Dangerous Pride (33 page)

As Catriona set off for the village of Dumbreck, flanked by Rory and Annella, she reveled in the beauty of the bright summer day.  The sky was clear, the land lush and green with the recent rains the area had enjoyed.  The crops to the east of the keep were growing at an excellent pace, promising to keep the clan in oats, flour and bread for the winter months.  After the turmoil of the past few years, the clan had a great deal to be thankful for.

Earlier that morning, Catriona and Lachlan had broken their fast in the great hall soon after dawn.  Before he had left for Aberdeen to oversee the sale of the clan’s wool, Catriona had begged his permission to visit some of the crofters in outlying areas. The first weeks of summer had passed so quickly that Catriona had begun to feel guilty about her lack of progress on the school.  She had been so consumed with her husband – and her desire to befriend his people – that she had not given her school the attention it deserved.

Knowing that he would be gone for several days, Lachlan did not want to leave his new bride without anything to occupy her time.  His desire to keep her safe warred with his concern for her happiness.  After a spirited internal debate, Lachlan had relented to her request, only after she agreed to take Rory and Annella with her.  In truth, she had expected a larger guard, and she readily agreed to his conditions.

Though she would sorely miss her husband, Catriona welcomed the opportunity to prove herself in his absence.  The kinsmen had been supportive and kind to her, but she wanted a chance to show that she could make a contribution to the clan without her husband to lean upon.

The village she planned to visit was a short ride from Tolquhon by horseback, but would take much longer on foot.  Catriona knew that it would be particularly difficult for these people to see the wisdom of schooling their children.  Because they lived so far away, the children would most certainly have to be boarded in the castle, and found jobs that would earn their keep while they spent part of their days in study.  The smaller families would find it difficult to go without their children’s assistance, for life on these tiny crofts was difficult, even with many hands to help with the labor.

The three horses trotted at a mild pace, with Rory’s charger in the lead, followed by Catriona’s mare.  Annella brought up the rear, and though she was not an especially experienced horsewoman, Catriona was pleased to see that she managed to keep pace well enough.  Rory’s expression was not a particularly happy one, and Catriona knew that he would rather be with his laird as he made his way to the port city of Aberdeen.  The fact that her husband trusted her to the care of his best friend and finest warrior pleased her, though she knew the Rory would not look so kindly on the task of looking after a pair of chattering women.  Still, she had seen his expression soften when he had looked back to track Annella’s progress, and she was sure that Rory would soon see the benefits of the situation.  Though plain of face, Annella had a kind, generous heart, and Catriona hoped Rory would soon come to see her value.  Her happiness would be complete, Catriona thought, if only her best friend could find the same comfort she had found with Lachlan.

Before they left the keep, Mairi had ensured their horses were packed with a generous luncheon for the riders, as well as some supplies for the homes they would be visiting.  Catriona appreciated the gesture, knowing many families would be hard pressed to feed their laird’s wife without adequate time to prepare.  It was not her intention to add to their burden, but rather, to ease it.

Along with the food supplies, Mairi had given Catriona specific directions for the croft her sister lived in.  Since Fiona and Niall were still there visiting, Mairi had packed some of the boy’s favorite foods, as well as some bread fresh from the bakehouse.  Catriona knew Mairi was doing everything in her power to help her gain acceptance as the laird’s new wife, and she found herself grateful yet again for the older woman’s support.

It was almost midmorning when they finally arrived at their first stop.  As they entered the glen, Catriona could see a circle of small crofthouses in the middle, all facing each other.  The houses were tiny, but from the outside, appeared neat and well cared for.  It was clear that the owner’s took pride in their homes.  To the west of the small village, there was a large pen which housed the community’s livestock, and to the side, a pair of milking cows.  The sheep would have long since been set loose in the ben to fend for themselves over the summer months, when food was plentiful.  On the other three sides, the settlement was surrounded by wheat fields.  It was well into the growing season, and to Catriona’s eyes it looked like there would be a good crop this year, barring any drought or flooding.  The clan’s coffers – and larders – would also benefit from these healthy crops, as the crofters secured their tenancy by paying their laird a portion of their harvest.

The small party reined in their horses near the wooden fence. Catriona dismissed Rory’s offer of assistance as she gracefully slipped from the back of her horse.  She did her best to hide a grin as she watched Rory help Annella from her horse, holding the lass perhaps a bit overlong before her feet touched the ground.

Being still early in the day, it was likely most of the villagers were still in the fields, working with the crops.  It was with some relief that Catriona noticed a man emerging from the small shed at the edge of the pen, making his way slowly towards her.  At the same time, an older woman with a young bairn in her arms opened the door to her house to make her way over to the visitors.  Catriona saw no sign of Fiona, but soon she saw Niall dashing around the older woman’s skirts, blazing a trail straight to Rory.  Catriona watched, amused, as the weather-beaten warrior reached down to scoop the lad into his arms.  “Rory!” Niall cried happily, wrapping his thin, small arms around the huge man.  “Ye’ve come tae see me!”

Rory laughed gruffly, cuffing the lad affectionately on the back.  “Not exactly, Niall, but I am verra glad tae see ye just the same.”  The older man reached them first, clasping Rory’s arm in greeting as soon as the young boy was set to the ground.  Remembering his mistress, Rory turned and walked a few steps to Catriona, the older man following in his wake.  “Lady Catriona, I’d like to present Angus Duncan.  Angus, this is the laird’s bonny new bride.”

The eyes that met her own were bright and searching as Angus studied the new Lady of Tolquhon.  Catriona guessed him to be in his middle years, for his thick dark hair was liberally sprinkled with grey.  Though his face was lined and showed evidence of a life of hard work, his demeanor was friendly as he stood in front of her, his strong, stocky legs braced wide.  Finally, he extended his hand to her, his eyes twinkling with amusement.  She silently decided she must have passed inspection.

“I think she’ll do nicely, Rory,” he said with a chuckle, motioning Catriona over to the woman who now stood at his side.  “Welcome, my lady.  This is my wife, Caroline.  Caroline, this is the Lady Catriona, the Forbes’ new wife.”  Catriona smiled politely at the short, stocky woman who stood before her, reminding her so much of her sister. Caroline’s face was warm and friendly, and in it she could see many shades of Mairi’s own good humor and kindness.

“I’m verra pleased to meet you, Caroline,” she replied warmly as the older woman smiled nervously.  “Your sister suggested we might want to stop in and visit with you for a bit.  She sent along several items for you and the children,” Catriona added, gesturing to the horses.

“For me, for me!” Niall cried excitedly as he hurried to help Catriona take the parcels from the horse’s back.

Caroline reached down to grab the boy by his belt, moving him out of Catriona’s way as she balanced the baby on her hip.  “Ye may be used to havin’ the run of Tolquhon, laddie, but here we mind our manners,” she scolded, though the boy remained unfazed by this uncommon discipline.  Caroline’s eyes met Catriona’s over the lad’s head as they walked to the crofthouse.  “I do no’ ken how my sister puts up with the lad.  Have ye e’er seen a more willful bairn?”

Catriona gently tousled Niall’s dark black hair, admiring the gleam of anticipation that shone in his grey eyes.  But that all the clans people would be so easy to win over, she mused.  Reaching into the bag, she pulled out a small package of toffee and handed it to the lad.  “That is from yer granny, mind you,” she told the boy as he grabbed the treat.  “Do no’ eat it all at once!”

Caroline chuckled indulgently as Niall fled in the direction of the barn, presumably to eat his candy in solitude.  “He’s a good lad, Niall is, but with both my sister and Fiona both tae mother him, he gets away with more than most,” she sighed, her tone good-natured but resigned.

While the men went to inspect the horses, the women settled into the Duncan’s small but comfortable home.  While the visitors unpacked the bags, including bannocks, fresh bread and ham for their luncheon, Caroline saw to their tea.  From a quick glance, Catriona could see there were but two rooms in the house – the kitchen and living area, and a bedroom off to the side, separated by a thin curtain.  The hearth in the kitchen not only served to cook the family’s meals, but also provided warmth for the tiny cottage.

As the women worked, Caroline told Catriona about the lives of the kinsmen who lived in the valley.  “There are only a dozen crofts here now, an’ two of them stand empty.  Orn died last winter – he was an old man, my Angus’s uncle – and his home is still vacant.  Another family left last summer tae live with their kin in Aberdeen.  Fiona is stayin’ in their house for the time bein’.  There’s eight couples who call this valley home, an’ one young man who stayed here when his parents passed several months ago from influenza.  They were a mite elderly, though, an’ he’s a grown man.”  Caroline paused in her work, setting an appraising gaze on Annella’s slight figure.  “He’s a braw lad, Harold is, an’ he’d make a lass a good husband.”  Catriona turned to hide the smile that pulled at her lips as Annella turned beet red under the intense scrutiny.

“Aye, well, then there’s Angus an’ me, of course.  Our daughter Kathleen lives here with her young daughter, Isobel, the bairn ye’ve already met,” she said, gesturing to the tiny child who now sat playing on a blanket near the hearth.  “Anne lived with her husband’s people at Boyne, but he was killed in a raid, an’ she came here to live with us.”  Caroline stated the fact simply, without resentment or blame, but Catriona flinched at the observation nonetheless.

“Will we be able to meet yer daughter?” she asked politely as the plump woman settled at the table, pouring tea into three well-worn but clean cups.

“I do no’ think so, my lady,” Caroline replied, offering the ladies milk for their tea.  “We’re movin’ the sheep tae a new pasture near the burn, and every able hand is needed there.  I have Kathleen’s lass with me, as well as a wee laddie who is sleeping in the bedroom.”

“I realize yer busy,” Catriona replied as she took a sip of tea, “so we will no’ stay over long.  You remind me so of yer sister.  She’s been like a mother to me since I came to Tolquhon.”

A look of genuine pleasure crossed Caroline’s fleshy features.  “She’s well then, is she?  I have no’ seen Mairi in a year or more.  I’ve asked Fiona aboot her, but the lass is no’ particularly chatty.”

Catriona smiled her agreement.  She had only encountered Fiona a few times at Tolquhon, but she found the lass surly and ill-tempered, as well as disinterested in her work.  It was hard to imagine that she was related to Mairi, or the hardworking, good-natured woman who sat across from Catriona.  “Mairi is well.  She’s been a good friend to me, and I know that Lachlan – the laird – counts Quinton among his closest advisors.”  The older woman’s face flushed with pride, pleased in the knowledge that her kin were well-respected by the laird and his family.

“If ye do no’ mind me askin’, my lady, I would ken what ye think of Tolquhon.”

“I think it’s a lovely keep, Caroline,” she replied honestly.  “The land surrounding it is beautiful, and now that it’s managed better, it’s providing a good living for folk.  But it is truly the people I value the most.”  Catriona swallowed nervously, happy to see a supportive look from Annella.  “It was a little…sudden…and rather unexpected for me to marry the laird, but everyone has been quite wonderful about helping me adjust.”

“Ye do no’ deserve aught less,” Caroline replied indignantly.  “Ye brought many things with ye when ye came tae this marriage, no’ the least of which is a chance for peace.  Ye’ll always have our gratitude for that.”

Touched by the woman’s heartfelt words, Catriona was about to thank her when the door was suddenly flung open, and Rory and Angus made their way into the room.  The men looked around the house, but saw little room for them to sit and enjoy their meal.  Springing to her feet with a speed that was surprising for a woman of her age and size, Caroline handed the men two small bundles, wrapped in scraps of material.  “There’s no room fer the likes of ye in here, Angus, so ye best take yer friend tae the yard tae have yer lunch.  An’ take that ale with ye when ye leave.”

Angus smiled at his wife’s orders and handed Rory his lunch as they took their leave of the croft.  The women visited happily for some time before the door was again thrown back.  This time, it was Fiona who pushed her way into the tiny home.

“It warms my heart tae ken ye have time tae visit an’ gossip like old hens while the rest of us work our fingers tae the bone,” she snapped.  Catriona could hear Caroline’s sharp intake of breath at the young woman’s insult.

Though the sun was at her back, it was clear that Fiona was covered head-to-toe in dirt and grime, her dress and face caked with mud.  Catriona could only guess at the miserable expression that was married to her abusive tone.

“Fiona!” her aunt scolded, again jumping to her feet.  “We have company, ye ken, so ye’d do well tae watch yer tongue.”

“I’m sorry, my lady, miss,” Fiona said with a nod to Catriona and Annella.  Though her words were contrite, her apology did not quite meet her eyes, which flashed with anger and resentment.  “Those stupid sheep have no’ the sense God gave a turd,” she fumed, her temper rising as she took in the women’s shocked expressions.  “I came near tae breakin’ my neck when one of the stupid beasties pushed me done the trail.  I told ye before auntie, I ain’t made for work like this!  Like as not I would have been badly hurt if I had stayed.”