Page 28 of Highland Sky

Chapter Nine

“How does this look?” asked Nash a while later, hoping to hell he was constructing the ridge at the top of the apex correctly.

Kellina had shown him how to bend the layer of straw over the tip of the roof. Then she taught him how to use hazel ligging to hold it in place, and also to add lots of twisted spars to secure it. The spars were tightened by hitting them with the wooden mallet.

“It needs more liggin,’ as well as more spars. If it isna secured tightly, the wind is goin’ to take it,” she told him. “We need to move faster if we’re goin’ to finish before it rains. The sky is already gettin’ dark and the winds are pickin’ up. It willna be safe to stay up here much longer.”

“Och, I am goin’ as fast as I can,” complained Nash, stabbing a spar into the straw to hold it. Each time he did, all he could think about was how Kellina had tried to stab him with one of these earlier. He had a deep scratch on his hand to prove her hatred for him. It was hard to keep an eye on her and also an eye on the roof at all times. Still, he had to, or risk losing his life at the hands of his disgruntled wife.

“That’s guid, but it could be better,” she told him. “If ye make a crisscross pattern with the liggin’, it will help to make the roof more secure. Here, let me show ye.”

To Nash’s surprise, she took his hand, guiding him in placing the wooden strips. She gently and carefully instructed him how to secure the strip over the bundles of straw. Unfortunately, it only reminded him of how he’d guided her hand last night, teaching her something else! Damn, it was hard to focus his mind on what he was doing.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and a light mist began to fall.

“We’ve got enough covered that it’ll keep out the rain for now,” she told him, looking over at him, still holding on to his hand. “We’ll have to put on the finishing touches later.”

Her bright blue eyes stared deeply into his, making him feel as if she could see straight into his very soul. Nash wondered if the girl could see his desire for her right now. He hoped not. Then, he thought, if she did, it would only scare her and make her want to try to kill him again. Nay, it would better if he just kept his desires a secret for now. He reached out and tenderly pushed her hand away from his.

“Thank ye,” he said. “I think I’ve got it now.”

Was that a shadow of disappointment to cross her face since he pulled away from her? Or mayhap it was only the lack of sun now that the storm was approaching. He was sure it was naught more than his imagination. Or mayhap it was his hope tricking him, since part of him wanted to relive his wedding night but, this time, doing it the proper way.

“Once the rain stops, we’ll have to come back and use the leggett on the straw to hit the ends and smooth out the angle of the roof.” Kellina was all business. There was naught on her mind but working right now. “Afterwards, we’ll trim the ends of the thatch with the knives.” She collected up the tools as she spoke.

Rain started to fall more heavily now. Lightning lit up the sky, and thunder boomed directly overhead. A storm was brewing and, this time, it didn’t have to do with Kellina, but rather the weather.

“Fast, let’s get the tools out of the rain and get under cover.” Kellina turned too quickly. With the rain coming down so hard, her footing was off and she slipped. “Och!” she cried out, dropping the tools, sending them clattering down the roof.

“Kellina!” shouted Nash, instinctively reaching out and grabbing her arm, keeping her from sliding down the roof to the ground. “I’ve got ye. Dinna worry, lass. Ye’re safe with me.”

Nash guided her back to the ladder, and they both hurried down the rungs. When Nash got to the bottom, he saw North standing there, rubbing his head, but not running for cover.

“Nash, she tried to kill me again,” North said in a low voice, his eyes going to the knives and tools stuck into the ground all around him. “Ye were right about the wench. No MacKeefe is safe here.”

“Hurry, pick up the tools before they rust,” shouted Kellina, heading toward a hut as the downpour of rain soaked them now.

“Come on, North,” said Nash, ignoring what his brother had said, collecting the tools and running to a covered cottage. This is where everyone gathered to eat. There were long trestle tables and benches set up inside. It was filling up with clansmembers quickly.

“It’s crowded in here,” complained North as they pushed into the room. The clansmembers touched them on all sides.

“That’s because it is one of the only buildin’s that still has a full roof,” explained Kellina. “Nobody wants to get wet if they dinna have to.”

“Too late for that, since our clothes are already soaked from the rain,” Nash answered, sloshing his way across the dirt floor.

“Daughter, did ye finish the roof of the infirmary?” Laird Ciaran pushed through the crowd to join them, using his crutch to clear a path for him to walk. Mothers sat their children atop the trestle tables, and a few of the women brought out platters of food to share with everyone.

“Please dinna callme Daughter,” Kellina answered with a scowl, hating when her uncle did this. “Ye ken I dinna like it, Uncle.”

“All right, Kellina. I’m sorry. Did ye finish the roof?” he asked her once again.

“I almost did.”

“She means we. We almost did,” Nash interrupted. “Kellina has taught me a lot, and I’m gettin’ pretty skilled in the art of thatchin’. I’m just a fast learner.” The fool’s face beamed with pride, as if he really thought he was any good at it. “It willna be long now before I pass her up, since I am gettin’ so fast at the skill. I must say, I’m surprised I’m so guid at thatchin’ roofs.”

“And braggin’,” she mumbled under her breath, wondering if the man would ever stop talking about himself.

The door to the cottage burst open. Aidan MacKeefe rushed in. A few seconds later he was followed by a group of people who were all running for cover. Kellina realized it was the rest of their clan who had been away at the trade fair.