Highland Bloodline

by Florence Love Karsner

  Robbie lifted his valise and began the climb up the stairs. And it was a climb, too. Once he got to the top, he saw the faintest light coming from beneath one of the doors. He knocked and waited a second. Just as he was about to knock again, the door opened and Ian nodded to him.

  "Aye, this is the right room. Mine. And I think ye'll like it, too. Come in."

  Robbie slowly walked through the doorway and felt as if he had entered a room that had been designed with him in mind. There was an old wooden desk in front of one of the tall, many-paned windows. A candle had been lighted and there were several maps and drawings lying on the desk. He came closer and took a quick glance at them. The maps were very old and Robbie thought they were from a much earlier period, perhaps from early Roman times, and there was a scent in the room that was most pleasant—an herb, something green and fresh. Maybe rosemary.

  "Put yer bag in the corner. I've put some blankets on the cot and that should keep ye warm enough. Ye'll find it's actually warmer up here than any other place. Da says it's something about the heat rising. But still, it can get cold up here in the Highlands, even in the spring. Probably different from where ye came from. Where was that exactly?"

  "I came from Edinburgh, where I lived with my mother. She died recently and I'm not sure what I'm to do now."

  Ian found himself searching for the right words, but wasn't sure there were any. "Oh, then, don't worry too much. Alex is a very intelligent man. He'll figure out the best thing for ye to do. I know how it is to lose yer mam, though. Ours passed on a couple of years ago and we all felt like our world had turned upside down. Maybe that's how everybody feels when their mam dies. But I'm learning that because she died doesn't mean she's lost to ye. She's just in a different place now. Ah, listen to me, going on so. Come over here and take a look out there."

  Robbie walked closer to the tall window, the two young lads standing side by side. Ian snuffed the candle out and it was pitch-black in the room. Suddenly, the moor was easily seen beneath the light of a glowing moon. The snow that had covered the ground for so long had melted now as the days were warmer, even though the evenings were still chilly. The highest peaks of the mountains were still covered and pockets of snow could be found in the crags, but the green, spring sprouts were beginning to show and the heather on the moor was blossoming quickly.

  "Now look just at the edge of that stand of pine trees on the left side, look closely."

  "I don't see anything. There's nothing there but trees. No, wait. Oh! Is that a stag?" Robbie stared at Ian, his face registering his excitement.

  "Yeah. He's been here as long as I can remember. He shows himself sometimes on an evening such as this. I sometimes wonder if he can see me too."

  Robbie continued to look at Ian. The two could have been brothers. But there was something about this young lad Robbie didn't quite understand. He acted as if Robbie was not a stranger but had always been here, in this lodge, as if he had always been a member of this family. There was also an element of mischief, or adventure that emanated from him. But then, there was an element of warmth, also. Robbie had lived in London and Edinburgh, but he had never come across a young person who was as interesting as Ian.

  "Do you think he can see us now?"

  "I'm learning that the animals know a lot, and we've a lot to learn from them if we only will. Just some of the things Uncle Wabi is teaching me."

  "Uncle Wabi? Who's that?"

  "He's actually Caitlin's uncle, but he feels like mine too so I call him Uncle Wabi. He's a very unusual man and I'm studying with him. I'll tell ye about him tomorrow. Right now I think we'd better get to bed. If I know Alex, he'll be expecting both of us to be down in the kitchen early, ready to listen to his instructions for the day.”

  He smiled when he made this remark and Robbie smiled in return.

  CHAPTER 2

  A

  lex removed his shirt and kilt and placed them on the chair under the window. He eased his body into bed, snuggled up to Caitlin's back and reached over and stroked her large abdomen. He was still in awe of how a woman's body could change so much. She was so small, yet now her middle was enormous.

  I hope she's not having twins like ye did, Mam. I don't think I could take that, losing a bairn. May the Creator be with us.

  Caitlin was dead to the world, as she always was by nightfall these days. But Alex's mind was on fire and running in a thousand directions. He couldn't seem to stay on track with one thought before another one rushed in. How was he to deal with this new information?

  Information, my arse! It's a young lad, my son. I've gotta get my thoughts together now and figure out how I'm to deal with him. And whatever must Caitlin be thinking about me? That I just left a young lass with no thought for her condition? But then, I didn't know about her condition. And if I had? Would I have stayed in Edinburgh with her? Nae, that wouldn't have been my first choice. But, maybe I ... ah, Jesus!

  Alex covered his head with the blanket in an effort to shut out any more thoughts that might come rushing in. His body and mind had had enough for one day. Tomorrow would be soon enough to tackle this latest problem.

  He was awakened a few hours later by Caitlin moaning in her sleep. He sat up quickly, looking down at her.

  "Mo chridhe, are ye in pain? What is it, lass?"

  She mumbled something he couldn't understand, but the next moment she sat up and called out loudly.

  "Holy Rusephus! It can't be coming this quickly. First bairns are always late. Help me up, now!"

  Alex jumped out of bed, quickly donned his kilt and helped Caitlin to stand. She grabbed her stomach and groaned as a searing pain crept from her back around to her abdomen.

  "What? What do I need to do?" Alex had birthed lambs and calves in his time, but this was his first experience with a bairn, and this one his own.

  "Just help me to Mam's sewing room. That's where I want to birth this bairn. It's a special place, Alex. Take me there."

  "Aye, lass, aye."

  "And send Jack for the midwife. Maria, I think her name is. I thought I could handle this by myself, but this bairn is coming early and quickly. I may need some help. Then come back up here and help me get down the stairs."

  "Maria? I don't think I know her, lass."

  "No. I met her in the village a few weeks ago. She's Lourdes' aunt who just arrived here from Spain. Lourdes says she's a very competent midwife. I believe she lives in the cottage next door to the kirk—a place McGuire arranged for her. But she's old enough to know her business. Hurry now."

  Alex fled the room before Caitlin even finished her sentence. In a few seconds he was at the other end of the hall calling out loudly.

  "Jack! Get down here brother, I need yer help!" His booming voice probably awakened the entire household, but Alex was not concerned with that.

  It was a known fact Jack was not at his best when awakened abruptly, but Millie roused him and helped him get moving. As soon as Jack came running, Alex was giving orders.

  "Go to the village and get Maria, the midwife. Caitlin's having the bairn early and it looks like she needs the midwife to help her. Don't think she had planned on needing any help, but the midwife might be useful. Go now. She lives in the cottage next to the kirk."

  "I'm going, I'm going. But who's this Maria person? I thought the midwife was old Harriet. That's who Mam used."

  "Caitlin says Harriet passed away and this woman, this Maria, knows her business. Just get yerself there and back, quickly now."

  Jack had never seen Alex in such a state. He usually took everything in stride and stayed calm when others might be agitated. No sooner had Jack gone than Millie came running to Caitlin's room, pulling her dressing gown together, her long, dark hair streaming behind her as she hurried along.

  "Caitlin, are you alright? Is the bairn coming?" Millie's voice was soothing and well modulated, always the lady's voice. She found Caitlin pacing from one end of the room to the other.

  "It looks like this first bairn
is determined to make an early appearance. My calculations said it should be several more weeks now, but this one's got a mind of its own, just like the rest of the MacKinnons I suppose."

  She grabbed at her abdomen, trying to tell herself to slow down her breathing and stop fighting the pain. She knew the more she fought it, the more severe it would become. How many times had she said those words to women in labor? And she remembered the looks they often gave her, ones that said they'd like to slap her face if they could.

  Well, healer, looks like you didn't have any idea what they were truly enduring, now did you?

  Alex took the stairs two at a time and was back quickly. Caitlin was standing next to the bed holding on to the bedpost.

  "Here, help me get down the stairs. Just hold me under the arms and I'll manage.”

  Alex nodded, then as though he had not even heard her instructions, picked her up and carried her down the stairs as if she weighed nothing at all, with Millie following closely behind them. Millie well remembered this stage of the birthing process and it wasn't a fond memory. Of course, she'd had Caitlin at her side and all went well for her and her bairn, Midge.

  Alex set Caitlin down carefully. "Here, lass, come lie down now. Let's get ye off yer feet."

  "No, I have to stand up, walk around. Get some hot water, clean cloths and bring my medicine bag from the pantry. It's up high on the top shelf where the bairns can't reach it."

  Even in this time of distress, Caitlin managed to keep her thoughts in order and was determined to keep her wits about her. Actually, though, she didn't feel much in control and wondered what was keeping Jack and the midwife. It may be that she'd deliver this bairn by herself, but she'd rather have help standing by.

  Millie left them and busied herself in the kitchen preparing tea, as she was sure the whole family would be there shortly. Having Caitlin at her side during the birth of Midge was something she would never forget. She often thought she would not have survived her ordeal in the forest on that cold, snowy night without Caitlin's help. That was the beginning of their friendship. Now here she was only able to make a cup of tea for Caitlin. She didn't have a clue about what she could do to help a laboring woman, but was glad Jack was bringing Maria.

  In the last few weeks Millie's days had been even more hectic than usual. Caitlin literally waddled about, so Millie did most of the running back and forth between the lodge and classroom.

  Just yesterday, as she loaded up her arms with books and school supplies and headed across the yard, the new hand, Boder, appeared as he had several times the last few days.

  "Here, I'll take those for you. A lovely lady such as you should have servants to do her bidding. What are you doing at this Highland lodge anyway? It's obvious to me you belong in a fine house, perhaps even a castle somewhere."

  He put a hand at her back, ostensibly to help her walk, and just his touch made Millie cringe.

  "Thank you, but I can manage."

  Millie felt his fingers as they pushed back a lock of her hair that had blown across her face. Then his eyes moved up and down her body and he smiled as he bowed and walked away.

  She vowed to herself to keep out of Boder's way and not mention the exchange to Jack. She knew he would not take kindly to Boder's comments about her belonging in a castle. She wondered if perhaps Boder was someone from her past. Did he know about Lord Sinclair's death? Did he know her father? She no longer thought of either of them.

  She had just poured herself a cup of tea when she heard voices coming from the stairwell.

  "Daniel, we've been through this more times than most. The lass will be alright I tell ye. She's delivered many bairns for others and knows what to expect. The best thing we can do is keep Alex's mind occupied."

  Uncle Andrew's voice was soothing and he was aware Da cared greatly for his daughter-in-law, as did he. No matter how many times they'd sat through the long birthing process when the lads had been born, they both always dreaded that the child may die, as Alex's twin sister had so long ago.

  Jack rushed in the back door practically pulling the midwife behind him. She was an older woman, a bit on the rotund side, and wore a long, full-skirted dress and a colorful scarf tied around her thick, salt and pepper hair. She spoke with a certain amount of authority and had a strong foreign accent. Jack wasn't sure where she came from, but had no trouble understanding her. In fact, she probably had more trouble understanding his Scottish brogue, which only got thicker when he was anxious.

  Alex refused to leave Caitlin even as she insisted she didn't need his help, but he was relieved when Jack entered with Maria. He knew when he was out of his element, and this was one of those times. But still, he wanted to stay with Caitlin, not let her go through this ordeal alone.

  "Come on, brother. Let's go down and have some tea. Millie's got it all ready for us." Jack wanted to get out of there himself.

  "Nae, I'll stay here with her. I can't leave her, ye ken? She's mine and I'll not let her go through this without me. I'll be staying."

  Jack nodded and looked over at Caitlin, who gave a quick nod to him indicating she agreed with the decision—Alex could stay. But the midwife wasn't as happy about that decision as they were. In her heavily accented voice she addressed Alex.

  "I can take care of her, Señor MacKinnon. Birthing a niño is not something menfolk usually want any part of. You should go now. I'll call you when it's over."

  She approached Caitlin's bedside and began to lay out the items she would need to assist in the birth. But she apparently knew nothing of the MacKinnon men. Changing their mind on something they'd decided was not an easy undertaking.

  "As I said, I'll be staying," Alex replied as he pulled up a small stool next to Caitlin's bed and sat down. He took her hand and she gave him a small smile as another searing pain had her in its grip. She pulled Alex's hand and placed it on her abdomen, letting him feel every movement of the bairn as it struggled to make its appearance.

  The midwife put her hands on Caitlin's abdomen also.

  "It's not quite time, señora. Slow your breathing down now. Slow your breathing down. But it'll not be long now. I'll tell you when to push."

  She did sound like Lourdes thought Alex, the same accent. Lourdes was quite a bit younger than her husband, McGuire, very attractive, and even smaller than Caitlin. Her talent was working with flowers and plants and she and Caitlin had become friends. Alex hadn't quite figured out how McGuire was able to convince her to come to the Highlands with him, but then, Da had convinced Mam to do the same so it did happen.

  But the accent was the only thing the midwife had in common with Lourdes. There was something about the woman that disturbed Alex, but he couldn't put his finger on it. She was not especially to his liking, but he knew he needed her so he'd put his dislike aside for the moment.

  Jack left the room and found his way to the kitchen, where Uncle Andrew and Da were sipping their tea. They looked up as he entered.

  "Everything alright with Caitlin?" Da asked. He tried to keep his worries to himself, but Andrew could read his face very well after all these years.

  "Yeah, but Alex refuses to leave her. The midwife's not too happy about that, but ye know how Alex is when he makes up his mind."

  "Aye. Kinda like the rest of us, huh?" Da said.

  They all laughed and began to once again discuss the latest rumors about requirements the Crown was going to impose on the Scots.

  The Battle of Culloden had been disastrous for many Scots, particularly those who were members of the Jacobite Uprising, in which the MacKinnons had played a part. Lately there had been a few travelers from London and Edinburgh relaying information that the Crown was working harder than ever to find and punish Scots who had participated in the uprising.

  The rumors were that their lands would be forfeited and the men either imprisoned, executed or exiled. Further, the Scots would be forbidden to speak Gaelic and the tartan could not be worn. Word was many had already been rounded up and sent to the Carib
bean as slaves.

  "What do ye think, Da? Will the Brits really come looking for us? And take our lands?" Jack asked. He wasn't one to believe everything he heard, but this subject had his attention.

  "These rumors are just the latest of many, lad. The ones in charge always try to control those not in their power. It's not anything I'd give a lot of thought to. Besides, we're so far up in these Highlands the Brits would get lost just trying to find us.

  Nae, time will pass and this Battle of Culloden will fade in their memories. I remember the uprising of '15. It was the same as now. Just a lot of bluster, but not much action. As for taking our lands, that might prove to be a bit more difficult than they think. The clans that live up here will stick together as always. A few generations ago we MacKinnons actually lived mostly down around the Isle of Skye, but following some disputes some of us came up here, which is where we've been for some time now. I don't think we'll be going anywhere."

  That eased Jack's mind. If Da wasn't too concerned, then he wouldn't be either.

  ~ ~ ~

  The brightness of the full moon surrounded Wabi's cottage and he stood looking out his kitchen window at the water lapping the rocks down on the edge of the beach. He was not surprised to see a large winged bird swoop down and alight on a perch that had been built just for him. Owl. He walked outside and called out.

  "Ah, my dear friend. I was hoping you'd get here soon. I'm sure you, too, know where we're headed this beautiful evening. It seems I just got here and now I have to turn around and make another trip."

  Yes, Master. The time has come, and even though I detest time weaving I know we must get to the Highlands quickly.

  "Right you are, Owl. Caitlin's in labor and knowing that girl, she'll hurry through it like she does everything else. It's important I be there when the child is born. But I promise to keep the time weaving to the shortest route and not make any detours to extend our trip."