What If

by Ann Ritchie Domela

  Chapter 14

  The Ceileh

  “Now, I hope you are an understanding woman,” Duncan began.

  Heather looked about the parking area in front of the farmhouse. There were several signs saying Park Here, but there were only a few other vehicles, not the many she had expected.

  Duncan noted her look and was quick to explain. “We are a wee bit early. The ceileh doesn’t start until later on this evening. I told Malcolm we would come early enough to give him and Mari a hand with setting up. There will also be a few others coming early. That is how we do, as you know.”

  “I know.” Heather smiled, “It’s the way of our people.”

  Duncan was relieved she wasn’t upset with him. But he did want to spend as much time with her in the company of friends. Perhaps it would be the right time to… He didn’t want to really think too much about that. In time. But it would have to be the right time.

  He took her by the hand and led her to the front door. “I’ll come out and get the luggage shortly.”

  Reaching the door and knocking, Heather smiled to see the all too familiar sign. “Cead Mile Failte.”

  The door opened and a very tall, very muscular man greeted Duncan with a big hug. Heather’s first thought was that this huge red haired man could win any caber toss. He echoed the words on the door, “One hundred thousand welcomes. And is this the wee lass (female) you told me about?”

  Before he got a chance to answer, Heather spoke up. “It’s so good to hear that brogue. I’ve missed it so.”

  “Ah yes, lass, no matter how long we are from hame (home), we ne’r (never) get enough of the tongue. Well, lassie, you’ll be a hearin’ it as much as you can stand it. Come along, I want you to meet my wee wifee. (wife)”

  He brought her into the kitchen. It was a typical country style kitchen, full of delicious smells. The heavy set woman standing stirring a pot on the old black stove turned about as they entered. Malcolm introduced her to Heather. “This is my wee sweet wifee, Mari. Isn’t she a beauty?”

  Heather didn’t know what to say. She guessed that either her host was kidding or he really saw this lovely woman as small and stunning. Perhaps with the eyes of love, he did see her that way.

  Mari smiled a soft loving smile. Her long dark brown hair was tied back. If Heather had guessed, she would have imagined her to weigh a little over two hundred pounds. A good match for the large man. “Ah, child, ten thousand welcomes to our humble home. I hear you’re staying for the ceileh (party or gathering). Why don’t you set at the table and I’ll pour you a cuppa. I’ll get out some sweeties (cakes, cookies, and such) for you.”

  “No, no please. We’ve eaten only a short time ago and I really would prefer to help. I remember how much work is involved.”

  “You go on, Malcolm; we’ll get along just fine.” Mari shooed the big man out the door. “Put that young laddie (male) to work with you. We need more tables out on the deck. And do you have the stage flooring down?”

  Malcolm rushed out the door laughing. I’m off, woman. If I stay here much longer, you’ll have me re-building the house.”

  “And Heather, is it? You are I are taking a wee break to have a cuppa before I put you to work. I could use the break.”

  So much like her own mum. Heather did miss her. “Of course. I guess there is always time for a cuppa.”

  Mari poured tea into bone china cups. “These are from my mum. I always use them for someone special.”

  “Thank you, Mari.” Heather sipped her tea. “What would you like me to do?”

  “When we finish the tea. Do you know how to make bridies (meat pies)?”

  “Of course. We always have the Forfar bridies.”

  “Good. We’re short about fifty or so. Then I can get out the mealie puddings (Oatmeal sausages). Everything else is ready.”

  “What time do we have to get it out?”

  “Let’s see. Its two thirty and the others won’t be gathering until seven. The men are getting tables set up outside under the tents and I believe, and they had better, have the dancing floor set up in the barn.”

  “Show me the table where I can work.”

  “Time enough. Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yoursel’ (yourself)? What part of the auld (old) country are you from?”

  “Rosehearty. It’s near Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire.”

  Och! Ay, I know the place. We have many friends there and in Fraserburgh. In fact, we are both from clan Fraser. What clan is yours?”

  “I’m a MacIntosh from Clan Chatham, but we have a few affiliations. My mum is American, but is living in Scotland now.”

  “You’re newly over. What brought you here?”

  Heather hesitated. She didn’t want to tell anyone about Ian. She wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.

  “I was offered a job doing some art work for a shop in Grover Beach. I’m a seascape artist.”

  “That sounds like a wonderful opportunity. So many artists work never earn a penny while they live, so I hear. Are you doing well?”

  “Very well, so far.”

  “That’s good. Well, now that we are through with the tea, let’s get on wi’ it (with it). I have that table set up with the piecrust and the meat is setting next to the stove. You do know how to make the pies?”

  “I’ve been making them most of my life. Do you have any particular recipe or should I use my own?”

  “I’ve got many made my way. You go on and make them your way. Just let me know if you need anything.”

  “Is there anything else we can make as well?”

  “No, we have so many women bringing their specialties, I’m sure we have ten times the food we need. Although with all the dancing and piping and such...” her words trailed off as she was slicing up the mealie puddings for frying later.

  Mari, Mari,” a shrill call came from the back door. An elderly woman came in carrying a covered dish.

  “And what do we have there, Bonnie Jean?”

  “Why, I’ve brung the Haggis, as always. And the whiskey sauce,” said the old woman.

  “Isn’t that usually served on Robbie Burns’s day?”

  Mari laughed at Heather’s question. “My dear, it is the tradition, but we make up our own rules here. At a ceileh, anything goes. We a’tak (all take) to the Haggis. You do, don’t you?”

  “I’m a true Scot,” she answered.

  “Good lass,” the older woman spoke as she put the silver tray down.

  “Is Betsie bringing the Clootie Dumplings (dumplings steamed while wrapped in a cloth – clootie) and the oat cakes? She does make the best oat cakes.”

  “Yes, she is on her way. Seems like she asked her mom for the recipe a long time back and her mom, being up in years, forgot some of it. When Betsie followed the recipe, they turned out even better. So she is in charge of them all the time now.”

  “Good. I think I will ask her for the recipe.”

  Another shout came from the front door.

  “Come on in, Ina, we’re all in the kitchen. As the very attractive young woman entered, Mari pointed to the counter. “Put your Cock a Leekie on there.”

  “Looks like we will have it all.” The older woman seemed delighted. “Is there anything better than that fine dish from Edinburgh? That’s chicken and leek soup, my dear.” She spoke to Heather.

  “Mam, I am from Rosehearty and not that long ago. I’ve missed cock a leekie, rumbledethumps and clootie dumplings, not to mention Haggis. My mum taught me to make the clootie dumplings when I could barely reach the table. I loved adding all the currants, raisins, sultanas and the rest of the fruits to the mix and placing it in the cloth (or clootie) to steam.”

  “Well you must be Scottish born to know of rumbledethumps.” The pretty girl spoke up. She was so attractive Heather was impressed. Her hair was her most astonishing feature. It was long, black and very shiny. Heather had never seen such pale beautiful skin. She introduced herself as Christina.

  “Not only know of them, but ma
de them many a time for dinner. Potatoes, cabbage, onions and cheddar cheese. Doesn’t sound like much, but when prepared right, it was delicious.”

  Heather had been working along as she talked with the women. This was like home before Ian’s disaster. She placed the pans of bridies in the oven with one more set to the side to go in when those were done.

  “Anyone for a cuppa?” Mari offered as they gathered at the round table. There was plenty of room for all of them.

  And look what I have here.” Mari placed a plate of black buns on the table. “I made these for the women. We all work so hard for this ceileh.”

  “What do you use in your black buns?” Heather asked.

  “A lot. Butter, flour, caster sugar, egg yolks, raisins, currants, diced mixed peel, almonds, allspice, ginger, cinnamon, whiskey, cream of tartar, baking soda, buttermilk, and crystal sugar along with our usual pie crust mix.”

  “I remember my gram used to spend so much time making her crust.” Heather said. “She would mix it, roll it out and butter it. Then she would roll it up and place it in the ice box for an hour. After that, she would repeat and repeat that process several times. She would tell me that the time she used on the crust was well worth it. And it was.”

  “That’s pretty much the way I make it,” Mari was pouring more tea.

  Just then, Malcolm came in followed by Duncan. “When is our meal ready?”

  “In about an hour. We’re just having our tea.”

  “Looks like more than tea. Where’s ours? We’ve been working so hard out there.”

  “Alright, you can join us for tea and black buns, but the meal won’t be all ready until the others arrive with the rest.”

  “Black buns!” Duncan reached quickly. Forget the tea. I’ll have a few of these.”

  “Duncan Noble, you’ll have only two. No more. You’ll spoil your meal.”

  “As if I could. I’ve been looking forward to this since you told me about the ceileh at the Fraser gathering.”

  “That’s where we met this young lad,” Malcolm offered.

  “For the first time?” Heather asked.

  “Why yes.”

  “I was doing a story on the gathering. I met them there and couldn’t resist this invitation to the ceileh.” Duncan explained, his mouth almost full of the delicious black bun.

  “Oh,” the only thing Heather could say. So he didn’t really know these people for a long time. He had only just met them.

  A few more people showed up and both Heather and Duncan were introduced. More food joined the dishes on the counter. It would appear that Mari was right. There was more than enough food. Heather felt a touch of pride when she placed her Forfar Bridies along with the rest.

  Soon, Malcolm announced that the bane fire (bonfire) had started and all were to come out bringing the food to the outside tables where they could all gather. Almost instantly bagpipes and fiddles were produced and the music began.

  For starters, while everyone was eating, Malcolm got up in front of the fire and began singing.

  Duncan rose from Heather’s side and joined him. As he did, another young man rose and picked up the bagpipe. He began to play. It was as if he already knew what they were going to sing. Malcolm began in a deep strong voice. Duncan joined in with his warm melodious voice.

  “Oh flowers of Scotland, when will we see your like again? That fought and died for our wee bit hill and glen (valley) and stood against him, Proud Edward’s army and sent him homeward tae (to) think again.

  The hills are bare now and autumn leaves lie thick and still o’er land that is lost now which those so dearly held and stood against him, proud Edward’s army and sent him homeward tae think again.

  Those days are passed now and in the past they must remain, but we can still rise now and be the nation again that stood against him. Prince Edward’s army and sent him homeward tae think again.”

  The audience clapped hard. Malcolm announced that they would now all sing Scotland the Brave.

  All rose to their feet. This was their national anthem. They might all be far from home, but none would forget that Scotland was their “hame”.

  “Hark where the night is falling. Hark hear the pipes a calling loudly and proudly calling down the glen. There’s where the hills are sleeping. Now feel the blood a leaping high as the spirits of the old highland men.

  Towering in gallant fame Scotland my mountain hame, high may your proud standards gloriously wave. Land of my high endeavor, land of the shining river, land of my heart forever, Scotland the Brave.

  High in the misty mountains out by the purple highlands, brave are the hearts that beat beneath Scottish skies. Wild are the winds to meet you, staunch are the friends that greet you, kind as the love that shines from far maidens eyes.” They continued with another chorus, “Hark hear the pipes a calling…..”

  “Before you all go a dancing, we have a meal set up on the tables. So let’s all go and gather round.” Mari shouted above the din. She whispered to Heather, “If I let them, the food will get chilled before they stop dancing enough to sit down. So we will eat first.”

  “Mari,” Heather called her by the name; everyone did. “It’s getting kind of late for the games or aren’t we having them? I just thought...”

  “Right you are. This is a very important day for Malcolm and me. It is our fiftieth anniversary, so we decided to have an evening ceileh for our closest friends and then have the traditional gathering tomorrow with the caber toss, dancing contest, pipe and drum, a few other games and of course, we can’t do without the kilted half mile race. For all the real competitions and such, you would have to attend one of the Highland Games. I’m sure Duncan can gie (give) you a list or perhaps even tak (take) you to some.”

  “Are all the men competing in the kilt race?” Heather asked.

  “Why you wee naughty one.” Mari laughed heartily. “Ay all men who come are required to compete. It’s the joyous part of the day for us ladies, or should I say non-ladies?”

  “I did bring a kilt or two for myself.” Heather offered.

  “That’s good. But if your man forgot to bring one, we have plenty about.”

  “He’s not…” the young woman started to explain, but fortunately Mari was called away. Heather decided to join the rest at the tables.

  “Thought you’d gone away.” Duncan kidded her as he offered her a place next to him on the bench. “You’ve got to try the mealie pudding and the rumblethumps and the cock a leekie soup and the clootie dumplings and…”

  “Stop, stop. I'll be putting on weight just by the sound of your voice.”

  “That you can stand. I apologize. I have no right to reviewerize. You look fine, but I think with just a few pounds…”

  Heather chose to say nothing rather than respond. She didn’t know what to say. He was right, as was Linda Sue. Even she was beginning to feel like she would look so much healthier if she could manage to gain a little. Perhaps with the company of Duncan, she might. He was trying hard enough. Perhaps he wanted her to look like she did when they were last together before the argument.

  They both turned their attention to the massive amount of food that was in front of them. The others all seemed to be paying attention to the food as well. It was a fine evening. Heather could hardly wait to tell her friend all about it. But Linda Sue was on her own creating her own memories.