Frustrated, Elayne hammered and pounded forcefully into the metal, hoping to calm the rage that burned inside her. She prayed silently,I am grateful to my papa, who loves me. Papa has been a patient teacher, and I enjoy helping him. I would just like some time for pleasure and happiness. Please let me go to the loch.
Other women had it just as bad as her. Women labored on a farm in the fields from sunup to sundown or toiled in the castle laundry. Elayne enjoyed embroidery, but only in small doses. Would she enjoy cooking all day? Then she remembered the sweet berry tarts Cailean had shared with her—mayhap it wouldn’t be so bad. But in truth, his kisses were even more delicious.
The farrier interrupted her daydreaming. “Elayne, lass, are ye angry at someone? Ye are pounding that iron with a mighty force. I’m afraid ye will tire yerself out and be too sore to work in the forge tomorrow or help me afterward. The horses are not going anywhere. I appreciate yer help and determination, lass. But take yer time.”
Her father, with his powerful muscles, bulging biceps, muscular forearms, and broad chest and shoulders, could make five horseshoes an hour. Whereas Elayne completed four, pounding as hard and fast as possible. Life wasn’t fair.As a woman, ye always work for someone else: yer father, brother, or husband. Ye are their property.
Elayne ken her father would let her keep the extra money earned from helping Duncan. But she didn’t know how much fabric she needed for a dress or the cost. Elayne hoped to earn enough in the next few weeks to purchase the material soon.
Elayne tired of wearing old drab patched clothes. She didn’t own one nice dress. She strictly wore boys’ clothes while working in the forge the next week to underscore her need for new clothes to her father. If Elayne was lucky, her father would insist Mrs. Logan sew her a new dress.
Before bed that night, Elayne rubbed liniment on her father’s shoulders and applied it across her own shoulders. They’d bothworked hard at Duncan’s that night. Her father had stayed after her to join the men in drinking whiskey.
In her bed in the kitchen, she thought about what her life would be like after Cailean left. It would be lonely without him again. What caused her more incredible pain was thinking about the women he would meet, dance with, or kiss during his journey away.
What if he fell in love with one of them? Elayne didn’t think men thought about kissing like women. Kisses to women meant more somehow. For men, kisses seemed something to do. They claimed a woman and used it to boast about later. Whereas for a woman, kisses were heartfelt and memorable to hold to one’s heart.
Elayne awakened early again and worked as usual. She hoped today she could meet Cailean at the loch and ride with him. More than that, she secretly hoped Cailean would kiss her again. Would it be as magical as before?
Her father awakened a short time later and saw her hard at work as he entered the forge. He had tools to make today, more axes to fell trees and chop wood to replenish the hearths in the castle and kitchen.
“Ye have been working hard. Duncan is grateful to ye. So am I. Why don’t ye take the next afternoons for yerself? I asked Mrs. Logan to sew ye a couple of new dresses since I ken yers are worn, and ye need new ones, as any lass does. Ye and Mrs. Logan can decide on the style of the dresses.”
Elayne laid down her tools carefully and then threw herself into the arms of her surprised father. “Thank ye, Papa. Thank ye, I can’t tell ye how much it means to me to have new clothes. AndI’d love to walk to the loch again.” Elayne couldn’t wait to go to the well to meet Cailean.
Elayne threw herself into her work until lunchtime, when Mrs. Logan stopped by with a midday meal for them.
“Did ye hear, Mrs. Logan? Papa said I could go to the loch every afternoon and have new dresses. Papa said we could decide on the styles. Oh, thank ye for helping me. Can we start on the dress tomorrow?”
“Aye. I’m going to the market now to find pretty material for ye. Ye need work dresses and gowns to wear. May I select the material for ye to wear? I ken ye’d like a blue color. What other color would ye like?”
“I’d like a bright color in red or green. I’m so tired of drab colors.”
“I will try to find what ye’d like. Later, we can decide on the design and trimming for the first dress.”
“Thank ye.”
When her time to work was over, Elayne changed her clothes into an old but clean dress with the fewest patches. She restrained herself from running to the well as she longed to do and fling her arms around Cailean; she was so happy.
Elayne forced herself to be patient. Eagerly, her eyes searched everywhere for Cailean. Tall with broad shoulders, she thought he would be easy to spy in the crowded market.
Cailean spied her immediately at the well, wasted no time, and vaulted on his horse. Then he stopped at the well, acting as if he didn’t know Elayne nor she him. But his eyes glinted with the promise of fun, freedom, and something unknown.
“Lass, may I please have a cool ladle of water before I leave? It is a warm day.”
“Aye, it is a pleasant day for an afternoon ride and a swim.” Elayne gave him a ladle of water. Cailean took his leisure as he drank in her appearance before giving her the empty ladle.
“Thank ye.” Cailean surprised her by giving her a coin tip. Elayne pocketed it in her gown and watched him ride away before she picked up her sack and walked out of the castle, to the meadow that led to the loch.
Elayne searched ahead to see where Cailean had stopped to wait for her; he ken she didn’t want anyone in the village to see her riding with him on his horse. As she walked into the forest, a strong arm snaked around her waist and forcefully pulled her into a surprise embrace. Cailean held her against his chest and captured her mouth in a fervent kiss.
“I have stolen ye for the entire afternoon, lass. Come, let’s go riding before we swim and eat.” Grinning, he released her, lifted her into the saddle, and hoisted himself behind her.
Holding her firmly in his arms, Cailean urged his horse into a canter out in a long meadow. The horse was as eager to ride as Cailean.
Cailean’s voice rumbled in her ear, “I don’t know what magic ye worked, lass, but I am grateful ye got away today. I was thinking about how to kidnap ye.”
Elayne laughed. “Ye were not. Ye jest.”
