Melissa turned in her chair to see a short, thin lady with whisps of grey in her blonde hair. Her back was slightly bent beneath her worn dress.
The little girl held her mother’s hand and attempted to hide behind her dress. With huge brown eyes and matching brown hair, she couldn’t have been more than four or five.
“Please, don’t apologize.” Melissa stood and pushed her chair to the side. “This wasn’t a planned visit.”
“An English lass,” the woman said in surprise, turning toward Beitris with a look of shock. “I kent that the Laird would someday marry, even if he swore he wouldnae, but this is a surprise.”
Beitris suppressed a giggle.
Meidra turned back toward Melissa. “I beg yer forgiveness, Me Lady,” she said with wide eyes as she placed her hand over her mouth. “I often speak me mind without thinking.”
“Please, don’t apologize.” Melissa laughed. “I often do the same.” She bent over double while hunkering down. “You don’t have to be shy, little one, I hear you played with some poison oak.”
The girl shifted a little further behind her mother’s legs but gave Melissa a nervous smile from behind the piece of dress she used to cover her face.
“I’m afraid she’s a little shy, Me Lady,” Meidra said fondly, placing her hand on the little girl’s head.
“That’s all right,” Melissa said, then straightened, looking at the mother. “We all need a little time to adjust.”
“Come in, take a seat.” Beitris gestured toward the chairs. “I’m sure we will all be at ease in a few minutes.”
Meidra guided her daughter over to the chair while Melissa loitered around, waiting to see if there was something she could do.
“Ye may want to take yer own advice,” Beitris whispered in her ear as she passed. “We all need a little time to adjust.”
“I think you might be right,” Melissa whispered back and followed her into the kitchen, thoroughly enjoying the fact that she had something to do, even if it was just to watch.
“Now, let’s have a look at those hands,” Beitris said in a low voice as she stooped down in front of Tilly, who shied away.
“I don’t think she’s warmed up just yet,” Melissa noted.
Tilly turned her head and watched in fascination as Melissa spoke in her English accent.
“Tilly,” Beitris asked with a soft smile. “Do ye like the way that lady speaks?’’
The little girl nodded her head but quickly hid away once again.
“Well, then I have good news for ye.” Beitris looked up and winked at Melissa. “That lady comes from a faraway land. She has magical powers that can help little bairns like ye heal.” She widened her eyes with excitement to draw the little girl. “It’s said that ye can get over anything if ye sit on her lap. Yer ailment will disappear.” She clicked her fingers. “Just like that.”
Melissa caught on to what Beitris was trying to do and decided to play along. “Oh, yes,” she said as she bent over double again and smiled at Tilly. “All you have to do is sit on my lap and let the nice lady put something on your hand, then you will be all fixed up.” She copied Beitris’s motion and clicked her fingers. “Just like that.”
“What do ye say? Will ye sit on the special lady’s lap an’ allow me to fix yer hands, Tilly?” Beitris asked.
“Aye,” Tilly whispered with a shy nod.
“Wonderful!” Beitris exclaimed and straightened. “I’ll prepare the oatmeal.”
Melissa took up a chair and sat, motioning for the little girl to come and climb up on her lap.
Tilly hesitated at first but came out from behind her mother and carefully clambered onto Melissa’s knees.
“There,” Beitris said as she came forward after a minute or two with a mushy paste of oats and water. “All ye have to do is listen to the nice lady talking while I fix yer hands, an’ ye will be right as rain in nae time at all.”
The little girl eagerly held out her hands in front of her as she came a little more out of her shell.
“An’ ye get to eat these cherries.” Beitris plucked a few cherries from the basket on the table and handed Tilly a few, watching as the little girl eagerly popped them into her mouth. “I’ll give yer maither more to take home. They do wonders for red skin an’ swelling.” She winked at Meidra, who smiled.
“I know,” Melissa said as she pulled back the little girl’s long brown hair. “How about I tell you a few of the stories that my mother used to tell me when I was your age? Does that sound good?”
