A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) (10 page)

The lad, Sven, was another matter. Clan Munro needed more
males. Too many had been killed in the feuds and fighting others like the
sasannach
. Sven had the makings of a
mighty warrior if trained properly, but his training must begin soon. Maybe the
woman and her son should be brought back to the castle.

The problem with a beautiful lass taking up residence in the
castle, however, was his brother. Knowing Gavin, she would not be safe from his
amorous attentions. Still, Andrew liked the idea of Maidie being close. Such a
thought of a lass had not entered his mind since Tara Fraser rent his heart.
The memory of the healer’s tender touch, the sweet odor about her, the full
pink lips, and pretty smile made his stomach flip. And of a sudden he had
become self-conscious of the scar on his face when he had never cared about the
hideous thing before. Yes, having Maidie Munro nearby in the castle would be a
good thing. Andrew intended to see to the matter on the morrow after Randal’s
burial.

***

The morning of the burial dawned fair
and cold with the mist soon evaporating into a brilliant blue sky. Andrew
wrapped the heavy fur-lined leather jacket closer about his finely girded frame
when he stepped from the castle keep. He straightened the silver brooch adorned
with a large pear-shaped crystal that held the plaide on his broad shoulder.
His men were mounted and waiting. Gavin and Davina walked behind him. Both
quickly mounted their steeds. Andrew examined the handsome strawberry roan mare
the stable boy held—the one Maidie and her son would ride to the kirk.
The lass should be pleased to ride such a fine horse. He mounted his own black
destrier, fitted with a black leather saddle tipped in silver and matching
harness. The horse snorted when Andrew mounted. He should have the stallion
gelded, but then Scara may not possess the fighting spirit needed for a
warhorse.

Andrew led the solemn procession followed by Gavin, Davina,
and then the
luchd-taighe
. Other castle servants and their families
followed the procession on foot. Anne had been sent ahead to spend time with
Randal’s corpse before the services. Nellie and Alan accompanied her. The
villagers would fall in behind the castle servants as the chief and his party
rode through the village streets to the kirk. Randal was well-liked and many
would attend his burial.

When the procession reached Maidie’s cottage, Andrew held up a
leather-gloved hand. All stopped while he dismounted. Tavish joined the mounted
warriors and waited while the chief pounded on the cottage door. The door
slowly opened and Maidie, with Sven at her side, stood in the doorway. Andrew
stopped for a moment to enjoy her fresh, ruddy beauty. Her golden locks were
caught in a long braid down her back, and the skin of her face looked freshly
scrubbed, glowing with health and youth. She smiled, but her eyes did not
twinkle. She seemed nervous.

“Madam.” He gave a small bow, not knowing what to say to the
lass. She was attending this burial against her wishes, but he would not leave
her alone. If she were seen in his company, the villagers may be more
accepting. “Your horse awaits.” He motioned toward her mount.

Maidie pulled her woolen arisaid closely about her slender
figure, took Sven’s hand in hers, and moved past Andrew without a word or look in
his direction.

Gavin quickly dismounted, helped her upon the mare, then lifted
Sven to sit behind her. The tanist smiled. “Madam Munro. We are well pleased to
be in your company this day.” He mounted and led his horse next to Maidie’s
mare.

“Greetings, Maidie,” Davina said, moving closer. “I’m so verra
happy you are going with us.”

Andrew cast a hard eye toward his siblings then remounted
Scara. He intended the lass to ride next to him, but Gavin and Davina
surrounded her. His brother looked too pleased.

“Madam Munro, would you please pay me the honor of riding next
to me?” Andrew turned in the saddle to ask the question.

“Nae, M’Laird. I will remain beside your sister.”

Andrew’s anger shot through him like a flash of fire. The woman
refused to ride beside him when he requested it. He shouldn’t make a scene in front
of the villagers, his men and family, so he ground his teeth, moving his horse
forward with a jerk as the heat of ire scorched his face. A more exasperating
woman he had never met. He noticed the eyes of the villagers following Maidie
as she passed. Most fell in behind the party, some turned and went inside their
cottages.

The chief’s entourage reached the kirk. Gavin rushed to help
Maidie and Sven down from their horse while Tavish assisted Davina. Trying to
remain clam and not show the rage boiling within, Andrew entered with the
others following. After the required formality before entering the sanctuary,
he made his way to the bench reserved for his family.

Davina took her place beside Andrew, while Gavin sat next to
her. Maidie and Sven moved to another row. Gavin turned, motioning for her to
sit beside him. She took the seat then pulled Sven down by her. Gavin and
Davina pressed toward Andrew almost pushing him off the bench.

Andrew whispered to his sister through clinched teeth, “Would
you like to sit in my lap, lass? Seems you’re trying to knock me off this
bench.”

Davina turned, giving him a hard look. “Don’t be cheeky,
Brother. Gavin’s crowding me.”

Andrew looked over the shoulders of his sister and brother. He
could see only the back of the healer’s head. She pulled her arisaid closer in
the frigid atmosphere of the kirk. Sunlight streaming from the cut-glass windows
brought strands of wheat and burnished gold to the locks of her hair. Her
slender neck gleamed white beneath the thick braid. She sat still and stared ahead.
Gavin caught his eye, smiled, and taunted Andrew by placing his arm around
Maidie’s waist. She moved forward slightly without looking in his direction.
Her lips moved in silent prayer. He shouldn’t care, but for some reason his
brother’s attention toward the lass heightened his irritation.

Although still seething, Andrew directed his attention to the
matter at hand. The women found seats behind the members of the chief’s
household. The men stood in the back. Anne knelt between Nellie and Alan at the
coffin of Randal. He hated burying his best fighting men. He tried to save
Randal and took the blow from the Cameron’s ax meant for the warrior, but a
plunge dealt by a MacKenzie sword to Randall’s gut was quick and sure. The
gentle healer of the Cameron clan saved Andrew’s life with her stitching,
potions and salves. Maybe she did have a magic touch. If such were true, it
would not be one of black magic, but white—loving and kind.

Nellie and Alan helped Anne to rise. She had difficulty since
her bairn was due soon. Maidie should tend Anne during the birthing, which was
another reason for her to reside in the castle. He would make arrangements this
very day to bring the lass and her son to Fàrdach, and would not be refused.
After all, he was her chief, and she must abide by his wishes.

Andrew leaned close to Davina’s ear. “I intend to ask Madam Munro
to reside in the castle. I need your help in convincing her.”

Davina turned to look at him. His heart grew tender toward
this younger sister. She so favored their deceased mother. “Are you sure ‘tis your
wish, Brother?”

“Aye, Davina, ‘tis my wish. Why do you ask?” He puzzled at his
sister’s response, thinking Davina and Maidie were good friends.

Davina didn’t answer, only turned back to stare ahead. Andrew
placed a large arm around the slender shoulders and patted her arm. She gave
his hand a gentle squeeze in return. Her pretty olive skin glowed with promise
and youth. The brown hair now woven into the fashionable large braid at the
nape of a white neck shone in the filtered sunlight of the kirk. She was indeed
a beautiful young girl—about the age of Tara Fraser when he, at age
twenty-five, first married her. Gavin would have Davina married to the
MacKenzie’s youngest son, but Andrew could hardly abide the thought. He wanted
a steady, honorable man for this young lass, and the MacKenzie lad was known to
be reveler; however, he would think on the possibility. The marriage would
bring peace between the clans and was the same reason his father gave Kenneth
permission to wed Maidie Cameron.
 

The funeral liturgy called for kneeling, so Andrew knelt with
difficulty. The wound healed nicely, but still hampered some movements. He
glanced at those kneeling on the same bench. Maidie’s forehead rested on her
folded hands. Her finely etched profile could be seen past Gavin’s who leaned
back on his heels. Her full pink lips moved as she joined in the prayers of the
priest. Andrew stared at the sweet scene for a moment, until Gavin noticed and
moved forward to block his view. Andrew gave his brother a hard look with an
arched brow, but Gavin only smiled and then turned his head toward Maidie.

Andrew remained silent because of anger seething within and
from not remembering the prayers. Most of the litanies he had learned in
childhood had been forgotten in the neglect of his spiritual life. Gavin
likewise did not participate.

With the final liturgy recited, the congregation rose to
leave. Andrew left the bench at the end to go to Anne. He took both her hands
in his. “Anne, my heart breaks for you. Randal was one of my best warriors,
loyal, and kind.”

“Thank you, M’Laird. I miss him so.” Anne’s voice quivered.

“You’ll have a wee bairn for company soon.” He squeezed the
lady’s cold hands.

“Yes, M’Laird. Verra soon.” She lowered her eyes and sniffed.

“Alan and Nellie will see you safely back to Fàrdach.” Andrew
then spoke a name he had not used in a very long time. “God bless you, Anne.”

Anne looked into his eyes with moist blue ones. “And God bless
you, Laird Munro, for being so kind.”

Little did Andrew know then, the extent of the blessing Anne
had called upon God to bestow. He smiled at the good woman, patted her hand,
and turned to join his party, who had made their way out of the sanctuary and
were mounting their horses.

***

The chief’s party reached Maidie’s
cottage. She caught Andrew’s gaze when his men helped Sven and her dismount.
His face looked drawn and pale. Deep dark rings lay beneath his eyes. The wound
must be causing him great pain. Maidie turned to Davina while Sven went with
Tavish to the byre.

“Come with us to Fàrdach.” Davina took Maidie’s hand when she
extended it in farewell.
 
Her
request sounded cold and distant.

“I canna live in the castle. I’ll come tend to Anne and visit
with you then.” She took her hand from Davina’s.

The lass turned away from the chief and bent close to Maidie. “Andrew
requested I ask, but don’t feel obligated to come. Mayhap you should think on
returning to your family.”

Maidie’s heart felt like a stone in the cottage wall at Davina’s
words. She thought the young Munro sister liked her and enjoyed her friendship.
Before Maidie could reply, Davina turned her horse and rode away, accompanied
by the chief and his entourage. Gavin turned back, dismounted, and escorted
Maidie into the cottage. Maidie’s hand immediately went to her mouth when she
entered the small dwelling.

Gavin entered behind her. “Saints in Heaven who could have
done this?”

The room lay in shambles. The legs of the table and chairs
were broken. Foodstuffs from the castle were strewn around with the sacks of
flour and grain cut open, spilling their contents. Pieces of broken dishes lay
about. Ashes covered the floor. Bundles of scorched and burned herbs lay in the
ashes. Bedding from the box beds and the new blankets had been cut to shreds.

Sven came running through the back door. “Mam, someone cut up
Tavish’s blankets and pulled up the herbs in your garden.”

Maidie took her distraught son into her arms. Gavin looked
around to gather any clue to the responsible person or persons. He went outside
to the garden and then the byre, soon to return with Tavish.

“Madam, you must come with us to Fàrdach. You canna stay here
under these conditions,” Gavin said with dark eyes and his mouth drawn into a
tight line.

“Aye, I canna have my son stay here.” Maidie felt on the verge
of collapse, but could not find a chair or place to sit. “We’ve naught left.
All is gone.” Tears filled her eyes as she took in the destruction of her home.

She began walking around the cottage, trying to straighten a chair,
but it would not stand on broken legs. Sven ran to her and wrapped his small
arms around her waist.

“Mam, leave things be. Leave them be. You canna fix them now.
We must go with Sir Gavin to Fàrdach Castle.” He pulled on Maidie’s cape. “Come,
we must go.”

“The lad’s right, Madam. You must come with me.”

“I have nae clothes to take or medicinal supplies. Everything
is lost.” Maidie’s throat constricted, and she could barely speak above a
whisper.

“You and the lad will be given whatever you need at the castle.
Come, let us go.” Gavin took her by the arm and led her away from the home she
held so dearly in her heart. The cottage she had shared with
Kenneth—where Sven was born.

Tavish went to the byre to fetch Thunder while Gavin helped
Maidie and Sven on their mare. The tanist mounted with a swift swing of his leg
over the saddle. As the small party rode toward the castle, Maidie turned to
look back at the cottage. She could not control the shaking of her body now, or
the tears streaming from her face. Who would do such a thing? Someone hated her
so much, they dared to destroy her home. She caught sight of Flora and Phillip
standing in the doorway of her cottage. Gavin saw them also, and nodded toward
Flora. She did not acknowledge his greeting. Her face seemed etched in stone.
Surely Flora would not destroy her home. Flora had been a good friend. Maidie
and she shared many good and sad times as they mourned for lost husbands,
raised sons, and lived as close neighbors.