Page 216 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

"Thank ye," said James, with an appreciative grin, taking the pottage. Carefully, he wrapped his fingers around the pottage dish, before setting them down onto the main table in front of them.

He lingered for a while, as Ainslee sat there, watching him. Pulling up a stool, she sat beside him.

"Sorry tis tardy," she said, as she sat and watched, as James ate. He dunked a gray hunk of bread into the watery broth, and gulped greedily. "An' so weak..."

James did not seem to be bothered. "Tis braw!" he said, digging in. For a moment, there was silence, punctuated only by extreme slurping, Then, he looked at her.

"Hen, anything that's hot an' tasty is a muckle load better than anything served at sea!"

James drained his soup dish, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Ainslee hid a wince,

"So, the scran isnae so good, then?" she said, collecting the dishes. Going to the back of the room, she found the bread, and conjured up another couple of hunks. Then, adding a lump of cheese, she carried it over to James.

"Have a wee bit more, then," she said. She did not have to say it twice. James almost took the trancher out of her hands. Swiftly, he wolfed it down.

As he ate, Ainslee poured him some water, which he gladly drank. Watching him, Ainslee pondered quietly. All was clanging away in the smiddy barn, through the way. Ainslee could hear the eternal bangings and occasional grunts of her father, as he labored.

Putting her face towards the door, Ainslee listened. Was Malcolm still in there? Or had he cleared out for the morning? Having two guests in the smiddy barn was not exactly adjacent to the smooth running of a blacksmith's barn. Watching the captain eat, she wondered how to broach the subject of Malcolm with him.

"Ta, lass...," James did not stand on ceremony, and made short work of the dried barley bread. When he had finished, he pushed the stool back, and sat contentedly. Ainslee, who had been wondering how to talk to him, suddenly did not have to worry.

"Ye ken, lass, he's told me all about ye," said James, refilling his cup with the remainder of the water. Ainslee, who had been about to offer him a hot drink, froze suddenly.

"Wh...what?" asked Ainslee, self-consciously. She tucked an errant lock of hair back behind her and faced him.

"Nae fash, lass, twas all braw!" winked James, making Ainslee blush. "Yer lad thinks a lot o' ye..."

Ainslee's heart rushed, but she tried not to show it. "Och, aye?" she said, looking away. Outside, the winds were racing, and a chilling winter's day was brewing. Ainslee wondered again where Mal had gone. Had he rode already to the Duncan keep?

"An' having seen him here wi' ye, tis clear to see, he wouldnae ha' ever gone anywhere without ye...," James grinned, but his eyes looked serious. Sharply, he glanced at her, before returning to his beverage.

Hurrying to the stove, Ainslee fetched him a fresh cup, this time a hot rosehip tea. Joining him in a cup, she sat down.

"He was dragged away?" Ainslee asked him, her round eyes widening. In truth, she had accepted this before, but she needed to hear it.

"Aye," he said, looking away. Outside, a gust of deep wind took the barn, shaking it wildly. When it had abated, he looked back. "He was sold to the captain, wi' the ship... he's waited ten years to get back to Scotland..."

James' voice trailed off, as Ainslee cast her eyes over him. He was about the same age as her, but his face was weather beaten. Even so, he retained a handsome shape.

Ainslee looked, uncomprehending. "Ye nae came back at all?" she said, disbelieving. James grunted, then shook his head.

"Nae, we returned to Scotland, but nae to the Highlands... an' twas under the auld captain... a cruel man, he killed a man for trying to flee!" said James, with a laugh.

Ainslee did not laugh. She watched him closely.

"Tis nae funny," she said, primly. James looked at her.

"Yer right, lass," he said, wiping his face. "Tis nae joke. Trust me, this auld man, wasnae someone to cross... an' it wasnae until Malcolm helped that we gave him the boot!"

James' eyes glistened, Ainslee could only guess at what he meant. Before she could ask him, he continued.

"So ye see, I love that man, like he was my own brother, an' when he said take me home to the Highlands, I did so..., now I'm here, I can see why..."

Ainslee watched him and softened. "He didnae tell ye afore?" she said. James shook his head.

"He was quiet," he said, thinking. "I kent there must have been someone, but he nae said... but since getting here, I ken now. He is meant to be wi' ye, an' ye have to believe him, he wouldnae have left ye..."

Ainslee put her hand up, to stop him. "Aye," she said, nodding. "I ken...an' so, James, I must beg ye..."