone, with his head facing North, he began his chant, the same chant he had made in all his lives. Owl felt his feathers begin to flutter in the wind as it slowly began to lift them from the earth. What happened after that, Owl was never quite sure about. But a whirlwind came through, picked them up, and they entered some very dark place filled with twinkling lights — maybe stars — and moved at such speed that Owl could hardly get his breath! Wabi was still chanting and now Owl could no longer see him, but knew his spirit was still there. He could sense it. Then there was a loud chorus of voices, singing in so many languages it made Owl dizzy. And still Master Wabi continued to chant. Suddenly, they were being sucked down, down, down, into an endless chasm it seemed to Owl.
"Oh, why did I agree to this again!" screeched Owl, drawing his wings as close to his body as he possibly could.
"Master, surely there is an easier route I must say!" Sometimes his proper, English accent was so clipped that Wabi had to laugh at him.
In another moment, they both landed with a plop! Picking himself up, Wabi brushed at his clothing and looked to see that Owl had made the trip in one piece. He and Owl had traveled many times, but it could be a hazardous undertaking at times.
"Come, Owl. Let's get to work."
As they got their feet firmly planted and got their bearings, Wabi looked about. Ah, yes. They had made it to the right place. In the distance was a rather unexpected building, a lodge, he thought.
"Owl, I believe we have arrived at our destination."
"Yes, Master. This is the place where we will find Caitlin."
Leaning on his staff that he always traveled with, Wabi began the long walk up to the lodge, with Owl flying along beside him. In just a moment, however, they were surprised to see a rider coming toward them at breakneck speed.
"That poor horse will never be able to go very far at that pace!" Said Wabi.
"Master, that would be Alex, the one that is so attached to our Caitlin."
"Yes, of course, Alex. Good, he'll be able to tell us what has happened. We'll talk with him a moment."
Owl quickly flew up and perched on Wabi's shoulder in order to get his attention.
"Master. She needs help now. We don't have time to make conversation with this man. He's a man of few words, anyway. We must hurry, I fear."
Wabi nodded and began to run to the lodge, using his staff to help him move quickly. Alex was almost on them now and he saw that Wabi was supporting himself with his crooked staff. He pulled on the reins and stopped.
"Wabi! How did you get here?" Alex yelled.
"Oh, whatever way I can. Tell me what's happened to Caitlin. I know she's in trouble."
"She's here, inside, and she's very ill. I'm headed to Edinburgh to find Dr. Lind. I hope that he may be able to help her."
"No, Alex. That will take too long and Owl tells me she's critical. Take me to her. I can help her, hurry now!"
Alex was in a quandary. Should he believe this old man? Or, should he move on as quickly as possible? Getting to Edinburgh and back in time to help Caitlin was a long shot, he knew that. But, there didn't seem to be anything else to do. He couldn't just stand by her bed and watch her die. He would not do that!
But Wabi had made that statement with such conviction — "I can help her" — that Alex found himself turning his horse around and pulling Wabi up behind him.
"Hold on! We'll be there in a second!" And they were.
Rushing through the front door, Wabi could feel Caitlin's spirit an
d went directly to her room. Alex just watched and looked from Jack to Hector.
Jack nodded. "Yes, let him go to her. He can help her if anyone can. I've seen him in action!" He wasn't sure whether to be thankful Wabi was here or whether to be ready for another spectacular event that would set everyone's hair on fire!
CHAPTER 68
Wabi and Owl entered the room, closing the door behind them. Some rituals were not for everyone's eyes and Wabi preferred to keep his interventions known only to himself, if possible. Caitlin would need his undivided attention and he wanted no distractions from others. As always, Owl was there. He was always standing by when his master needed him.
Within just a few minutes of Wabi entering Caitlin's room, a rumble could be heard coming from far away, then beginning to get closer and louder.
"Oh, good glory! Here we go again!" Jack had raised his voice and felt himself trembling. He looked over to Alex and Hector. Grabbing his brothers' arms he yelled, "Just hold on! It will pass quickly!"
Of course, he hoped it would. But his heart was racing and his palms were sweaty. The rumble passed and a brief quiver was felt throughout the house. Jack held his breath, wondering what was coming now. For just a brief moment, the air seemed to sizzle, making a tinkling sound like bells in a windstorm — many, many bells. Then all was quiet. Jack was not the only one who wanted this to be over with. Alex and Hector looked about as if wondering what they should be doing next.
Inside the room, Wabi took a look at Caitlin and his heart sank.
"Oh, my dear child, why didn't you call me earlier? He was not sure even he could bring her back from the place where she resided presently. Wabi put a hand on either side of her face and could feel her life force was so very weak. It would take every ounce of power he could muster to find her, and even then she might not choose to come back. It was always a choice the person had to make.
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