The Twisted Laird

by Cherime MacFarlane

  With a smile Nessa reached out to smooth down his unruly hair. "'Tis Nessa only. I think I'm yur fourth or fifth cousin, removed ah time, or tae. First, laddie, we need tae wipe yur hands an face. I've ah comb in my room, I'll have ye fetch in ah moment. Once ye're set tae rights we can set about tha day's chores."

  After giving the child a warm wet cloth tae wipe with, she directed him to go upstairs and find Lara. She would help him find Nessa's comb and accompany Callum back down.

  The old woman walked over the table where the two men sat. She laughed as she laid one hand over Edan's. "Quick work that, getting yurself out o' tha hole ye dug. That one is all ears. Ye need tae remember tae look for him. He's nearly as good at slithering round without being seen, as ye."

  "Slithering, as some slimy bog creature? Truly, Nessa, yur enough tae take ah man down tae his knees." Edan laughed up at her. "I ken yur meaning right enough. I'll be ah bit more circumspect in future."

  The old woman rubbed his shoulder with her gnarled fingers. "I'm thinking we've some educating tae do with tha lad. His mither may have been none tae happy tae have tha lad. Sending tha wean on his way in tha middle o' winter..." With a shake of her graying red head, Nessa dismissed the woman. "Ah selfish wee bitch, it would appear."

  "Agreed. Naught good will come of letting tha lad hear such talk, however. Ignoring her existence is probably tha wisest course. She was his mither after all." Edan patted her hand where it lay on his shoulder. "He will have mithers ah plenty now, per'aps more than he wishes."

  Lara came bouncing down the stairs with Callum right behind her. Smiling at Nessa, the girl took a glance at Callum. "He's got it, an kens where tae put it when ye're through."

  After giving Callum a quick smile, Lara hurried over to Edan. "Sorry tae be late. We needed tae move ah few things in Rhona's room. A bit of rearranging tae make it easier tae care for her."

  Stretching as he rose from the chair, Edan turned to put one arm casually over Lara's shoulder. "Nae worries, lass. I'm glad ye listened an did what ye were told. For ah wee bit I thought maybe ye went tae tha yard alone."

  "Och! Nae, Laird. I'm fond of being able tae help." Putting her arm as far around his waist as it would go, Lara matched her steps to Edan's rolling gait, as best she could.

  Sensing his mellow mood, Lara was going to enjoy it while it lasted. He was so often beset with worry or working it was rare for Edan to be openly affectionate. They stopped at the door to his shop.

  Edan lifted a hand to give Lara's dark head a gentle stoke. "I think ye've grown again. Be careful at tha yard an dinnae let tha lads get intae mischief, mind?"

  "Any appointments?" Edan looked over at Jamie.

  With his coat buttoned tightly around him and his bonnet pulled down on his head, Jamie was ready for the walk to the lumber yard. "Nae. As it's tha New Year, I'm thinking tae check tha inventory. There's ah shipment due in from the West Indies, near tae tha end of tha month. When it gets here, Lara an I want tae put it back ah bit in tha yard. It may be ah bit damp when it arrives."

  Edan leaned forward to pull Lara's arisaid back up over her head. "Ye keep yurself warm, lass. Dinnae stay out with tha lads an get tae cold, ye ken. 'Tis easy tae get ah chill in this weather."

  "We need ah way tae keep tha shop there warm. Have ye heard of tha Franklin stove? Someone in tha colonies has developed something that goes intae tha chimney an is supposed tae help tha smoke go up tha flue an keep tha heat inside."

  Jamie nodded. "We'll need tae check on it an see how it fairs. If all fails, we need tae enlarge tha shop an mayhap put living quarters ontae tha back in spring. Rut might like tae have larger quarters. Tha twins are gonna be handfuls soon."

  Edan's eyebrow lifted. "All tha more reason for her tae stay where she is, laddie. Ye might like tha privacy, but Rut will want as many hands as she can get tae lighten tha load."

  A sigh tinged with frustration left Jamie. "Aye, ye're correct. I'm nae gonna fight her over it. She's tha mither, I'm only tha lowly worker."

  "Off with ye "lowly worker". Ye're using far tae much time jawing here. She might come out an give ye ah crack on tha lug for dallying." Edan laughed at the face Jamie made.

  "True enough. Come along, Lara. It's off tae our cold den. Tha Laird is cracking tha whip."

  Watching the two hurry off, Edan smiled. Something would surely need to be done in spring about the shop. For now, he had commissions to get ready. Business had not slacked off, as he thought it might. His creations were in demand. It was all he could do to keep up.

  Utilitarian items, chests, cabinets, chairs were the things most requested. The boys, Adie and Blane, were becoming competent in basic areas. Their level of competency allowed him to concentrate on other things, carving and other kinds of decoration.

  Entering the shop, he found his apprentices already hard at work. Removing his coat, Edan hung it on the coat rack Adie had constructed, which now sat behind the door. It was time to get busy.

  His shop was only a bit warmer than the lumber yard building. Some heat bled into the addition from the house itself. He did not open the door between the two areas very often for fear of incurring the wrath of his womenfolk. They did not care for the fine particles flying around inside and complained bitterly when dust and dirt infiltrated their area.

  The MacGroughs were a bit different from others, possibly another reason why they were not minglers. Gideon, the Templar, had made some things quite clear to the clan when he was laird. Having been raised in the Knights Templar temple and being of Jewish extraction, his views on cleanliness more closely paralleled those of the Old Testament.

  Some held the opinion the MacGroughs were a bit too picky, perhaps a bit effeminate. It was a view soon proved ill-advised if they fought the MacGroughs. All the things Gideon knew of war and tactics were passed down faithfully to the generations to follow.

  What would Gideon think of his handling of matters to this point? All Edan's worries and concerns came flooding back. Somehow, he needed to take the time to pass on Gideon's legacy to the boys now in his care. And it would all need to be accomplished in secret. It would not be good for the authorities to learn Highlanders were being trained in war craft. The possible penalties were too horrid to consider.

  It occurred to Edan the yard might be the perfect place to conduct clandestine classes. With Jamie's help they might be able to educate the boys fully. Perhaps they could take turns imparting the knowledge.

  He would need to discuss the matter with Jamie. It would be necessary to determine exactly what Anderson knew. Gideon was a master and the things he passed down to his descendants were far more valuable than simple sword training. It was possible he would need to educate Jamie first, to bring him up to Gideon's standard.

  As he worked, Edan listened for the tell-tale infant's cry that would let him know his nephew has entered the world. Hopefully, it would go easy for Rhona. For all the difficulties they had as children, he did not wish her ill.

  Requiring a second round of polishing, the top of the chest did not quite gleam as he wished. Applying the polish and rubbing it down would be considered a job for an apprentice by anyone else. Edan always did the last polish, the repetitive strokes allowed him to put the worries and cares away for a time.

  Some days he used the time for conversations with God. There was little he understood. Those of the church felt God laid out all that would happen to you, a pattern so to speak, before birth and nothing could change it. Having read the Bible several times while studying his Latin, he disagreed with that theory.

  After all, trying to read God's mind was futile. Edan doubted anyone really understood God. Didn't the book say one was to worship God in spirit and truth? To Edan it meant God was a spirit, something beyond his limited understanding. Quite likely, God was beyond anyone's understanding. The only thing he truly understood was free will, the freedom to choose to do good or evil.

  Lately, Rhona's choices seemed to lean toward good. So much so, that at times he
wondered if fairies hadn't spirited the old Rhona away. She and Daracha had become very close. They compared notes on pregnancy and huddled together in corners, laughing about who knew what.

  The woman's sincerity was something he occasionally questioned. Daracha told him to let it all go. Rhona was doing well and was her friend. Feeling she knew best on the matter, Edan tried to let suspicion die. What he could and did do was pray for all his kin here and in particular, Rhona and Daracha.

  The thought of anything happening to anyone else was a persistent ache in his heart. It was life and was bound to happen, but after all those already lost, he lived in fear of the inevitable. Casting those fears onto God was a thing he tried to do and yet Edan found himself continually dealing with the ache.

  In the sunlight streaming in through the window, the wood began to glow. Edan started at the far edge of the top for one last round of polish. He overlapped each stroke and began to smile, as the beauty of the finished wood shone in the light. This one could go to its new home now. It was the best he could do.

  Chapter Thirty - Three

  Never more embarrassed in her life when her water broke downstairs in front of Jamie and Edan, Rhona was grateful to Edan. He urged the other two males out of the house, giving her a respite from the shame she felt.

  Daracha joked with her about starting too early with the cleaning of the floor as Jean and Gara got Rhona settled into bed.

  "At least ye've ah decent bed instead of tha miserable box bed Jamie sleeps in." Rut grumbled. "An with giving birth twice, it was so confining!"

  "Aye! I can well imagine tha tae of ye in tha bed. Has Jamie knocked his head hard enough tae disrupt tha entertainment?" Daracha asked Rut with a grin.

  Jean and Nairna groaned almost in concert.

  "Merciful God! Is that all ye think about, lass, tossing?" Evina shook her head as she tried to scold the grinning, very pregnant, Daracha.

  "Nae all, mind? But ah good toss is something tae be appreciated. Surely, ye've had ah good one or tae, Evina?" Daracha asked Rhona's mother with a sly smile.

  "Jamie an I are nae wed yet. Surely, ye're nae suggesting we're rushing things." Rut was wringing her hands as she looked anxiously at the pregnant redhead who just shrugged.

  "I did try tae get Edan tae "rush things", nearly got him intae tha mood, but he was tae busy trying tae get us out an away."

  Rhona was laughing in the bed. "Aye, she did. I was waiting tae speak with Edan an I ken tha wench was making it hard for him tae refuse."

  "Sneaky thing! An what all did ye see, Rhona?" Daracha turned to her with a grin.

  "Nae enough! I could have used ah bit of entertainment at tha time. It was nae forthcoming, however."

  Jean chucked as she sat on one of the other beds. "Ah, well ah good toss is truly enjoyable, providing tha lad kens tha way tae ah woman's heart."

  Both Rhona and Daracha were laughing loudly.

  Nairna joined in the merriment. She wrapped both hands around her middle and took a deep breath. "Aye, tha lad best make it worth tha doing. 'Cause ye're surely gonna tae reap tha fruits of tha matter, true Rhona?"

  Cadha decided to comment on the proceedings while Rhona could still participate in the laughter going on around her. "Since it was God who made all, I'm thinking he made all this as well, otherwise why would he say "go forth and multiply"? We were meant to enjoy such things with tha man he gives us. I enjoyed my man. Losing him was a hard blow. Have any of ye thought on finding ah new man, other than Rut here, who’s already spoken for."

  There was head shaking all the way around with the younger women. It was finally Jean who spoke. "Tha thought has crossed my mind ah time or tae. But, I'm nae looking. If God wants tae put one in my path, I'll take ah good look. Things are nae so bad now. Tha boys are learning from Edan. He's their father and I'm nae willing tae bolt right out for tha sake of ah good tossing."

  Daracha smiled at her. "An who kens, ah likely tosser might just wander in an move along. Those sailors now, one or tae look like they could warm ah bed right nicely."

  Jean nodded. "Aye. Ah couple of tha stevedores, tha ones who unloaded tha last shipment in the lumber yard, looked likely enough."

  "Be careful, lass, it would nae be good tae get ah bad reputation here. Tha parson could name ye from tha pulpit an then ye would stand nae chance of ever finding ah good man." Evina cautioned all the younger women.

  "Och! Well, he'd better be tending his own ewes. Tha older one has been making sheep's eyes at several of tha younger lads in tha kirk." Rut ground out between clenched teeth. "Tha parson is far tae long nosed for my tastes. He's near tae being tha worst busy body in tha whole of tha village."

  There was agreement all around on Rut’s statement. They discussed the new trends in clothing and some of the new silk fabrics being imported from the East Indies. Good wool would still be used in Scotland, where it was far too cold to indulge in silk for everyday in the winter.

  Very soon the women were discussing the state of the changes taking place in their world. Daracha heard of a new fast method of weaving much like the new manner of making socks on a frame. They would need to think of other ways to make money as far as both Daracha and Cadha could see.

  Rhona's thoughts turned to Daracha's comment about her being a sneak. Yes, she was and it was something she intended to keep from her friend at all costs.

  As the day wore on, Rhona felt the guilt build. It was Daracha who held her hand and kept her entertained between bouts of pain. It was a pain the like of which she had never endured before. The sweet voice of her friend was like a banister on a dark and winding stair. She needed it to keep from screaming out her pain and terror.

  The grinding insistence of her body became all she knew. A need for Hamish ate away at Rhona and she cursed him for his absence. He knew and knowing, should be here. Sacrificing all on the altar of honor, he left her alone to deal with the birth of their son. Hating and needing him, as she struggled with the ever increasing pain, Rhona held tightly to Daracha's calloused hand and the words the other woman spoke.

  Near dinner time, Edan began to get worried. What he told Jamie was correct, he knew in his head, but usually when the time drug on, it meant things were not going as well as they should. Before sitting at the table with the women and children who were downstairs, Edan sent Blane up to knock on the door and ask for Daracha.

  Blane came back down and delivered a message from her. She would meet Edan in the hallway for a moment.

  He hurried up the stairs and found his wife waiting just past the landing. "How fares Rhona? This is longer than usual, mayhap?" Edan blurted out.

  Daracha leaned against him. "Aye. Tha lad is ah stout one. 'Tis nae easy. But, it should be soon. 'Tis worse for her, as she doesnae want tae let go. I keep telling her 'tis normal but..."

  "I ken. She's ah head much like ah lump of good Scots granite. An all was made worse by her fool of ah Da. Give her something tae chew on."

  "Aye? What do ye mean?"

  "Wait here ah moment. I'll not be long." Edan left his wife standing in the hall as he hurried into their room. Finding what he was looking for in his chest, Edan pulled out a heavy leather belt.

  In the hall he placed it in Daracha's hand. "Let her chew tha thing tae bits if she must. It will help. She is ah bit tae proud, I ken tha worry of sounding like ah wee whiney wean."

  With a smile, Daracha pulled her husband’s face down to hers. "I see yur point. Ye're ah bonny lad, darlin. Now, go along an eat." After giving him a quick kiss, she pointed down the stairs with a smile.

  Edan sat at the table and listened as he ate. Now and again he caught the guttural growl of someone in pain. Counting in his head the intervals between, it seemed to Edan that they soon might hear the child.

  Distracted, he didn't pay much attention to the others seated at the table. The usual buzz of small talk swirled around him. What was taking place upstairs occupied his thoughts and prayers. It was good that Rhona was a strong woman, strong and
determined.

  The ease of the last few births had lulled Edan into an expectation of a continuation of that ease. Daracha entered his thoughts. Worry for her and the babe she carried caused him to push his bowl away. Praying harder for both Rhona and Daracha, he failed to catch the last deep noise from the room above.

  An infant began to scream its displeasure at being forced from its comfortable nest. Edan glanced upward with a smile. Hamish's son had a good strong voice. With a nod, Edan moved the bowl back toward him and finished his stew. Cadell Hamish MacGrough had arrived. Edan acknowledged his job was just beginning. If the boy was anything like his father and uncle, Edan would be very busy keeping the boy out of trouble.

  Daracha held the belt out to Rhona. "Edan got it for ye."

  Taking it in one hand, Rhona looked into Daracha's blue eyes. At the slight nod, Rhona placed the leather in her mouth and began to grind her teeth into it. When the infant finally made his entrance into the world, the belt was nicked and soaked with saliva.

  "Sorry, tell Edan I ruined his belt an thanks for tha thing." Rhona managed to whisper as she handed it back to the other woman.

  "Hen, nae fash yurself. Edan understood better than tha rest of us what ye needed." Careful to take the wet leather by a dry section, Daracha smiled at Rhona. Once tha rest is out, we'll clean ye up. For tha moment, we'll send Cadell down tae meet his kin for ah wee while."

  "Cadell?" Rhona mustered up enough energy to tease her friend. "'Tis ah lad?"

  With a slight nod, Daracha agreed. "Ah braw lad indeed."

  "Per'aps I'll name him Ailene, just because."

  Brushing Rhona's cheek with the back of her hand, her friend grinned at Rhona. "Nae likely! None here is letting ye get away with it. Tha bairn is Cadell Hamish MacGrough. Ye settled it ah while back. Ailene is tha name for my lass, make nae mistake about it."

  "Well now, I suppose ye're correct. And 'tis a good name for a lass." Rhona turned her head away. "God's teeth! I'm so weak, I dinna think I can move."