“It was kind of Cailean to let us use his horse and bow.” She turned to the anvil and iron and pounded short and long nails. There would be many projects now. The weather was sunnier and warmer, and they needed to take advantage of it while favorable. Winter could be brutally cold in the Highlands, making construction work challenging, if not impossible. They had not finished with shoeing all the warriors’ horses yet either.
Not wanting to leave the forge today while her emotions were so near the surface and threatening to burst, Elayne created more lanterns to sell at the summer fair. She still had an ample supply of sheets of tin. Later, when her father gave her time away from the forge, she would visit with Bessie and learn new recipes or help her with her work. Elayne needed to keep busy and force her mind to focus on work. It was hard when she only wanted to think about Cailean. He acted pleased with her gifts, especially the lantern. Cailean had appreciated the designs of the configuration of the constellations. She planned to make lanterns for the fair with more stars. The design permitted a greater quantity of light to shine from the lantern, making it more useful for those who worked on farms.
In the late afternoon, Elayne completed one lantern and took a break to have a cup of tea and show the lantern to Mrs. Logan.
“What do ye think?” Elayne handed her the lantern she had made. “Do ye think people will wish to purchase these at the market?”
“This is wonderful,” said Mrs. Logan as she lit the candle and admired how the light danced around the room as she twirled itin her hands, holding it by the round loop of iron at the top. “I think yer lantern will be a popular item at the fair.”
“What price should we sell them for? This one I made for ye, so ye can take it home with ye tonight.”
“Thank ye, Elayne. It is a lovely gift. Let me talk to my friends to determine what they think is a fair price for the market. Did ye show yer father?”
“Nae, I have not shown him yet. Ye can show him and ask what he thinks. Did he say if he found an apprentice?”
“Nae, he has not shared that with me yet.”
“Do ye ken where he will have the apprentice sleep? There is nae enough room here. Will the new apprentice stay with the farrier or grooms? They could accommodate sleeping arrangements for a young lad, and he would be close by. It may make him less sad at leaving his family if he is in the company of other lads.”
“That is an excellent idea, and I will mention it to him. Ye have little space. And ye are a woman and need yer own private space. Ye have little privacy even now.”
“Thank ye, Mrs. Logan.”
At dinner later, her father praised the lantern Mrs. Logan had showed him. “I ken yer lanterns will sell well, especially at the summer fair. I think ye should make a few larger ones with a thicker candle that may give more light. It is lightweight and portable but will become hot to touch when the candle burns. Ye did a fine job making this, lass.”
“Thank ye, Papa. If ye make a larger one, I can copy it and Mrs. Logan can sell for us at the market and the fair.”
“Aye. In other news, I have found a lad who is interested in learning to be my apprentice, and his parents agree. I will speak with the farrier and discuss if the apprentice can sleep there. I will let ye ken when he will begin here.”
Elayne nodded. “I am going to the farrier’s to make horseshoes and will see ye later.
When she arrived, Elayne greeted the farrier and his apprentices. With her hammer in hand, she began work to pound out more horseshoes. Work distracted her and kept her mind occupied. Elayne didn’t want to think. She wanted to become so weary, she would fall into a deep sleep and hoped her dreams would take her far away. Elayne labored for hours, until the farrier said, “Thank ye, Elayne. That is more than enough work for the day. Ye must be tired after working in the forge all day. Thank ye for yer hard work.”
“Ye are welcome. Good night.”
So exhausted, Elayne swayed with fatigue returning to the forge. She washed her face and hands and changed into her nightgown. The night slid around her, warm, like a living thing that breathed all around her. Unbidden, tears slid down her face as she remembered Cailean’s warm breath on her neck earlier this morning, and his tenderness.How will I endure the long months without him?She fell asleep feeling a deep ache and longing for Cailean. She dreamed of him and felt the comforting touch of his warm fingers caressing her cheek as he gazed into her eyes. Her dream brought her comfort, even if only while she slept. In her dreams, he held her heart and never let go.
Chapter Eight
The Summer Fair
The next weeks after Cailean left were long, tiring, and lonely for Elayne. Her father and Mrs. Logan noted how subdued she acted. Elayne seldom smiled or made eye contact; her eyes remained downcast. With her appetite decreased, Mrs. Logan could see she had lost weight.
Work continued to fill Elayne’s days at the forge and at the farrier’s. William and Elayne had finally completed the work for all the warriors’ horses. At night, when not working on items in the forge, she helped Mrs. Logan stuff pillows with the feathers they had accumulated.
Concerned for Elayne, Mrs. Logan visited Bessie. The two compared notes over tea and tarts. Mrs. Logan shared with her, “I’m concerned for Elayne since the laird and his family left. She appears sad, has gone back to working long hours, and has lost weight. Elayne won’t share with me what worries her. Since the family returned from Raulf’s wedding, it hasn’t improved. Before they left, Cailean gave us a stag and pheasants he shot earlier in the day. A man does not give a woman something for nothing. Yet it appeared they met for the first time.”
Bessie nodded and said, “Aye, I ken.” Things made much more sense to her.
“I dinna ken how to help her. I ken she’s struggling with something, but I dinna ken with what, although I suspect a man is involved. Could ye ask her to help ye and talk to her? Mayhap she will talk to ye.”
“Aye. Ye have come at a good time. With good weather, I need help to make candles. If her father agrees and Elayne wishes to help me, I will give her candles in return to bring home. I will stop by the forge and ask her for her help. Do ye ken if she would enjoy helping to make candles?”
“Aye, she would enjoy it. Elayne made small lanterns to sell at the market and summer fair. She wishes to include a candle with the lantern. Her father is making a larger lantern too, so she needs several sizes of candles. I ken she enjoys making soap and likes to scent it with wild flowers.”
“I will invite her for candle making then. I sense she is lonely with no time to develop friendships with any lasses her own age.” Bessie and Mrs. Logan finished their refreshment and spoke of other events in the clan.
The next day, Bessie stopped by the forge and talked to the blacksmith, explaining she could use Elayne’s help.
