The other birds had flown away. They walked to where the pheasants lay in the tall grasses and Cailean retrieved them.
“Good shooting. Let’s find more.” He grinned at her. Cailean enjoyed hunting with Elayne. She wasn’t like other lasses who incessantly needed to talk and fill any space with their blather. Elayne contented herself with silence and communicating eloquently with her eyes and smiles. Friends of his sisters were always talking about fashions and who’d gotten betrothed or expected babies.
Despite his dislike for the subject of fashion, Cailean wanted to give Elayne the fabric that meant so much to her. He would ask his sisters if they had any extra for her. After drinking from a stream, Cailean said, “For yer dress for dancing, what kind offabric are ye looking for? On my travels, I may find something ye might like.”
“I’d like a lovely light blue fabric, the kind moves with ye when ye dance. I would also like wool material in red or green, similar to the MacPherson tartan, but ye can nae buy fabric for me.”
“I could buy it for my sisters.” He grinned at her.
“I wouldn’t accept it if ye did.”
“What would I do with it if my sisters didn’t like it?” His facial expression showed he thought he had been clever, like a cat who had a secret lick of rich cream.
They continued to hunt, and Cailean spied a deer from a distance and gave Elayne tips on hunting deer. “They are skittish and have keen hearing,” he whispered. “Ye must be downwind of the deer. If they smell ye, as delectable as ye smell, they will run away.” He motioned for her to be quiet and follow him as he crept closer, took careful aim with his huge biceps straining against the fabric of his shirt, and let loose the arrow with a clean and swift shot. The deer fell to the ground, dead. They walked to the deer and Cailean whistled to his horse, who came trotting up moments later.
“The problem ye have is that ye can nae lift or carry such a heavy animal. Ye would need to carve the meat so ye could carry it home and prepare it. If meat is outside too long, it can make ye sick. In hot weather, meat spoils faster too. It would be best if ye hunted with others in a group, nae alone. Ye could divide the meat among ye, like we do in a hunting party.”
Cailean circled the deer, assessing its carcass. He knelt next to it and first lifted the head, then pulled it over his shoulders and threw it over his well-trained horse. Impressed with hisstrength, Elayne observed how his muscles bulged, flexed, and strained with the weight of the deer.
“It is spring, so it is best not to shoot a female deer in the spring. I hope ye don’t mind, but I think it best we walk back to the castle. I can give the deer to yer father to smoke for winter, and he can share it with the farrier. If anyone asks ye, I came upon ye walking back to the castle.”
“Won’t they wonder why ye are giving it to me?”
“I doubt they will ask me outright. When and if they ask ye, tell them I called out to ye and asked if ye’d like the deer I shot. I wanted to surprise ye with something else today. But I will have to wait for tomorrow.”
Elayne glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. “Ye already surprised me several times today. Did ye forget? Making tarts in the castle, taking me hunting and shooting pheasants, and then a deer. I ken ye are an expert hunter.”
Cailean blushed under her sincere praise. “I enjoy hunting and putting food on the table for the clan. Few can hunt because they must work. Others may go hunting but cannot find anything to shoot. Like fishing, hunting takes much patience and practice. Ye were my good luck charm today. What time will ye finish yer work tonight?”
“I’m nae sure. Three hours after sundown, mayhap longer.”
“I’ll be waiting for ye at the well.”
“All right.”
“I want to show ye something. There will be a full moon tonight.”
He stopped his horse at the forge. He had collected a crowd with the huge stag slung over Night.
The blacksmith arrived to look at the deer and greeted Cailean, who explained, “I spied yer daughter ahead of me when I returned from hunting and asked her if her family could use the deer I shot. She said I needed to ask ye. Would ye like it? Truthfully, I’m tired of venison and prefer other meat for a spell.”
“Ye want to give us this buck?”
“Aye. After ye carve up the meat, ye can smoke it for winter. Ye can share it with others if ye like. Ye can tan the hide and make a coat or rug out of it. Would ye like me to help ye cut it up?”
The men pulled out their dirks and started cutting into the deer hide. Their roles were clearly known, as they had each grown up taking part in hunting parties. Elayne ran into the kitchen and found Mrs. Logan. They carried a large pot and a tray to collect the meat on. Her father glanced up from his work. “Leave us, lass. Mrs. Logan will help us. Attend the fire and finish with the horseshoe I left on the anvil.”
“Aye, Papa.” She left them to the deer. Inside the forge, she put her kerchief around her hair and tied on her leather apron. Then she pulled on her leather gloves, stoked the fire, and heated the iron shoe to finish her father’s work. She pounded the metal and beat it into submission.
Elayne blushed when she ken Cailean would see her doing menial work. After watching her working like a man, would he still wish to befriend her? She felt sure he would prefer a winsome beauty with a wealthy father and ample dowery.
Will I disgust him when he sees me sweaty and covered in soot before the forge? He is the only friend I have.She would hate to lose his friendship. She remained curious how her father seemed acquainted with him and called him by his given name.
Elayne finished the shoe and left it cooling for her father. Picking up hot iron from the forge with pliers, she began making another horseshoe at her anvil. Already, she felt the sweat trickle down her back, and she ran a cloth across her face, knowing soot covered her too.
As she worked, Elayne could hear the lilt of laughter from Mrs. Logan and the husky voices of the men. They must be enjoying their conversation, as she had finished with her horseshoe and set it to cool in the water.
It hissed and steam billowed from it, making her feel hotter than before. Undoubtedly, the men were having an ale by now. She wondered what on earth they were talking about.Will Cailean ask my father about when I arrived at the clan? Why is he curious, and why does it matter to him to find out more?
