Healing the Tormented Highlander: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 9

  “They will be pleased to have yer presence there, Laird,” Andrew replied and Raghnall nodded.

  “And where was it that my mother was goin’ at such an early hour today? I saw her leave the castle and she spoke with ye, just before I came here for breakfast,” Raghnall asked.

  Andrew looked worried for a moment, as though he had been sworn to secrecy by Raghnall’s mother. He glanced at the others, shifting awkwardly in his chair.

  “I …” he began.

  “Well, what? Daenae tell me that she has gone to comfort the villagers, too? We shall have the whole lot of them encamped in the courtyard seekin’ sanctuary if we are nae careful,” Raghnall replied, shaking his head.

  “That is why she went, Laird. I told her of the peasant’s words and she was adamant that she would go. She spoke of yer late father,” Andrew replied.

  I am sure she did and nay doubt of how I was most unlike him and wouldnae go to the aid of those in need. Well, she shall have a shock when I arrive there.

  “I see, well, I will go to the village now,” Raghnall said, rising from his place. “If they wish to see their Laird, then they shall see him, and they shall ken that they are under my protection and nae that of my mother.”

  With that he stormed out of the room, almost knocking over Ceana as he went.

  “I am sorry,” she said, standing aside, but he sighed and smiled at her.

  “Ye have nothin’ to be sorry for, lass. Are ye otherwise engaged?” he asked and she shook her head.

  “I have just come down for breakfast,” she replied.

  “Good, forget yer breakfast and come with me. There is trouble afoot in the village,” and not waiting for her reply, he strode out into the courtyard, calling for horses to be saddled and the gates to be opened.

  Chapter 10

  Ceana was confused for a moment, what was the Laird talking about? What trouble was this? She had not been to the village before, but knew that it was around two miles further north, home to many of the Laird’s clansmen.

  Is there nay time for breakfast?

  Raghnall hurried towards the stables.

  There, she found Dewney happily eating from a pail of oats and he whinnied at the sight of her, as the Laird called out for the stable boy to make him ready.

  “Have my stead made ready, be quick now,” the Laird said, as Dewney was reluctantly taken away from his oats.

  “What is goin’ on? Is there some trouble in the village?” Ceana asked and the Laird nodded.

  “Aye, and it seems that I have been neglectful in me duties towards the villagers. The peasants say their Laird does nae care about them. Well, I assure ye that I dae and I intend to put that right. I want ye to accompany me, it will be good for ye to see the village and perhaps ye can dae some good there, too,” the Laird replied.

  A few moments later the horses were saddled and led out into the courtyard. The day was already warm and the sun above the castle walls as they rode out onto the heathers.

  “We ride north. Be on yer guard unless there be others on the road. I daenae wish to be taken by surprise as we were yesterday,” the Laird called back to her and Ceana nodded.

  “Is it the English again? Are they who have caused trouble in the village?” she asked.

  “The English wouldnae dare come this far north. ‘Tis more likely to be bandits and outlaws, men who owe their loyalty to nay one but themselves. Such as they will steal anythin’ they can get their hands on and they are nae afraid of usin’ violence to get what they want. But I will nae have my lands overrun with such men. We will keep order come what may,” the Laird replied, as they rode on across the heathers.

  The wide-open moorlands stretched endlessly before them, the purple heather dancing in the breeze. Ceana breathed in the sweet scent, enjoying the wind blowing in her hair, for this was the first time she had ridden since her arrival at Mhaol Chaluim.

  Dewney was enjoying the ride and she urged him on, racing after the Laird, who was riding at full pelt before her. He made a show of bravado, but she could tell that he was worried. Yesterday the English and today bandits and outlaws. It seemed that his realm was under attack on every side.

  Does he believe he can protect them?

  They came in sight of the village and the Laird reined in his horse.

  “The road north continues towards Edinburgh, but that is many miles away and between here and there is a lawless country, governed by men who would sooner use their swords than seek peace,” the Laird said, pointing ahead.

  Ceana could see the roofs of the cottages, and the squat tower of a kirk, nestled in between trees beyond. The land around had been cultivated and fences separated out the land. A farmer was leading sheep along the track up ahead.

  “What is the village called?” she asked, looking about her with interest.

  “This is Kirkcaldy, and has been under the protection of the MacCramhain’s these many a year’s past. My father and my grandfather before him swore an oath to protect these people and I have nay intention of breakin’ that oath. But the borders were safer back then, we did nae have the English threat to our lands, nor the outlaws upon the road to contend with. I am only one man and I cannae be everywhere at once,” the Laird replied, as they made their way into the village.

  It reminds me of where I was born.

  Ceana thought it was little different to the village where her parents were buried and which she had so often passed through to visit their graves in the graveyard.

  Several of the peasants came to their doors as she and the Laird passed by, looking at her with interest.

  “Good mornin’ to ye,” the Laird said, climbing down from his horse, as several of them came out to meet him.

  “We have had trouble here these past days, Laird. Strange folks in the night, bringin’ what devilry I cannae imagine,” one of the men said, stepping forward.

  “Aye, and that is why I have come here. Hear this all of ye, I will nae allow outlaws and bandits to go roamin’ about the countryside unchecked. Ye shall have a guard here, soldiers from my garrison, and I command ye, too, to raise a guard amongst yerselves. I shall equip ye and see that ye are trained to fight. We are livin’ in dangerous times and each of ye must be prepared to fight for the cause of good, dae ye hear me?” the Laird said.

  Ceana watched as the villagers muttered amongst themselves.

  “We have land to see to, crops to grow, and animals to feed. Yer soldiers need food to eat, we cannae fight as well as farm,” one of them said and there was a murmur of agreement.

  “I am nae askin’ ye to be soldiers. Ye are farmers, I ken that, but a man who cannae lift a sword in his own defence is a sorry man indeed. The men who came here in the night are nae soldiers though, they are outlaws, bandits, men out for what they can get. It would take but a few swords and angry words to send them on their way,” the Laird continued.

  But just then, the door of one of the cottages opened and Lady Catriona emerged, talking with a woman. She looked surprised to see her son and even more surprised to see Ceana, who had climbed down from Dewney and was standing next to the Laird.

  “Raghnall, what are ye doin’ here?” Lady Catriona asked.

  “I might ask ye the same question, Mother. I have come to reassure these good folks after the trouble they had last night. I was just tellin’ them that it would dae nay harm for a few of them to be armed and ready to fight if necessary,” the Laird said.

  “I came to reassure them, too, and tell them that their Laird has nae forgotten them, as some of them might think,” Lady Catriona replied, looking around at the villagers, some of whom nodded.

  “I daenae forget my people, Mother. Ye ken that well enough. And see, I have brought Ceana should any here need tendin’ to,” the Laird said, turning to Ceana, who blushed.

  “I … I am somethin’ of a healer,” she said, looking around at the villagers and feeling almost apologetic, for she felt somehow that she was intruding upon them.

  “They daenae need another healer, Raghnall. They need some reassurance, and to ken that these nighttime attacks will nae continue,” Lady Catriona said, shooting a withering glance at Ceana.

  “They shall have both,” the Laird replied. “Are there any here who have sickness, or who need their ailments seein’ to?”

  Several of the villagers nodded, much to Lady Catriona’s annoyance and the Laird turned to Ceana and smiled.

  “Can ye see to them?” the Laird asked, and Ceana nodded.

  I daenae wish to anger Lady Catriona.

  She glanced at the Laird’s mother out of the corner of her eye.

  But she had returned to conversation with the woman whose house she had emerged from and the Laird was making his way through the crowd of men, speaking with them and reassuring them.

  Ceana turned to see a young girl, clutching at her side and who had made her way towards her. She could not have been much older than eighteen or nineteen, but her face showed all the signs of disease and Ceana could not help but feel sorry for her.

  “Dae ye need help?” Ceana asked and the girl nodded.

  “A fever, and my side is painful, I bruised it in the fields,” she replied and Ceana smiled and took her by the hand.

  “Come now, take me to yer home, ye need rest and I shall prepare an ointment for ye which will soothe the pain,” Ceana replied, and the girl led her towards one of the cottages.

  Inside, her mother was making bread and she looked inquisitively at her daughter, as Ceana was led inside.

  “This woman has come with the Laird, Mother. She is a healer, she says she can help me,” the girl said and her mother nodded.

  “A healer ye say? Like Lady Catriona? She has seen to Nairne, there is nothin’ more that can be done for her,” the woman said sadly, but Ceana shook her head.

  “We shouldnae give up hope. I may be able to help, let me at least try, will ye?” Ceana asked, angry at the thought that Lady Catriona had told them all hope was lost.

  My grandmother would never have said such a thing. She always kept hope about her, even when it was clear there was none. She would never tell a poor lass like this that there was nothin’ more she could dae.

  Ceana pointed the girl towards a bed in the corner by the hearth.

  Her mother nodded, watching with interest, as Ceana went about her checks. First, she asked Nairne to describe her symptoms and felt her pulse and temperature, just as she had so often seen her grandmother do. It was clear that the girl had a high fever, but Ceana wondered if she might treat her with the scabious they had gathered yesterday, ground into a powder for her to drink, and with centaury, her grandmother’s cure all, as she used to call it.

  “Did Lady Catriona give ye anythin’ to treat yer symptoms?” Ceana asked, and the girl nodded.

  “A potion of some sort, the bottle is there on the side,” and she pointed to one of the familiar bottles which littered the infirmary at Mhaol Chaluim.

  Ceana picked it up and examined it. It was a simple preparation, but one which would do little to treat a fever, which had surely been brought on by the bruising the girl had suffered to her side.

  “I have somethin’ better than this, though it would be best if Lady Catriona did nae discover that I had helped ye,” Ceana replied and Nairne nodded.

  “It hurts me, I cannae dae my chores, and I feel weaker by the day,” she said and Ceana nodded.

  “That is because ye have a fever and ye must rest. I will return tomorrow with the medicine and I promise that ye shall feel better soon. But for now, lie here and rest, ye will be nay good to yer mother if this fever is prolonged,” Ceana said and she turned to the girl’s mother, who nodded. “Keep her rested. I will return as soon as I can.”

  “Aye, very well. But what makes ye se certain that ye can treat my daughter, when Lady Catriona couldnae?” the woman asked and Ceana smiled.

  “Because I had an excellent teacher, who taught me always to look for the things which others failed to notice. I will see to it that Nairne recovers, I promise ye,” Ceana said, and with that she left the dingy cottage, blinking, as she stepped out into the daylight.

  Chapter 11

  Raghnall had just finished speaking with the men of the village as Ceana came to join him. He smiled at her and nodded, as she glanced around for any sign of Lady Catriona.

  “Ye were successful in treatin’ the girl?” he asked and Ceana nodded.

  “I ken what is wrong with her, she needs an ointment that I ken of, but ‘tis back in the infirmary at the castle and I have promised to bring it to her tomorrow,” Ceana replied.

  I will nae mention Lady Catriona’s negligence, it wouldnae dae for the Laird to think his mother had failed in her duties.

  The Laird nodded to her, turning back to the men and offering final words of encouragement.

  “Ye will have yer guard here, five of my best men. They will be sent to you tomorrow and I will send swords, so that ye and others here might learn better how to defend yerselves. These are dark times, but together we shall prevail. I promise ye of that,” the Laird said, shaking them by the hand.

  Ceana admired him for his strength of character. He had showed a genuine concern for the villagers and a desire to ensure they were safe. There was a genuine warmth to him and a reassuring strength, which in turn gave her the desire to help as much as she could.

  “I am allowed to return here tomorrow?” she asked, and the Laird nodded, as they returned to their horses.

  “Aye, ye may bring the ointment the girl needs and see to her. I will be unable to accompany ye though, I have business with the crofters to the east and it cannae wait any longer. I will send Andrew along with ye,” he replied, climbing onto his horse.

  “Should we nae wait for Lady Catriona?” Ceana asked, though she had seen no sign of her since entering the cottage of Nairne and her mother earlier.

  “Nay, she found her own way here easily enough, I am sure she can find her way back,” the Laird replied grimly, and turning his horse he rode out of the village, with Ceana behind.

  The ride back to the castle was uneventful and Ceana enjoyed once more the feeling of the wind in her air and the sweet scent of the heathers all around. The sun was high in the sky now and the moorlands appeared golden in the light, a beautiful sight and one she never tired of.

  How fortunate I have been to meet this man, my fate could have been far worse.

  Ceana was watching the Laird as he rode through the gates.

  She shuddered to think what might have happened had she come across others on the road. The key would now be in the hands of enemies and Ceana had no doubt that she herself would have been subject to a fate too horrible to contemplate. The Laird was different, and she found herself wondering if perhaps she could remain at Mhaol Chaluim indefinitely.

  Why nae? I have everythin’ here that I need and more.

  Several of the soldiers greeted her and she dismounted from Dewney.

  “I must see to the ointments for the lass, her name is Nairne. I want to return there tomorrow and see to her,” Ceana said and the Laird nodded.

  “Aye, but will ye join me for dinner this evenin’? It has been a difficult day and I should like yer company,” he said.

  Ceana blushed, but she nodded and hurried off into the castle towards the infirmary.

  Ridin’ out with the Laird, dinner at his side, ‘tis all too much for a simple lass.

  But Ceana was still puzzled as to why Lady Catriona had not helped the girl in the village with something more than a simple ointment. She had seemed distracted these past days, even somewhat stand-offish towards Ceana.

  She is certainly a difficult woman.

  Ceana entered the infirmary.

  The room was quiet and there was no one about. At times, there would be clansmen lying in the beds, watched over by one of the women, recovering from injury or illness. But no one was there now and Ceana began searching through the bottles and jars for the herbs she needed to help Nairne back in the village.

  She found them easily enough, for Lady Catriona was meticulous in her labelling. Humming to herself, she began to mix the dried powders together, recalling fondly her grandmother at work. Ceana loved to watch her grandmother at her work bench, mortar and pestle in hand. She had a skill far beyond any possessed by Lady Catriona and Ceana knew that much of that knowledge had rubbed off on her, even if she did not fully recognise it.

  And a little bit of burdock, some ivy too.