The Highlanders: A Smitten Historical Romance Collection

by J'nell Ciesielski

  She smiled. Keith had his brother’s charm.

  So evictions had started. How soon would the landowner’s steward come to their cottage? “If Miss Katherine said ’twas nothing to fret about, ye must not worry.” She would go to Katherine’s to find out for herself. “Lads, we should take Miss Katherine some biscuits to cheer her.”

  Ten minutes later, Molly strode down the well-worn cart path to Katherine’s, with Scott and Keith in tow. The top of the Dutch door was open. Good. She was home.

  Katherine answered her door with a grin. “I knew ye would be by within minutes.”

  Scott held out the small basket. “We brought ye ginger biscuits.”

  “Ta.” Katherine eyed Scott and Keith with a pensive stare. “Lads, I forgot to feed the goats. Would ye mind doing that for me?”

  “Aye.” They walked toward the pen.

  Molly followed Katherine inside to the table. “They told me about the steward bringing a letter. ’Tis it an eviction notice?”

  Katherine passed her the document “Aye. I have until the end of the month. ’Twill seem odd not livin here anymore, but change can be good.”

  “How can ye say that? This was yer home with Henry and Gavin.” She scanned the paper. “I suppose ’tis only a matter of days till we get ours. What will ye do?”

  “I wrote to Gavin a fortnight ago tellin him ’twas expected and that I’m goin to find a way to get to Virginia.” Katherine peered out the window to where the boys were. “Sit, lass, I will make us some tea. I didna tell the lads about goin to America. What will ye tell them when ye get yer notice?”

  “I’m not certain. If I have till the end of June also, I should make a trip to Coleraine to secure work and lodging.”

  Katherine brought cups and the kettle to the table. “If that is yer choice, I have a friend in Coleraine ye might be able to stay with while ye search. And I can watch over Scott and Keith in yer absence.”

  “Ta, sweet friend. What will I do without ye? A better friend I’ve never known.”

  “Ye need not do without me. Come with me.”

  “Agh!” Molly shook her head. “Dinna be rash.”

  The door opened and in came Scott, Keith, and Grant.

  Grant nodded at her. “No one was at the cottage. I thought I might find ye here.”

  Molly rose and put an arm around Scott. “I will take the lads home and start the supper so ye can talk with yer aunt.”

  His brow furrowed. “I will be there soon.”

  When Molly reached the door, she glanced over her shoulder at Grant with a hopeful smile. If only the bonny lass would follow Katherine’s instincts to venture to America.

  “Keith said the agent was here with a paper. Is it an eviction?”

  “Aye. I have till the end of the month to vacate.” She handed him the notice.

  Grant read through it. “He sounds like he regrets needin to evict his tenants.”

  “I thought so, too. What do ye make of this sentence?” She pointed to the end of the page.

  “Suggests he will be sendin more information soon. Not sure what it means.”

  Katherine offered him a ginger biscuit. “So, I best get things in order to leave in the next couple of weeks.”

  “I’m sorry. There are changes for all of us. Repairs on the Agivey Bridge are finished. But the foreman said there is work in Ballymoney.”

  “Agivey is halfway between Ballymoney and Aghadowey. What will ye do?”

  “Bin thinkin Keith and I would accompany ye to Virginia.”

  Her eyes lit up. “’Twould be grand.”

  “Gavin will be glad when he gets yer letter. I should write to him and tell him we will also come.”

  “I wish we could convince Molly to join us, but the lass is inclined to go to Coleraine. She has always resisted change.”

  Grant nodded. “Ye knows her better than I. How do we convince her to go with us?”

  A sly grin appeared on Katherine’s face. “Marry her.”

  CHAPTER 13

  “MARRY HER?” GRANT SHOOK his head. What was Katherine thinking? “Are ye makin a joke, Aunt? The lass is not fond of Highlanders ’n wants no part of Americans. If I asked her, Molly would laugh … or scream ’n evict us afore she even gets her own notice.”

  Katherine smiled and shook her head. “Nay, I think not. She cares for ye … but she may not know it yet. Molly is wary of change and the unknown and has some ill-informed notions. Until ye came, she had not known any Highland folk. Yet, in the past two months, her hostility toward Highlanders has waned.”

  “’Tis a long journey from hostility to affection, Aunt, ’n I’m not certain she has or wants to make it.” He’d be a liar to deny he had pondered the idea. The fetching lass was never far from his mind, and he dreaded leaving her and Scott. He ran his fingers through his hair. “What makes ye think she might say aye?” Something must have put that bee in Katherine’s bonnet.

  “I’m not blind, man. I see the way she looks at ye and how flustered she is when she is round ye.”

  “I never planned to wed till I was settled in a job ’n could care for a wife. Now I must care for Keith.”

  Katherine smiled. “And the Lord tells us, ‘There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.’”

  “I best get home, or the lads will worry somethin is amiss.” He started to leave, then took Katherine’s hand. “Pray I will know what to do about Molly, ’n that her mind ’n heart might be open to me.”

  “I will pray ye will know what to say and when.”

  “’Tis a good prayer.”

  Grant walked toward home. He was a grown man so why was he in such a muddle? “Molly Cummings?” Sounded nice. How would he even begin to approach her, much less ask her to wed him? Lord, I need a sign.

  Supper was ready when he arrived. After the blessing, the lads ate and chattered on about fishing in the morning. While he stirred the cock-a-leekie in his bowl, she sat across the table staring at him. His heart seemed to skip a beat looking into her sea-blue eyes.

  “Is something wrong with yer soup?”

  “Nay, I was … just thinkin. Smells grand.” He took a spoonful and continued eating.

  Were it not for Keith and Scott, the meal would have been silent. When supper was over, he stood. “When I was comin home, I noticed some border stones in the pasture had fallen. I will tend to it now.” Her worried countenance aggravated his peace. “Thank ye for the soup. ’Twas tasty.”

  Once in the pasture, he stacked the rocks. How was he to woo Molly with the lads there? And what did he have to offer her? He had no steady work or place to live, just the hope of a better life in America. She was none too fond of Highlanders and had strong opinions about crossing the Atlantic to an unfamiliar land. Was he daft to think she’d agree? This was just the activity he needed to work off his tension.

  With the border repaired, he wiped his hands on his pants. Molly was walking across the field toward him. Her hair glistened gold with the setting sun. They would be alone—one answer to prayer. So why was he so tongue-tied? “Ye looks like ye have somethin on yer mind.”

  “Aye. Yer aunt’s eviction.” She sat on the low stone wall. “Have ye a few minutes to talk?”

  “Certainly.”

  “I have an idea, and I need yer help.” Her smile gave him hope. Was this the sign he had prayed for?

  He sat a few feet away on the same stone wall. “’Tis my pleasure to assist ye.”

  “I have no doubt my eviction will come soon. Katherine said she would care for the lads while I go to Coleraine to look for work. When we’re evicted, Keith and ye will also need new lodgings. I’m hoping that ye might convince Katherine to move to Coleraine also.” Her eyes took on a pleading look. “We might be able to find lodgings in Coleraine in close proximity.”

  He briefly glanced at Gertie and Clara, feeding near the tall oak tree. Not the sign he was hoping for, but she deserved a response. “Yer desire fer
Katherine to be with ye is commendable, but it sounds like she wants to live near her son ’n his folk in Virginia.”

  She smoothed her skirt and leaned toward him. “There must be many opportunities for a builder in and near Coleraine. The lads have grown to be fast friends. ’Twould be nice if they could stay together and ye would have us to look after Keith while ye worked.”

  “I’m glad ye want to keep the families together. I was thinkin along similar lines ...”

  A scream came from the direction of the cottage, and they both took off at a run.

  Grant reached the yard first. He kneeled beside Keith laying on the ground near the well holding his leg and wailing. “What happened?”

  Scott had a sheepish look. “He fell from the well roof.”

  Grant knelt and felt Keith’s leg. “I fear ’tis broken.”

  Molly fell to her knees next to him and placed her hand on his back. “’Tis not long past eight, the doctor should be home. I can go for him. Can ye carry him inside?”

  Keith groaned as Grant picked him up and carried him into the hut and placed him on his pallet. “What were ye doin up there?”

  “I was tryin to save the kitten. The mother cat carried him up there, and I feared he would fall in the well. The roof was slippery, and I fell.”

  “Ah suppose we should be grateful ye didna fall in the well.” He pulled up Keith’s breeches and examined the swelling leg. “Scott, find some straight sticks for a splint till the doctor comes.”

  It was almost ten by the time the doctor left. He and Molly walked outside together. “Thank ye for yer help. The doctor said it ’twas not a bad break and will heal.”

  Molly walked toward the well. “I cannot believe he climbed up there, nor why the silly cat did either. Scott and I will watch over him. No need for ye to miss work tomorrow.”

  “My work in Agivey is finished. But I was planning to go to Coleraine ’n I might need a few days. I’m sure Katherine could help if needed.”

  Even though it was dark, he didn’t miss her smile. Could Aunt Katherine be right?

  “We will take good care of him. Ye go ’n see to yer business. Good night.” Her eyes lit up as she headed into the cottage.

  Perhaps Molly was warming to him.

  CHAPTER 14

  TWO DAYS LATER, GRACE Campbell came by the MacGregors’ for a fitting and a visit. She stood on a crate while Molly sat on the floor pinning the hem of a dress. Molly moved the pin cushion. “The magenta color becomes ye. I can hem this while we have some tea so ye can take it home with ye. The other gown I will deliver to ye when I’m finished.”

  Grace turned slightly. “Ta. John knows when I come to see ye we will visit.” A coy smile formed on her face. “Ye have been in mourning these past three months. Is it not time to put aside yer black and start wearing colors again?”

  Molly stood. “Hmm. I hadna given it a thought. There … ’tis all pinned. Take it off, and I will hem it.” Molly went to the hearth and poured them tea while Grace changed back into her dress.

  She called from the bedroom, “I just think ’tis time to put the black aside. Ye might wear the lilac muslin or the pale green. Both are so fetching on ye. And with Mr. Cummings around …”

  Grace came out from her room, handed her the gown and sat at the table.

  Molly felt the heat rise to her face. “Mr. Cummings is my tenant.”

  Grace sighed. “We have been friends a long while, Molly MacGregor. Dinna tell me ye have not noticed the man is verra attractive … and unattached. He seems to be a verra responsible and caring person.”

  “We have a business relationship, so stop listening to any gossip ye may have heard.” Had Mrs. McGuire or Séamus been spreading lies?

  Grace laughed. “I’m yer friend. Do ye really think I would listen to gossip? Ye cannot tell me that there is not an attraction between ye. I’ve seen the way ye look at each other at church. Lass, ye can do better than Séamus Macauley.”

  Molly shook her head. “Ye need not worry. I have no intention of wedding Seamus, and he knows it.” She continued hemming the dress. “I know yer intentions are good, but the future is so uncertain.”

  “Please, just consider Mr. Cummings. Scott and his brother seem to get along verra well. I just want ye to have what I have found with John.” Grace sat sipping her tea and giving her a knowing look.

  “Is that all?”

  “Nay. I think ye should wear yer lilac.”

  “Agh!” Molly put her finger to her mouth. “I stuck my finger, but I dinna think I got any blood on yer gown.”

  “’Tis magenta, so ’twouldna show anyway.”

  A loud knock on the door startled Molly.

  She set aside the dress and opened the door. It was the landlord’s agent. He handed her a document, nodded and left. She unfolded the paper and scanned the page. “’Tis the eviction notice I’ve been expecting.”

  Grace walked over to her and held her. “I’m so sorry, but I know ye and Scott will be fine.”

  The notice made it real, but they would be all right, especially if Katherine could be convinced to go with her to Coleraine—and if Grant and Keith also joined them.

  After Grace left, Molly walked to the back of the cottage where Scott and Keith were cleaning the last of the fish they had caught that morning. Their pestering to go to the river had worn her down, so she and Scott both helped Keith to the river and back. Whatever fish they did not eat, she would smoke. How would Scott receive this news of the eviction and the changes that would follow? She needed to address it in a positive way, not as another loss.

  Scott approached her, a serious expression had replaced his earlier joy. “I saw the man. Was that the ’viction paper?”

  “What do ye know about that?” She had been so careful not to say anything around the lads, and Katherine would have done the same.

  “Everyone has been talking about it. What will we do now?”

  “We can chat about it later. I’m going in to cook the fish.”

  Clutching the paper, she sat at the table. The notice was like Katherine’s. They were to be out by the end of June. Moving forward and changing their lives was no longer a choice. When Grant returned, she would go to Coleraine. Katherine and Grant could take care of the lads in her absence. Everything would fall into place. It had to.

  She adjusted the peat bricks in the hearth and put the fish in the skillet. Grant should be back from Coleraine in the next day or so. Sharing her thoughts with him on relocating had been a good idea, and he wasted no time to seek employment. But she needed to wait until he spoke to Katherine about it before she mentioned anything. Katherine was very fond of the Cummings brothers and was sure to reconsider her earlier wild idea of venturing across the Atlantic. God-willing, Grant and she would both be able to secure work soon, and there would be no need for goodbyes. She had been wrong to judge him because he was a Highlander. He’d been nothing less than kind, well-mannered, and generous with Scott and her. Truth was, she enjoyed his company—perhaps too much. The romantic notions he inspired were confusing. Even Grace had noticed. She’d let her guard down and must be more careful in the future.

  Scott came through the door with the rest of the fish. “Smells good. I’ll go get Keith.”

  “As I told ye the other day, ’twill take two of us to help him move around for now. We dinna want him falling or twisting his leg. When he is more surefooted, he will be able to use the stick to help him walk.”

  During dinner, she steered the conversation to fishing and hunting. Best to avoid the eviction for now.

  “Thank ye for the meal, Miss Molly.” Keith pointed to his empty place at the table. “Do ye think Grant will be back soon? He said he would only be gone a few days at most.”

  “Aye, he said to expect him in the next day or so. ’Tis good to see yer appetite has returned. Scott and I will help ye to Scott’s pallet so ye can read the books Miss Katherine brought for ye. I need to get back to work.”

  She had no
t been sewing for much more than an hour when there was a knock at the door. Katherine came in wearing a grin but sobered quickly when she spotted Keith and Scott.

  “Have ye a few minutes to take a walk? I wanted to chat with ye.”

  “Aye, a break would be nice.” Molly got up and set her sewing aside. “We will be back in a few minutes.” Katherine must have something to share, but not with the lads.

  When they had walked about twenty feet down the lane, Katherine stopped. “Have ye gotten yer eviction notice?”

  “Aye, just did and like ye, I have till the end of the month also to vacate.”

  “Well dinna fret, lass, yer sure to get another notice soon.” Katherine pulled a document from her pocket. “’Tis from the landlord. He said there would be more information comin, and here ’tis.” Katherine’s face lit up as she read part of it. “With little or no flax to harvest and the mechanization of spinning, I’m aware of the precarious position this puts on dispossessed tenants. In light of this, I will offer subsidized passage to North America this summer only.”

  Katherine folded it again. “’Tis an answer to prayer and a sign from God Almighty. I wondered how I would come up with funds for the passage and now ’twill be taken care of.”

  Molly bit her lip. Grant would need to be mighty persuasive to convince Katherine to stay now. And how would he receive that news? Would he still want to work near Coleraine if Katherine went to America?

  Grant rode home with the information about securing passage to America he had sought in Coleraine. The cost was not great, and he had some funds, but could they gather enough resources for their passage in time?

  Katherine’s cottage was on the way, and she would be pleased to learn of his news. He was eager to get home to Keith, but it could wait an additional half hour. Would she have any insight on how to encourage Molly? He had spent enough time anticipating how he would approach the lass. With God’s help, he would find favor with her.

  Katherine was outside gathering laundry when he arrived. Her smile and wave made him laugh. “I’m so glad to see ye.”