Highland Engagement

by Dana D'Angelo

  “Well now, what fine lassies we have here,” Calum said aloud, catching the eye of some onlookers and winking at them.

  “There are certainly more bonnie lassies here than in Caleith,” Erik observed.

  His comments made the women, young and old, titter and blush. News of their arrival began to spread, and several more females stepped out into the courtyard. A couple of bairns emerged from the castle and stared at them with wide eyes.

  The interest didn’t go unnoticed by the mercenaries. “Forget Caleith,” Calum suggested. “Perhaps we should stay here for a bit.”

  “Aye,” Coinneach piped in. He grinned as he cast an approving glance at a kitchen lass who had just arrived. “The verra least we can do is rest our horses. It took several days tae catch up with ye.”

  “But why did ye follow me here?” Blane asked.

  Calvin handed him a bag of coins. “That’s your share. It appears ye delivered the lass and her companion safely tae their destination.”

  Blane furrowed his brows, and his friend laughed at his puzzlement.

  “After ye left, Erik asked around and discovered a mix-up,” Calvin explained. “It seems the job details had arrived, but ‘twas sent tae the wrong inn. Imagine our surprise when we found that the job was tae escort Anabell MacNeadain and her companion tae Dunburn Castle. By the time we realized what had happened, ye were already gone.”

  “Sae ye were tae be my escort all along?” Anabell asked.

  Calvin nodded. “That’s right.”

  “Now that the job is complete,” Blane said. “We’ll need a new assignment.”

  “Wait,” Calum said. “We dinnae need tae find work right away. Since joining this Company, we’ve been fighting nonstop. I think we deserve a wee break.” He looked around at his peers. “What do ye say, mates?”

  “A break wouldnae be terrible,” Erik said.

  “Nay, nae terrible at all,” Coinneach agreed. “And with all the lassies here, our time here will be well worth it.”

  Blane opened his mouth to lecture them about their role in the mercenary group. Their livelihood depended on continuously finding new employment. But the eagerness he saw on their faces made him pause. His friends were hardened by bloodshed and loss, and in the business of war, few things brought them joy. He would be an ass to deny them their request.

  “All right,” he said. “As I understand it, there’s tae be a homecoming celebration in a few days.” He turned to Anabell. “Would Lady Beitris object if we stayed for the feast?”

  Anabell’s expressive face lit up. “I’ll speak tae my grandmother, but I doubt she’ll have any objections.”

  “Then ‘tis settled. We’ll stay for the time being.”

  Chapter 10

  When Anabell awoke the next morning, she became instantly alert. Her nursemaid, however, was fast asleep in her pallet next to the bed. Not wanting to disturb her companion, Anabell slipped out of bed and walked across to the small window. She smiled when she caught sight of her donkey eating hay in its pen. It was much happier away from the farmer. When her attention moved from the beast, it soon became captured by the rosy hue spreading across the sky. And just beyond the castle walls, she noticed the curls of smoke emerging from the homes in town.

  Today was her first day at Dunburn Castle. Everything was familiar, yet it wasn’t, and she was eager to discover other changes in and around the castle. No doubt she wanted to see the town as well. And now that she knew that her grandmother was healthy and sound, she was free to explore.

  After the morning meal, they gathered in the solar. “The servants mentioned that today is Market Day. I think ‘twould be a guid idea tae visit the shops in town,” Anabell said.

  The talk of going into town caused the nursemaid to perk up. “That’s wonderful news.”

  “Is it wonderful because ye might meet Oswyn?” Anabell asked, teasing her.

  Maggie flushed, but she didn’t need to say more.

  “The town will be verra busy today,” her grandmother warned.

  “That will make it even more fun,” Anabell said. “Will ye join us, Grandmother?”

  “I have a prior engagement, sae I’m afraid I cannae,” she said regretfully. After a moment’s reflection, she added, “But if ye plan tae go tae town, ye will need money.”

  “Nay, ‘tis all right. I dinnae plan tae purchase anything,” she said.

  Lady Beitris shook her head firmly, dismissing her refusal. “I’ll give ye spending money. Once ye are there, I’m sure ye will find something lovely for yourself.”

  ***

  Anabell and Maggie rode their horses to town half an hour later. The morning was warm, but Anabell barely noticed the heat since her sights were focused on the view below. In the soft light, the community looked inviting. Because this was the closest market, people from many territories came to buy and sell goods. She suspected that the town would be busy, but when they got closer to the town square, the crowd was more than she imagined. They were forced to dismount and walk their horses along the main street. And with the number of people wandering around, it was almost impossible to maneuver the beasts.

  “We’ll need tae keep the mares at the inn’s stable,” she told Maggie.

  The nursemaid agreed on the wisdom of that and led the horses away. Meanwhile, Anabell stayed off to the side until her companion returned.

  But as she waited, she took in the scent of freshly baked goods. And in the air were a variety of other smells too that she couldn’t exactly pinpoint. With its colors and sounds, the marketplace itself appeared to be one massive festival, and she was eager to discover all that it had to offer. After several minutes, Anabell spotted Maggie in the throng. She raised her hand to flag her friend. But she became puzzled when a wild look appeared on the nursemaid’s face.

  “Look out!” Maggie shouted.

  But before the warning could register in Anabell’s mind, it was too late. A small boy hurtled down the street and rammed right into her. She let out a shriek as her legs buckled, and she fell to the ground. Then to make matters worse, the young lad landed on top of her.

  Maggie raced over to help her up. “Are ye all right, lass?” she asked anxiously.

  The boy started to get up as well when a large, burly man arrived. Before the youth could escape, the newcomer grabbed him by the collar, lifting him into the air.

  “I’ve got ye now,” he growled.

  The boy yelped, and his eyes grew round with fright. He appeared to be about ten years old, but he might have been younger since he was thin and small.

  “Please, guidman, dinnae hurt me!” he cried.

  “What’s the meaning of this?” Anabell asked once she caught her breath.

  “This thief stole a loaf of my bread and thought he could run away with it.” He shook the boy. “Isnae that right, laddie?”

  The lad was crying, and several passersby sent curious looks in their direction. Although none of them were brave enough to interfere.

  “Release him, please,” Anabell said. “I’ll pay ye for what he stole.”

  “Ye would pay for this brat?” The baker furrowed his brows, amazement, and surprise on his broad face.

  “Aye.” She dug into her string purse. “Here, this amount should be enough tae cover the bread.”

  The man dropped the boy to the ground. Seizing his opportunity, the lad’s tears quickly dried up, and he raced away before anyone could stop him.

  The baker took the money from her. He looked at her for a moment and tilted his head. “I recognize ye. Ye are Lady Beitris’s granddaughter, are ye nae?”

  “Aye,” she said.

  “Dinnae ye remember me?” he asked. “’Tis Iaan.”

  “Iaan?” Maggie and Anabell said in unison.

  “Are ye the same Iaan who worked as the baker’s apprentice?” Maggie asked.

  “The verra same,” he said. “Although I’m a wee older and worn out by these thieving pests.”

  Iaan proceeded to tell
them about his wife and daughter, and the bakery business that he ran.

  “Will ye introduce us tae your family?” Anabell asked.

  “Of course,” he said. “They’re minding the market stall at the moment.”

  Iaan led them through the congested street and stopped at a table that was laden with baked goods.

  “This is my wife and daughter,” he said proudly.

  A small woman with a tired smile came over. She carried a six-month-old baby strapped to her back.

  Anabell’s heart melted at seeing the sweet face. “A wee bairn.” She reached out to caress her tiny hand. But the infant stared at her with unblinking eyes before letting out a terrible sneeze. As Anabell studied the child, she noticed the yellowish tinge to her skin.

  “Is she unwell?” she asked, her brows creasing with concern.

  “Aye, she’s been sick for weeks,” the baker’s wife said. “We’ve tried many remedies, but she isnae getting any better.”

  “The poor lassie,” Maggie said, her voice dripping with sympathy.

  “What did the physician say?” Anabell asked.

  “We havenae taken her tae see him,” Iaan admitted.

  “Ye should take your daughter tae see the physician today,” she said.

  “But we cannae afford his services,” the mother protested.

  “Dinnae be concerned about that,” Anabell said gently. Her grandmother had given her more than enough money, and she wanted to help this couple. She handed the mother some coins. “Your bairn is nae well, and she needs help.”

  “Thank ye, lass.” Tears formed in her eyes.

  “Ye are a blessing, mistress,” Iaan said with his voice thick with emotion.

  “Ye have a kind heart, lass,” Maggie told Anabell just as the baker’s wife and child left the market to find the physician.

  “’Twas something I could do,” she said, shrugging. “I just hope the lassie gets well soon.”

  ***

  Twenty minutes passed, and Anabell and Maggie finished circling the entire market. They had browsed the various items the merchants hawked, and Anabell found a couple of trinkets that caught her eye. Other than that, there really wasn’t anything else she needed or wanted.

  “Let’s return tae the castle,” Anabell suggested.

  “Ho, mistress!” a young voice called out.

  She turned to discover that it was the same bairn who had pinched the bread from the baker.

  “Here, I found this for ye.” He handed her a wilted wildflower. “’Tis for getting the baker off my back.”

  “I appreciate your offer.” Anabell took his gift and gave him a smile. “But next time, dinnae steal from the merchants.”

  “I ken ‘twas wrong, but my family was hungry,” he said, his expression contrite.

  “Disnae your parents feed ye?”

  He shook his head. “I’m the one who feeds everyone else.”

  “Do ye mean tae say that ye are orphans?”

  “Nae really.” His eyes fell to the ground, and seeing a pebble there, he kicked it. “Ever since the enemy clan sacked Dunburn two years ago, our house was destroyed. And since my da went tae war and never came back, there was nae one tae fix it. Ma comes and goes, but we cannae rely on her.”

  A thud sounded behind Anabell. She glanced over her shoulders and saw a stack of empty crates, however, one box had fallen to the ground. But then she noticed two children peeking from behind the stack. When they saw that she spotted them, they hastily ducked out of sight.

  Once again, Anabell dug into her pouch. “Here, take this,” she said, giving the lad some coins. “Now tell your siblings tae come see me.”

  Maggie gave Anabell a censorious look. She called Anabell kind when she helped Iaan’s family, but her opinion differed when it came to the riffraff. Likely the nursemaid would lecture her later about allowing people to take advantage of her. But for now, she pretended not to notice her companion’s disapproval.

  The lad ran and dragged his siblings from their hiding place. The younger brother was about seven, and his sister was around five years old. Dirt streaked across their narrow faces. And when they stood before Anabell, they stared, round-eyed, as if she were either an angel or a devil.

  “Sae your brother is taking care of ye,” she said, bending down until she was level with the bairns.

  “Adam always takes care of us,” the lass said proudly.

  “As I was telling Adam here, ‘tis bad form tae steal from people. Ye mustnae do this any longer, do ye understand?”

  They nodded in unison. “Aye, mistress.”

  Maggie carefully assessed each child. “Where do ye live?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Over there.” Adam pointed to a cluster of houses near the other end of town.

  Since Anabell’s absence, this community had grown substantially, and she was curious to see that part of town. From what she knew, the wealthy merchants lived near the market square, but the rest of the townspeople lived on the outskirts.

  “I would like tae see your home,” Anabell said. “Will ye show it tae me?”

  “I think ye have done enough, and we shouldnae be visiting their home,” Maggie said.

  “’Tis nay harm tae see how they live,” she said. “We’ll just take a quick look.”

  Her nursemaid pursed her lips, but she didn’t put forth any further argument. Probably, Maggie knew it was useless to argue with her. When Anabell decided on something, it was difficult for anyone to change her mind.

  They started to head in the direction Adam indicated but stopped when they heard a shout. Blane was making his way toward them.

  “I just happened tae glance down the street and saw ye. Where are ye going?” he asked, his brows furrowed in puzzlement. “The market square is in the opposite direction.”

  “We’re finished with the market,” Anabell said.

  “Actually, we’re going tae visit the home of these orphans,” Maggie said, her voice filled with displeasure. She waved at the cluster of thatched houses. “Anyone with any sense would see that this isnae a guid idea.”

  Blane swiftly took in the dirty children and glanced in the direction that they were heading.

  “I’ll come with ye,” he said.

  “But dinnae ye have somewhere tae go?” Anabell asked.

  “That can wait,” he said.

  The lad guided them through a maze of streets, and as they moved farther from the town core, the disparity became more apparent. Anabell noted the damages to the homes. Here and there fences were broken or destroyed. Some homes were patched up, but many more were beyond repair. It became apparent that when the raiders arrived, these houses were targeted first.

  An elderly woman feeding two scrawny chickens near her front door stopped what she was doing and watched them pass.

  “Greetings,” Anabell said.

  Smiling was too much effort for the old woman, and she continued to stare suspiciously at them. Anabell felt the woman’s soulless eyes following them as they moved past her dwelling. The bleakness of the peasant’s situation lingered with Anabell for a long while. She didn’t know the old woman’s story, but she guessed that it involved tragedy and hardship.

  Adam guided them straight to a house where the thatched roof had burned, and in some places, the support beams had caved in. The front door was also broken and leaned against the side of the house. Out of all the residences they passed, this one had the most extensive damage.

  “Is this your home?” she asked incredulously as she took in the surroundings. She imagined that it was run down, but she didn’t think it would be this bad.

  “I’ll wait by the entrance,” Blane said. “Call me if there’s a problem.”

  Anabell nodded and entered the dwelling.

  “We sleep over there,” Adam said, pointing to a corner of the house where the roof was undamaged.

  On the floor was a single pallet where they likely huddled at night. In the winter, they probably had no heat and faced
more challenging conditions. Anabell felt sorry for the lad, his siblings, and the rest of the clan members who suffered from the senseless and ongoing conflicts. The clans fought and retaliated against each other, and they continued the cycle year after year.

  It occurred to her that this was why her mother wanted them to leave Scotland. In the ten years Anabell spent growing up in France, she had only known peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, the children here experienced loss and devastation.

  Her thoughts turned to the clan wars, and she wondered why her father failed to end the skirmishes. Enough years had passed that he and the other chief should have devised a resolution by now.

  “I think we’ve seen enough,” Maggie said, intruding in her thoughts.

  “Aye,” Anabell agreed. “’Tis enough.”

  After she said that, she should have left the dilapidated home. But her conscience pricked at her. The bairns probably knew how to survive on their own. After all, they lived without adult influences. She had already given Adam money to buy food. But this wasn’t enough. Eventually, the money would run out, and the children would find themselves in a worse situation. Knowing this, how could she turn her back on them?

  Anabell straightened her spine and addressed the older lad, “Adam, I want ye and your siblings tae go tae the castle. Tell the steward that I sent ye. I’ll speak tae him later about letting ye stay there.”

  “Are ye saying we can live at the castle?” the small lass asked, her eyes widening. She turned to look at the fortress that loomed in the distance.

  “Aye, I’m sure Lady Beitris can use extra help. Ye will find food and shelter there.”

  “Are ye sure this is a guid idea, lass?” Maggie asked.

  “I’m certain,” she said. “I’ll speak tae Grandmother about this.”

  Maggie shook her head, but Anabell wasn’t giving her companion a say in her decision. The nursemaid let out a sigh and faced the bairns. Raising her finger, she said in a stern voice, “Once ye are settled in the castle, ye will behave. Ye will ask the steward for work, and ye will earn your keep. If ye dinnae heed my warning, ye will be brought back tae town.”