Cailean awakened first while Elayne slumbered on. He took care of his personal needs and attended their horses. He put water on the fire and added more wood, and soon it blazed again. The sun had not risen yet. The forest remained quiet except for the occasional rustling of branches in the treesoverhead. As he wrapped his cloak around him, he could see his breath turn frosty in the air. Cailean surveyed the sky, but it was too dark to see if it would snow today. That would slow their journey home.
Dawn stretched from her slumber and thrust her rosy fingers into the lingering sapphire sky, beckoning the sun’s blazing journey. Rose yielded to vivid purple and vibrant orange as dawn dressed for the day. It was a beautiful sunrise, but even more beautiful because Elayne was with him. Cailean took delight in watching Elayne awaken and stretch. It took her a moment to get her bearings before she beamed a radiant smile at Cailean when fully awake. She stood and draped her arms around his neck, and Cailean wrapped her in his arms and kissed her soundly.
“I’ll have yer tea, meat, and oatcakes ready when ye get back from the river. I already took care of the horses.”
“Thank ye.” Elayne walked into the forest to take care of her personal needs and washed her face and hands in the river. She drank the water and rinsed her mouth. Elayne stood at the river’s edge, gazing over the grounds and forest. She took out her braid and combed her hair, leaving it down and free for now. After needing to braid her hair with a tight-fitting cap for many months, it was great to have the freedom to leave it loose.
Elayne admired Cailean’s muscular form as he stood waiting for her by the fire. He was the most handsome man. She blushed as she admired his bulging muscles, broad chest and shoulders, and his inviting mouth. Elayne loved his kisses. As she walked up the rise of the hill to meet him, he took her in his arms once again and kissed her.
“Are ye still tired?”
“I slept well. I am more rested. How about ye? Did ye rest well?”
“With ye by my side all night, my sleep was incredible.” Elayne blushed. Cailean chuckled as he stroked her hair and cupped her face. His delight in her company plain upon his face, in his eyes, and his bright smile. He tended to their tea and gave her a cup. Moments later, he handed her dried meat and a hot oatcake.
Elayne took a few bites. “Mmm, this tastes delicious. Thank ye.” She watched the muscles in his neck and jaw as he ate and swallowed and wished to kiss his neck and have his arms wrapped about her again, with fewer clothes between them. Cailean asked her if she would like more meat or oatcakes and she declined, while he ate another oatcake.
“We will ride and put more distance between us and Clan Cameron. We are nae entirely safe until I have ye back home with me. Depending on the weather, we will stop early today. I ken of a bothy ahead where my men and I took refuge before. If it is pouring rain or snowing, we will stay there on the MacPherson lands.”
He doused the fire, and the two of them packed the food and folded the plaids and attached their supplies to the horses. Cailean lifted Elayne into the saddle, and they rode through meadows with a carpet of spring flowers and heather. As the day progressed, the sky became darker, and the wind grew colder.
While they watered the horses, Cailean said, “The bothy is not too far ahead. We will stop there since it appears it may snow.”
“Aye, the sky looks threatening.” While they rode side by side, Elayne asked Cailean about his travels. She also inquired about the alliances he had procured for the clan.
“I met many people in each clan besides the laird, his family, and key staff. Our clans are alike. We each have similar challenges to produce enough food and keep our clans safe. Each clan is unique because of its history, geography, and unique characteristics.”
“That is true. People in each clan want to care for their families and prosper—we all have that in common.”
“I based our alliances on the strengths and needs of each clan. Since I returned, we are crafting wooden barrels to store grain and whiskey. I worked in the fields with the men, and we have planted fields of spring barley in several excellent locations with other grains. Hopefully, with the harvest, we will distill the grain into whiskey. Yer father is building the tools for the still. All of these tasks have produced more jobs for our clan.”
“Was yer father pleased with everything ye accomplished?”
“Aye, he was exceedingly happy. I spoke to him about inviting the lairds to discuss business this summer during the fair. So I would nae need to travel to visit other clans. I enjoyed it, but I would rather not leave again for so long. It was daunting to match wits against a few of the cunning lairds who were protective of their clans’ best interests.
“While I met with them, I always thought about what ye would recommend. Everyone was happy with the outcome. It lays the groundwork for expansion and potential alliances with other clans. Whatever success I had, it was all because of ye.”
Elayne gave him a soft smile but shook her head. “Ye made the alliances. Ye did the work. The success belongs to ye. That ye listened to the information I shared was a testament to yer skills and leadership.”
Thunder boomed overhead and lightning cracked in the sky. The wind gained strength, making the trees bow to its will, impeding their progress. The rain pelted them steadily until they arrived at the bothy. Cailean took their horses and led them to the stable, then gave them water and oats and removed their saddles. He took their supplies and plaids and carried them into the bothy.
Cailean started the fire while Elayne washed a large pot. She checked the cellar and found potatoes and carrots, washed them, and used her dirk to cut them then place them in the pot with water from the well outside. She cleaned and hung another pot of water over the hearth so they could have tea.
While Cailean returned to the stable to care for the horses, she used the broom to sweep the stone floor. Elayne washed the wooden table and chairs and hung her wet cloak by the fire, now blazing in the hearth. She shook the pillows on the bed and covered it with a plaid.
Cailean returned from brushing down the horses and used a pitchfork to provide them plenty of hay. As he entered the bothy, he smelled the vegetables cooking on the hearth and noted its improved appearance. Elayne lit her lantern and placed it in the middle of the table, casting more light inside the dark interior of the stone cottage.
She took his wet cloak and hung it by the fire to dry and poured them a cup of tea.
“Thank ye for cleaning and making soup for dinner. The tea tastes good. The horses are bedded down.”
“Would ye like to add the dried meat to the pot of vegetable soup? I thought I’d make us oatcakes too.”
“Let’s save the smoked meat for later. It will keep. Looking at the skies, we may need to stay here for several days. Ye made the bothy cozy. I plan to go out tomorrow and chop more wood and hunt.”
“I could go with ye and hunt too and help ye gather wood.”
“I would appreciate it if this time ye would stay here and rest. Ye have worked ceaselessly for over a year. I ken ye are exhausted. If ye have the energy, ye can help me stack the wood once I gather it. Besides, I just found ye. I dinna want to lose ye again.”
