Elayne bartered for several types of lace with a small lantern. She put the lace in her pocket, and they returned to their tables to sell more items.
Although many men asked Elayne to dance, she longed for Cailean. Mrs. Logan encouraged her to take them up on their offer and indicated she intended to dance with her father. Elayne decided she was right and accepted a few offers.
The group walked to where the dancing was held, and Elayne gave Thomas coins to buy gingerbread cake. Thanking her, Thomas grinned as he left. Her father enjoyed a fast dance with Mrs. Logan, who loved dancing. Elayne accepted a warrior’s invitation for a fast-paced dance, happy to have had Cailean’s lessons. A whirlwind of dancing began as warrior after warrior came to ask Elayne to dance, and she accepted each one. She didn’t have to concentrate on her footwork. Dancing now came naturally to her. Elayne loved the exuberance of her partners with the lively music the piper played.
Eventually, Elayne left the event and returned to the forge and readied for sleep. She longed for Cailean’s arms to be wrapped around her.
The following day, Elayne placed her best sword on her father’s table to be sold, surprising him. Her father picked up the weapon and examined the fine workmanship. The highly polished metal gleamed when the sun struck it and caught the eye of the laird of the MacPherson Clan. It was the most expensive sword they had ever sold.
“My daughter is a skilled blacksmith in her own right. She crafted this fine sword, one of exquisite workmanship.”
After his keen inspection, the laird said, “I am impressed with yer fine work, lass.” He purchased it and did nae quibble about the price.
Feasting, drinking, dancing, and games continued daily, culminating in an award to the champion of each sporting event. The sword fighting champion could choose between coin or the stunning sword that Elayne had crafted, and the champion wisely chose the magnificent sword. Warriors gathered round the winner to congratulate him and to admire the sword.
Elayne’s family sold every single item, with people clamoring for more. Thomas was joyful, for he would receive half of the coins for the blocks of wood he had carved and polished for Elayne to attach an iron spike and a candle. Clansmen introduced themselves and asked her when she would have more lanterns ready for the market.
Toward the end of the market, Elayne found the dogfish skin she wanted. Searching through the fabrics of each merchant, she also found more green wool fabric that reminded her of the pines by the loch, and she purchased it for a winter dress. To complement it, she found a length of a narrow emerald-green velvet ribbon and thought it would add a lovely touch to the dress, making it more elegant.
The summer fair wound down and came to its conclusion, and people started leaving the following day. It had exceeded Elayne’s expectations in all but one respect: Cailean wasn’t able to attend. Elayne wondered where he was now.Are ye weary after a day’s ride? Or are ye enjoying a whiskey, discussing business with others? Are ye in the hills or green meadows, camped out for the night with yer lantern illuminating the darkness for ye? I miss ye, Cailean.
Chapter Nine
The Intervening Months
Time dragged during the remaining hot summer days as Elayne’s thoughts often turned to Cailean.
They escaped the forge for the river and fished for trout and salmon. Mrs. Logan accepted their catch and cleaned the fish for dinner and smoked the rest. Thomas ate dried fish, oatcakes, or bannocks for breakfast.
In July, Elayne and her father received a surprise gift from Cailean. A farmer brought two small goats, a male and a female. The goats had been born in May and weaned. Next year they would be old enough to have more goats. The farmer unloaded hay in the pen for the goats, then he carried each one into the pen, allowing them to adjust to their new home. Elayne brought a ceramic bowl and filled it with water, setting it inside a wooden box so it would not fall. The goats drank water and lay on the hay beside each other and napped.
The farmer assured them that Cailean had taken care of all the costs for hay and the goats’ care. “I will check back later and bring more hay for feed and insulation for winter.”
“Thank ye for bringing them to us. It was very kind and generous of him. Oh, they are so adorable and cuddly.”
“Their coats are so soft,” said Thomas, excited to see the goats and pet them. “I ken how to milk the female goat after she births baby goats because I milked goats on my father’s farm. I can show ye how, Elayne.”
“I would appreciate that very much.”
William gave Thomas instructions for caring for the goats. “Make sure to fill their water bowl every day. When very hot, ye may need to refill it. And make sure ye lock the gate to the pen. If they escape, they will make quick work of the garden, and I ken Mrs. Logan and Elayne would have our heads. Also, we would need to work longer hours to pay for food.”
“Longer hours than we already do?” asked Thomas, looking concerned.
“Aye, much longer. Make sure the gates are properly locked.”
“Won’t Mrs. Logan be surprised to see them?” asked Elayne to her father. “We should make small bells to put around their necks. I will get leather from the tanner.”
Much of Elayne’s time in the forge involved teaching Thomas finer techniques that took more time, skill, and practice to perfect. Thomas had improved hammering the short and long nails and making ax heads. Elayne instructed him how to make a dirk, and he was thrilled to finally craft a full weapon.
“Thank ye, Elayne, for teaching me how to make a dirk. I can’t wait to learn how to make a mighty sword.”
“Ye must perfect making a dirk before ye can make a sword, but later in the week I will show ye the steps to make a sword, and ye can help me pound and shape the metal.”
Thomas’s eyes lit up with delight at the prospect. The work was laborious, but with Thomas at the forge, it gave her time to complete other tasks. Elayne dedicated time to pounding out an iron coil to hold a pillar candle. She created many small and large lanterns, and Mrs. Logan sold them at the market.
After Thomas had worked at the forge for a couple of months, her father gave him two days to go spend with his family.
William said, “I will give ye the money ye earned from the summer fair. Do ye want to take it with ye and give it to yer family? Or do ye want me to save it for ye now?”
