7
Farquar did not knowwhat to think when the laird’s new wife ducked out of the rain and into his smithy.The air was thick with smoke from the forge and the rain was drumming on the roof.It hardly seemed the place for a lady, particularly one so delicate as this one, and he felt at odds in his own corner of Killairic.She put him in mind of a fine dark filly, lively and unpredictable.
How could he greet her when she did not speak Gaelic?Was he doomed to give insult?Farquar never wanted to face a reckoning from Laird Fergus, that was for certain, for that man was highly principled.
The two newly arrived horses tethered in the smithy watched with curiosity, even old Nellie’s ears pricking as she watched.The plow horse had shown little interest in anything of late, so Farquar took the lady’s visit as a good sign in that regard.
He stepped away from his forge, wiped his hands on his leather apron, and bowed.The lady smiled at him, pretty little creature that she was, but the smith remained uneasy at this unexpected visit.
That she was accompanied by one of the Templar knights did little to ease his concern.That man was imposing not only due to his white tabard and chain mail hauberk but his fierce expression.He surveyed the smithy as if expecting a threat in every corner, one hand on the hilt of his blade and suspicion in his eyes.
It was clear the lady had a stalwart defender, even in Laird Fergus’ absence.
To Farquar’s surprise, the lady proceeded with confidence to the forge, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if appreciating the distinctive smell of the smithy.He did as much each time he returned, but it was a habit he hardly expected to have in common with the laird’s Saracen bride.He was intrigued, more so when she smiled again and said something to the Templar.
“Lady Leila was raised by her uncle, who was a blacksmith in Outremer,” the knight explained in careful Gaelic.“She says your smithy smells like home.”
Farquar grinned, for he was charmed despite himself.He invited her with a gesture to inspect his work, standing back as she did just that.She identified the best of his labors immediately, with a smile and a tap of her fingertip, her admiration revealing the truth of her claim.
The lady gestured to the horses, and Farquar recalled that she was said to have a talent with their care.Maybe Nellie sensed as much.Like a bee to honey, Lady Leila went directly to the plow horse, walked around the dapple mare as she murmured reassuringly, then bent to deftly lift the affected foot.Farquar felt his brows rise as the lady inspected the injured hoof, the surety of her movements feeding his conviction that the tale of her skill was true.
She spoke to the knight, who translated.
“She was quicked?”
“Aye.”Farquar began to explain that the horse had moved just before his hammer had struck the nail, but the lady waved off his explanation.She mimed lifting a hammer then kicked her foot, clearly aware that even the most placid horse might not remain still while being shoed—and that there was no fault to the smith in that.
Farquar heaved a sigh of relief.
She frowned and touched the swelling on Nellie’s hoof with a gentle fingertip.The mare snorted and stamped another foot.
She raised her dark gaze to Farquar.
He flung out his hands, hoping the knight could translate his words and that his gestures would communicate his frustration.“I cannot progress,” he said.“She will not stand upon it, much less walk, and each day, it grows worse instead of better.I dare not remove the shoe and all chance of her walking, yet the inactivity gives her colic, as well.”He laid a hand upon Nellie’s side and leaned his ear against her belly.The loud rumble of her indigestion made the issue most clear to him and he hoped the lady understood.
Lady Leila listened to the Templar’s translation, which seemed overly short to Farquar, then listened to Nellie’s belly herself.She nodded and spoke briskly to the Templar.
“The lady says she can help,” the Templar said.“Her uncle had a scheme that aided a horse similarly affected, but she would ask for your permission to interfere in this case.”
Farquar knew his relief showed, for Nellie was important to the village and the welfare of all within it.Plus, he could not abide to see a horse suffer.He said all of this, finding himself uncharacteristically fulsome in the face of unexpected assistance, and the knight spoke to the lady.
She nodded again, then held up a two fingers before pointing back to the keep.
Farquar nodded understanding.She needed something from the hall, but would return to help Nellie.He smiled and bowed, more encouraged than he had been in days.
Leila ran, Enguerrand fast on her heels.She climbed to the solar, unlocked the door, and retrieved a flask from Fergus’ belongings.Once the door was locked again, she descended to the kitchen, where Xavier opened the spice chest as her request.She raced back to the smithy with her selection, arriving out of breath.
Farquar smiled at her and she knew he would assist her.They had found common ground in their concern for the plow horse.
Enguerrand halted behind her.
“The stall must be swept out,” she said to the Templar.“So that it is dry and clean beneath Nellie’s feet.It is the wet and the mire that compounds the problem.”
The knight translated and Farquar nodded, then beckoned to his boys.They swept out the stall, working around Nellie who regarded them with some curiosity.That, too, was a change for the better.The two palfreys that had returned from Outremer with their party also leaned over their stalls to watch and one nuzzled Leila from behind.She swatted away the nibbler, heard a playful nicker, then was nuzzled anew.
Farquar said something and Enguerrand replied before translating.“He says they trust you and I told him it was no wonder.You were the one who tended them best and anticipated their needs.”
Leila and Farquar shared a smile.She gestured to Nellie’s hoof.“The shoe must come off and stay off until there is improvement.”She picked up Nellie’s foot and braced it against her knees as her uncle had taught her.Farquar, once Enguerrand had shared her advice, brought his tools and pried the offending shoe loose.Leila liked that he was gentle and was amused that they both murmured soothing sounds to the horse.She examined the hoof and put out her hand for the hook to clean it without thinking, surprised when Farquar anticipated her request.She pointed to the swollen area and he nodded, indicating another bruise on the side.When she ran her finger along the hoof on one side, he fetched his file and they trimmed it down a little bit more.
