“We will see in the spring. If we get milking goats, it is better to get a billy goat too.”
“Oh, then they may have babies! That would be wonderful, wouldn’t it, Mrs. Logan?” Elayne looked directly at her father. “I wish I had a brother or sister, so I’m sure the goats would be happier.” He blushed deep red, and Mrs. Logan appeared flushed too. Elayne wondered what it meant.
They heard the wind pick up and howl outside. It started snowing heavily again while they were eating dinner. Elayne realized it was the perfect opportunity to begin her matchmaking campaign in earnest.
“Papa, I’m worried about Mrs. Logan going home in this storm. Ye will need to ride her back home, or she should stay with us. Mrs. Logan can sleep in my bed. I will make a bed by the hearth.”
“Child, I do nae wish to take ye from yer bed. It is not far to walk home.”
Elayne noted how Mrs. Logan gazed shyly up and smiled sweetly at her father and his corresponding blush.
“Nae, it is too far in this storm. I would be worried about ye as I know my father would too. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to ye. Ye are the closest to a mother I have now. I couldn’t bear the thought if anything happened to ye in this storm. Ye should stay here with us, shouldn’t she, Papa?”
“Aye, Elayne is right. Ye can hear the wind howling outside like a banshee. It is not a fit night for man nor beast. We will do as Elayne said. Ye can sleep in her bed, and ye ladies can fashion a bed by the hearth so Elayne can be comfortable.”
Pleased with herself, Elayne returned to the forge. Despite how long she worked, she did not feel tired but energized and proud of her accomplishments this evening. Elayne beat, pound-ed, and pummeled the metal for a long, heavy, shining sword she hoped a warrior would purchase. She wished to fashion a unique dirk or a sword for Cailean to protect him in battle. It would take weeks upon weeks of extra work to create what she had in mind.
Elayne wanted Papa to be proud of her work. The tedious toiling and pounding made her shoulders and arms ache something fierce. The extra effort was worth it with a goal to work toward. Each week she toiled, she could see the tangible evidence of her labor. It helped her to determine how much more she needed to do to achieve her goals.
The winter solstice finally arrived. Elayne heard the merriment as she walked to get water. Elayne kent she was too young to attend, but she longed for the day when she could join the fun. A bonfire burned in the courtyard, and musicians played a merry tune, inspiring people to dance. Warriors stood by the fire and drank mulled hot wine before they took a turn dancing.
Elayne dawdled at the well. Intently, she observed the jollity and fun across the massive courtyard. Nae one would see her here in the darkness that engulfed her. Elayne felt as if she were across a chasm as the merrymakers danced to the beat of the music and the notes of the fiddle.
Her heart felt older than her body as she experienced feelings she didn’t fully understand. Time seemed to stop for a few moments when she glimpsed Cailean. He stood with a group of men, no doubt his friends, and they were telling stories and laughing as they swilled ale or wine. Cailean smiled back at them. Elayne saw how the women looked at him and flirted, hoping he would ask them to dance.
A pang of yearning pierced her heart and stole her breath for a moment. Grateful to see Cailean again and that he was healthy, safe, and happy, Elayne wiped away the tears that silently slid down her face. Mayhap he had already forgotten her. She was only a bairn to him the last time he had seen her. Elayne was sure his many friends and his duties occupied his time as a warrior. She had nae one. She had only had him. Elayne slipped away in the darkness, returning to work at the forge.
Cailean gazed out into the darkness, thinking of Elayne. He wished she could share this evening with him. He missed her smiles, laughter, and gentle touch. Elayne was a bright and comforting light in his life. Cailean thought he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. As he glanced across the courtyard by the well, whatever he saw had vanished. Only emptiness remained. Cailean’s heart felt empty without Elayne.
Chapter Four
Springtime
The long, harsh winter turned into a muddy spring, with rains drenching the hillsides. Elayne reminded her father about the goats and had secured a promise from Mrs. Logan to teach her how to milk them and make cheese. Both ladies had always looked forward to spring with warmer weather and sunny skies again.
The sounds from the forge clashed with the sounds on market day. Cows mooed, and sheep bleated as lads led them into stalls. Horses’ hooves pounded the flagstones outside the castle, and merchants shouted greetings to each other as they set out their produce and wares to sell. A cacophony of sounds and smells intrigued the visitors. Heaps of green cabbage, brown-skinned onions, and orange carrots were piled on the tables. The vendors in the market wore brighter colors with the warmer weather.
In the fields, men trained vigorously with heavy claymore swords. The clang of steel met in an arc above the heads of seasoned warriors and crashed against their opponents’ shields.
Sweat dripped down their brows and onto the dirt. The warriors’ muscles glistened and bulged with the force of each thrust. The men trained vigorously to protect their clan andfamilies, never knowing when they would be called to defend against an enemy attack.
Laird MacPherson built alliances through the arranged marriages of his daughters. Raulf had become betrothed and would journey to the MacDonnell clan for his marriage to Fiona MacDonnell, their wedding ceremony and feast. Soon, Cailean would begin his excursion for business alliances and negotiations for the rest of the spring, summer, and early autumn.
Cailean searched every day for a glimpse of Elayne, desperate to find her before he left for Raulf’s wedding.
As he trained, Cailean thought he glimpsed her standing by the fence, watching the warriors. He excused himself to drink water and walked to the fence to find her. There she stood. He marveled at her beauty. Elayne had grown into an enticing and captivating woman since he had last seen her.
Cailean called out to her, “Elayne. Is it really ye?”
“Good morning, Cailean. How are ye?”
“Better, seeing ye again. I looked everywhere for ye. I have much to tell ye. Can ye meet me at the loch later today?”
“I don’t know if I can. I am running an errand for my father and must return. I am glad ye returned safely from the battles last summer. Ye are looking well. Is everything well with ye?”
“I missed ye, Elayne. I carried yer embroidery with me every day into battle. It made me think of ye whenever I held it and looked at it. It brought me the peace and calm from our days at the loch.”
“I’m glad it comforted ye during the hard days of endless fighting.”
