Elayne resumed her work at her anvil and kept a keen eye on the fire in the forge. She ken dinner would be later than usual tonight.
Intent and focused on her work, she did not see Cailean enter the forge. Nor did she see how he looked at her, silhouetted by the bright sun that shone outside. Elayne was breathtaking and achingly beautiful to him. He didn’t want to be caught staring, so strode out of the forge and removed the pheasants from his horse’s pommel, carrying them to Mrs. Logan.
“I want ye to have these. I have heard Bessie talk about what a wonderful cook ye are, so I ken ye can do justice to these birds.”
“Thank ye. I will smoke these and use their feathers to make pillows to sell at the summer fair.”
“I’m glad ye will find them helpful.”
As he walked out to the forge, her father returned and introduced Cailean to his daughter.
“It is nice to meet ye, kind sir,” Elayne said as naturally as possible. “Thank ye for the meat. It will help us over the cold winter months.”
“It is nice to meet ye as well, Elayne.” His eyes glittered with mirth as he smiled down at her. He towered over her, and his presence filled the forge. “Ye made a beautiful shoe.”
Elayne blushed at his praise, but thankfully the heat from the forge would account for her red face. Cailean nodded to William and her.
Cailean told William, “I am visiting various clan members before I leave for my brother’s wedding to see how I can be of service. I planned to start with the farrier, but since I’m here, what can I help ye with?” Recalling Elayne’s wishes, he said, “I ken ye could use a larger pen to hold additional livestock, and a bigger garden.”
“Aye, that would be a big help. I can nae stop working to make the pen, as both my daughter and I labor from sunrise to sunset, and now we are aiding the farrier to shoe the laird’s horses.”
“Aye, I ken. What time does it suit ye for me to work on extending the pen tomorrow?”
“We arise early, so anytime ye like is fine. I do not have any extra wood to use to build the pen though.”
“I have plenty of wood to use. Nae need to worry. I will bring it with me. I hope ye will have nails for me though?”
“Aye, that I have plenty of, and a hammer. Tomorrow, let me ken what other tools ye may need. Thank ye, again for the meat and the help.”
When he returned to his chamber, Cailean bathed and dressed in clean trews and a linen shirt. He ran into Kathrine, his youngest sister in the hallway before dinner. “Do ye have any extra blue ribbons ye do not need, or another color?”
“Ribbons? Why do ye need ribbons?”
“Bessie taught me how to make tarts. I want to thank her and ye ken she loves ribbons. I dinna have time to shop for them.”
“That is sweet of ye, Cailean. Let me get a few for ye. I’ll be right back.” He followed her to her room and wondered what Elayne’s chamber looked like. Tomorrow, he would glimpse her chamber. Katherine gave red, pink, and blue ribbons to her brother. “Ye can select what ye want from these colors. I will get more at the market.”
“Thank ye, sister. It will make her happy.” Cailean did nae think about Bessie but about Elayne. He put the ribbons in his pockets with the one for Bessie, for after dinner he would give it to her.
He ate his evening meal in the great hall with his family. His hunting and work had left him with an enormous appetite tonight. He couldn’t wait to see Elayne again. After dinner, he lingered over his ale and spoke to his brothers. Later, he went into the kitchens and put his arms around Bessie and lifted her off the ground.
“What are ye doing? Have ye gone daft?” Secretly she loved his special attentions. Cailean was her favorite among the laird’s sons. He put her down and kissed her cheek.
“Thank ye, Bessie, for yer help today. It meant a lot to me and to Elayne. Here is a token of my thanks to ye.” He dangled the bright red ribbon in front of her and she snatched it out of his hand.
“Thank ye for yer gift. I’m happy to help ye and the lass. She is beautiful, sweet, and kind, and I ken an excellent influence on ye and yer wicked ways.”
He put his hand over his heart. “Ye wound me, Bessie. How can ye call me wicked?”
“Ye ken ye were a mischievous lad. And ye have turned the heads of many a lassie. Mind ye, have a care about this lass. She has seen too much tragedy in her young life.”
“Aye, I ken. If ye learn any more about her clan or origins, will ye write to me and let me ken?”
“Aye, I will be happy to write ye.” She chose not to say any more about his motivations.
“Thank ye, Bessie, for everything. I will worry about Elayne when I’m gone. Will ye talk to Mrs. Logan and Elayne while I’m away and ensure they are well?”
“Aye, I would enjoy that. If I find any new information, I will write to ye.”
