The snow fell, veiling the landscape in a thick white haze as we journeyed on horseback up a steep ridgeline toward a hilltop overlooking the valley and a frozen loch below. A perfect circle marred the ice’s surface, and within it a horse struggled desperately against the icy grip of the lake’s frigid waters. Within a moment I was off the hillside and on the lake with the drowning horse.
Lying on the ice, I stretched my body out to grasp the reins, but my efforts were futile. I watched helplessly, tears streaming down my cheeks, freezing in the bitter air, as the horse succumbed to its watery fate, disappearing into the dark abyss below. As it sank out of sight into the frigid waters, an eerie sound pierced the silent valley—a haunting echo warning of impending danger.
A child, seemingly unaffected by the treacherous conditions, walked across the frozen lake toward the gaping hole left by the horse. Fear gripped me as the child drew nearer, my heart racing. I closed my eyes, seeking solace in the darkness, only to feel a chilling hand seize my shoulder. With a startled cry, I jolted awake, the echo of my own voice mingling with Addie’s urgent calls from a distance.
“Cora, dear. It’s just a dream,”she said in a gentle tone as she helped me to my feet. Once I was upright, she patted my shoulder, then headed back toward the kitchen, leaving me standing in the middle of the room. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked around, finding James sitting on a chair near the fire, acting as if he didn’t even notice my presence.
“James, James, come sit next to me. Mama made my favorite this morning,”little Alice exclaimed as she ran into the room and tugged on James’s hand, urging him to join her in the small kitchen. He glancedat me before getting up and following her into the other room. I trailed behind him, trying to keep my distance.
An uneasy feeling clung to me as the drowsy remnants of the dream lingered along with the daunting task that lay ahead of us. I feared that our inability to get along would slow the process of getting the items needed for Gran’s potion, and we were already short on time after yesterday’s slow carriage ride.
The aroma of warm porridge and eggs filled the kitchen as I stepped in and took my seat at the worn wooden table.
“Mama is preparing porridge with cream and honey for us,”Alice announced with a tiny squeal of delight. James smiled down at her, rubbing his tummy as if eagerly anticipating the meal. Alice giggled and fidgeted while waiting for her breakfast. Witnessing their sweet interaction, I found my heart softening toward him. He was gentle and sweet with her, and it seemed that he had the makings of being a good father someday. Such musings, however, were not fitting for someone of my station to linger on.
“Do you need any help, Addie?”I inquired, hoping she might give me a task to keep my mind busy.
“Could you please slice the bread there?”she asked, pointing to a fresh crusty loaf on a small table in the corner of the kitchen. As I began to slice the bread, Malcolm entered, tracking in a heap of snow from his boots.
“Aye, the storm has not decided to leave us yet. I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere in that carriage,”Malcolm remarked, shaking off the snow from his hat.
I glanced at James, my concern evident.“We must go,”I insisted.
“If you go, it will have to be on horseback, and even that will be quite dangerous in these conditions,”Malcolm explained.
James exchanged glances with me before turning back to Malcolm.“It's urgent that we continue on. Can you lend the footman a horse to take Ms. Douglas back to the castle? I will go from here on horseback the rest of the way.
“Of course, but I must tell you that riding in a storm such as this is very dangerous, James,”Malcolm warned.
“I am not going back to the castle. I will ride with you. Besides, I know my way around a horse,”I insisted. If he had his way I would be back in the castle before noon, and I couldn’t let that happen.
“If you can’t keep up, then I will leave you behind,”James snapped.
“James,”Malcolm admonished, clearly surprised at his tone toward me.
“If my father hadn’t insisted I take her, I could have been on my way back by now. Girls are not strong nor brave enough to take journeys such as this,”James spat.
“But I’m a girl, and you tell me all the time that I am braver than all the knights at the castle,”little Alice said, breaking into the conversation.
James looked down at her, his hard face softening. He put his arm around her and pulled her into him, then kissed her head.“You are that brave, but most girls aren’t. That’s what makes you so special,”he whispered gently in her ear.
“If Cora is not brave, shouldn’t you be brave for her?”she whispered back. His face grew somber, and he looked at me, sorrow in his eyes, as if the innocent words of a little girl had made him think about his behavior.
“If you go, then you must stick to the roads. In weather like this, no going off on trails to cut time,”Malcolm said.
“I understand. We will take heed of your words and travel carefully.”
Malcolm took his seat at the table as Addie brought over a steaming pot, serving generous portions of porridge into each bowl. Cream and honey were set in the center of the table, and little Alice eagerly reached for the honey, but Addie intervened, playfully scolding her.
“I don’t think so, lassie. You wouldhave more honey than porridge if we let you put that on yourself,”Addie teased.
I smiled at their interaction, feeling a warmth spread through me. I looked forward to the possibility of sharing that kind of loving banter with my own children someday.
“I see she inherited your love for all things sweet,”James joked, looking at Malcolm and taking a mouthful of porridge.
“Aye,”he said, adding a bit more honey to his bowl.
James took the honey from Malcolm, added some to his own porridge, then handed it to me with a slight nod and what looked like the beginning of a smile. It was the most kindness he had offered me since we met.
