Thistles and Thieves

by Elizabeth Preston

  Vienna prattled on. “Well, of course he’s still a blood-curdling barbar Scot. That cannot be denied, but I honestly expected him to be worse.”

  Juliette nodded. “He’s as big as a mountain, isn’t he?”

  “And as bad as a bear,” her sister finished, remembering a line from a nursery tale.

  Without meaning to, Juliette added, “Kind of good-looking, all the same, in his rugged wild-man way.”

  Vienna rushed her hand to her mouth. “Did you just admit to fancying him?”

  Juliette moved back toward the window. “He could have humiliated me last night, but instead he chose not to. I suspect that, deep down, he’s a very good person.”

  The room fell silent. Juliette stared out of their narrow window opening. “It’s quiet here, not like our manor at home. I thought castles were meant to be busy, noisy places.”

  Vienna joined her sister at the window. Together they peered down at the windswept bailey below, a courtyard that was bereft of people even though it was near the middle of the morn. “Tam said we could go wandering any time we pleased.”

  Juliette grabbed her wrap. “Do you suppose he meant that we could go out of the castle proper and into the surrounding land, or better yet, right into Dingwall town?”

  Vienna shook her head. “Definitely not.”

  Juliette selected another wrap for her sister. “Don’t you want to see the real Scotland? I want to run and frolic through the scenery everyone speaks of.”

  “I do too, but . . .”

  “Who knows, we might even bump into Sybilla. She lives in these very Highlands, somewhere around here. How far away can Caithness possibly be? She might be in Dingwall town, at the marketplace.”

  That was all it took. The two of them fled down the narrow back stairwell and out into the deserted bailey.

  “Not a soul,” Vienna said, pulling her wrap tighter, bracing herself against the wind.

  Juliette stopped in front of a snoozing dog—a giant deerhound. He reluctantly opened one eye and wagged his tail, so she patted his head. “The water maid said that it’s hardly ever busy here in Tulloch Castle. The Scots king uses this place as an overflow: somewhere to put his troops when his own castle is filled to brimming with men-at-arms. Otherwise, this small castle sits empty most of the year.”

  Juliette sauntered toward the guard tower. “Tam’s living here for now, but Tulloch’s not his permanent home. Did you know that?”

  Vienna followed her sister toward the Iron Gate. “Last night, he said something about being made Earl of Ross soon.”

  Juliette looked up at the watch tower. It was also empty. “Well, I’m sure when he is made Earl of Ross, the king will give him a huge castle all of his own and plenty of troops and servants to boss around. He’ll be right at home then.”

  “Come on, Vienna, hurry up. Let’s slip out now while no one’s watching.”

  They crept past the guard tower, over the bridge, and the moment their feet hit the grass, they ran. After a short while, they were clear of the castle and out in the open fields. There was a beaten path ahead, and it was dotted with trees offering cover, so they took that track.

  “Dingwall village must be this way because this is the only trodden pathway I can see. I think that’s the church steeple through those trees. That must be Dingwall village right there.”

  Vienna nodded, following on.

  They’d barely gone a mile before they heard the pounding of horse hooves. A lone rider popped up from over the hill. He waved at them. Juliette yanked her sister into the trees, even though she knew they’d been seen. The horse and rider made directly for them.

  “Good Morn, ladies,” the rider called, dipping his head.

  They huddled together and said naught.

  “Such fine young lassies as yourselves, I’m a thinking you’ve wandered from Tulloch Castle. Gave Tam the slip, did you?” He laughed, clearly delighted at the thought.

  Juliette took offence to this besting Tam business. “I didn’t realise we were prisoners.”

  “I’ve come with an invitation, from the king, no less. If you two would like to visit Dingwall Castle on the morrow, you will meet the king and other Scottish lassies of your own age. There’s to be singing and music making and mayhap a jester or a bard.”

  Vienna beamed back. “Festivities?”

  “Aye.”

  She clapped her hands. “We’d love to come.” Then she turned to catch her sister’s eye, but Juliette was facing the other way, spying on a shape in the distance. The shape was approaching fast, charging for them. A rider upon a huge horse was galloping full pelt toward the three of them. His hair was flying free and his bold plaid stood out against the vivid Highland greens. Tam. He was upon them at once, his broadsword drawn.

  The messenger smirked. “Such theatrics, Tam. Who are you trying to impress, hmm?”

  But Tam was clearly not in a jesting mood. “What are you doing here, Lewis? Your place is at the king’s side, keeping him safe. Be off, and leave the protection of these maidens to me.”

  “Seems to me you’re floundering at the task.”

  Vienna blurted, “Be nice, Tam. Lord Lewis has just invited us to the king’s castle, on the morrow, to meet the king, no less, and enjoy festivities too. How grand is that!”

  Tam’s face drooped. “You are free to do as you please.”

  “I’ll send a carriage then,” Lewis said with a smile. “Oh, and Tam, the king was explicit. You are to join the Sassenach ladies on the morrow. He was most insistent about it.”

  “Pah,” Tam said, jumping from his horse. “I’ve no wish to waste the noon drinking watered wine and tattling. I’m to get an important post soon. High time I got back to my preparations.”

  Clear as day, he was trying to wheedle his way out of the festivities, and Juliette wasn’t having it. “We want you to come, Tam. If you do not attend, we shall not feel safe. We are strangers in this land, and you are the only person we know.”

  Reaching for Vienna, Lord Lewis broke in. “Would the beautiful maiden like a ride back to Tulloch? I have a horse big enough for two. Although, why anyone would want to return to that maudlin place, I’ve no notion.”

  Tam’s scowl deepened. “Try anything, you scoundrel, and I’ll run you through. Now, away, back to babysit the king. I’ll walk the maidens back to Tulloch myself.”

  Lewis was smiling in defeat. “Fine. I’ll send a coach for the three of you on the morrow.”

  Quick as a whip, Vienna responded, “We’ll be ready.”

  The three turned and began their trudge back to Tulloch Castle. Tam’s horse followed behind, nudging his owner’s arm, clearly taken with his master.

  It was a fine day, and the air was merry with the sound of larking finches and sparrows. Juliette watched the trees bend their arms in the breeze. The willows were women dancing, and their spidery leaves were the elegant sleeves of their gowns.

  Clearly excited about the outing on the morrow, Vienna prattled on, making much fuss about dresses and gloves and their need for a skilled maid to style their hair. Juliette tried not to hear her sister’s words. Instead, she chose to focus on the nearness of Tam.

  ‘Twas true there was a majesty about these Highlands with the vast mountains and the sweeping valleys. And there was a majesty about the Highland men. Tam was the most solid and formidable man she’d ever met. Mayhap she should fear his obvious strength, but nay, instead she felt safe. Had he even noticed her? So far, she’d either acted like a fussing Sassenach or a spoilt brat. That wouldn’t do. It was high time she did something impressive. But what? She needed to show him she could be noble and good when she wanted to be. She would find something worthwhile to do. Then, he would notice her, for certes.

  Tam peered up into the sky. “Tis a bonnie day indeed
. Have you ever seen such a delightful sky?”

  Juliette looked up at the same smoky-grey clouds and thought of rain. But she kept her mouth shut.

  “We’ll take a detour,” he said, leading them across the meadows. “You lassies have to see our barley fields. I’m counting down the weeks till harvest. You know, I can almost smell the ale growing. I shall have a cellar filled with barrels soon.”

  They cut across a paddock dotted with cows. Juliette eyed the giant cow pats and lifted her hem. They skirted a few of the largest sloppy plods. Then Juliette remembered her oath to impress this hardy Highlander and not act like a spoilt highborn. She eyed the smallest cow dropping she could find, and with one last sorry glance at her boots, trod right through it. She barely felt the squelch.

  “Over yonder,” Tam said, “you’ll see our vegetable fields and closer in is our goat herd. Tulloch Castle produces the finest goat’s cheese and soap, bar none.”

  They wandered past the last of the winter hay bales.

  “We have an impressive grove of nut trees—”

  Tam stopped abruptly and stood rooted to the spot. He stared straight ahead. Juliette’s eyes followed and lingered on the sorry sight. There was a sheep a yard from them, a great fat thing that wandered aimlessly in loose and crazed circles, swaying from side to side as if she’d drunk too much of the castle wine.

  Of course, it was Vienna who was first to run to her aid. Like their eldest sister, Sybilla, Vienna had a way with, and a deep love of, all animals. Every one of God’s creatures was welcome to share her bed chamber, much to Pa’s annoyance. But Vienna was particularly fond of the farm animals.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Vienna whispered, scrunching her face. She could not bear to see any animal suffer, and when she found an animal in pain, she suffered twice fold on the animal’s behalf.

  They moved closer, but the crazed sheep ignored them and continued her slow march in ever decreasing circles. The ewe’s head hung low, as if she’d already given up.

  “Look at her girth,” Vienna said. “She’s heavy with lamb. My guess is that she’s been trying to birth for some time now.”

  Vienna moved closer, and the ewe moved toward Vienna and bleated, mayhap sensing that help had arrived. The ewe collapsed and lay on her side, her head stretched out to aid her laboured breaths. Vienne bent and patted the ewe’s face.

  “She’s struggling. She’s in a bad way. We can’t leave her like this. We must help her. Right now.” Vienna was close to tears, and she was wearing her hell-bent face too.

  Tam stepped up. “Ach, I’m nay a farmer. Best we leave her be. Let nature take its course.”

  “No.” Vienna was already on the ground on her knees. “No. Nature has tried and failed. We must do what we can, or the poor darling will die. Surely you can see how exhausted she is?”

  She lifted the ewe’s tail. “Look, the wee lamb’s front legs are poking out of the ewe’s birthing place. But where is the lamb’s head? The head should also be out, resting on the forelocks. Her wee lamb is stuck. It’s stuck inside her. The poor mother has been straining to get her babe out and now is close to death.”

  “I’ll ride quick as I can and fetch the farmer,” Tam said. “He’ll know what to do.”

  Vienna was already shaking her head. “There’s no time. Anyway, your farmer can’t do any more than I can. We’re going to help her, right now. Aren’t we, Juliette?”

  Juliette took a deep breath. She knew what was coming. The three of them were about to birth a lamb, whether they liked it or not. Nothing on God’s great earth would stop Vienna now.

  Juliette faced Tam. “Vienna follows our farmers around at home, making a perfect nuisance of herself. Don’t worry, she’s done this before. She spends half the spring watching our farmers birth animals in trouble. If she can’t help, no one can.”

  “How can I help?” Tam asked. “Should I pull on the lamb’s front legs? They’re dangling out. ‘Twill be nothing for me.”

  Vienna shook her head. “You’ll kill them both if you do that.” Then she turned to face Juliette. “Someone needs to go in and turn the lamb’s head around.”

  Juliette had that sinking feeling. She knew what was coming. She’d wanted a chance to shine, to do something honourable, to help someone, to show her worth to Tam. But putting her arm inside an ewe’s birthing canal was not what she’d had in mind.

  Tam looked down at his own huge hands.

  “Juliette, you could do it,” Vienna said.

  Juliette shut her eyes, imagining how it would feel to thrust her arm inside the sheep. She tried hard not to squirm.

  “She’s a small ewe,” Vienna continued. “I’ll wager that this is her first birthing. The person with the smallest hands must do this.”

  There it was, the very moment Juliette dreaded most.

  Vienna explained, “Juliette has the smallest hands. She must be the one to do this for the sake of the poor ewe and her babe.”

  Juliette desperately wanted to curse. She’d asked for a chance to be noble, and God had provided. So, this was her own fault. But was it really necessary for Him to be so . . . creative?

  “Help the ewe out, Juliette. I know you can do it.”

  Juliette wanted to point out that her hands weren’t that much smaller than Vienna’s. And that poking her arm inside a sheep might not work out well, for her or the sheep. And that her stomach was rolling around threatening to heave. This really was one of the last things, in the whole wide world, she wanted to do.

  She tried to shrug and look less bothered than she felt. Tam’s face showed his doubt. “I don’t know about this. Better I ride to get the farmer as quick as I can.”

  “You go if you want to, Tam, but I refuse to let this ewe suffer for one more moment. Believe me, I know how to help.”

  Juliette pulled up her sleeve and felt as if she was marching to war. “May as well stay,” she whispered to Tam. “This is happening whether you and I like it or not.”

  Juliette knelt beside the ewe’s birthing end. “I’ll do what I can, and if that doesn’t work out so well, then Tam can go for help.”

  At least Vienna was confident. “The farmer will only do what we’re about to. He’ll need to turn the lamb’s head. There’s no other way to fix this problem.”

  Easy for her to say!

  Juliette drew her sleeve up even higher.

  Vienna shoved her sister’s hand toward the sheep’s tail. Juliette longed to yank her arm away, but somehow, she let it stay put.

  “Use some of the fluid around the ewe’s tail to coat your hand and arm. That’ll make your intrusion easier on the poor mother.”

  Shutting her eyes, Juliette slid her arm and hand through the birthing fluid and made a point of not noticing how slimy it all felt, nor of how it smelt. This would be a story she could tell her grandchildren. Or maybe not.

  “Now, gently as you can, slide your fingers inside the mother. Follow the lamb’s legs inside.”

  Juliette inched her fingers toward the opening. “Make sure the ewe doesn’t kick or bite me, won’t you, Vienna?”

  “Of course, she won’t do those things. She’s desperate for your help. You’re her last chance at life, and certainly the only hope her babe has. Soon, they’ll both be dead.”

  That did it. Juliette slid her hand inside. And once in, she stopped feeling so miserable. Instead, all she could think of was saving the lamb. She gingerly swept her fingers along the length of the lamb’s legs until she reached the top.

  “No head so far,” she said, straining. The squelching sound started her stomach rolling again, but she cast the thought aside. More than anything, she needed to concentrate and do this right.

  “Go on,” Vienna encouraged. “The ewe will die, and so will the lamb, if you don’t get that head
turned around.”

  Juliette’s fingers inched over the lamb’s neck until she reached the head. “Yes, the lamb’s head is turned inwards. It’s facing the wrong way.”

  Vienna was there, right beside her. “You can do it, honey. Turn the head so it’s pointing toward the mother’s tail.”

  Juliette struggled, plunging her arm in deeper. She felt along the head and the neck. She got the lamb’s chin in her fingers and eased it back until the neck was no longer twisted around. “I’ve turned it,” she said in a rush, heady with relief. She wanted to yelp and squeal and clap her hands.

  “No, don’t pull your arm out yet. Wait a minute because the ewe might contract, and then you can help ease the lamb out.”

  Sure enough, Juliette felt a contraction inside the sheep, and going with the movement, she eased the lamb’s head out of its mother. She then slipped her arm out too.

  Vienna grabbed tufts of loose wool from the mother and used that to wipe the lamb’s face clean. With the next straining, Vienna gently pulled the forelocks and head until the lamb slipped out.

  Juliette wiped her arm on the grass. Then she looked up at Vienna, and Vienna laughed. Together they clutched each other in a tight embrace.

  Vienna eased away and went to help the lamb. Its head moved, and that meant that the babe was breathing on its own. She motioned to them. “Help me move the ewe so she can smell her baby.”

  Tam and Juliette turned the sheep so she faced her slimy lamb lying on the grass. The ewe’s nose twitched, and she began sniffing and licking her newborn.

  The sisters hugged again. When Juliette broke away, she looked up at Tam and was astonished at what she saw. He was beaming, smiling from ear to ear as if something magical had just happened. Then he erupted in a great belly laugh that filled the valley.