“My goodness, Evie. Whatever happened to ye?” Caitlin said as she opened the door of the croft to greet her friend.
She was a tall girl with fiery ginger hair and blue eyes. Exceptionally pretty and now, her face appeared aghast, as Evie collapsed into her arms. Her mother appeared a moment later, and together they brought Evie inside, hurrying her to the fire, where she fell into a chair.
“My, my, my, ye are soakin’ lass,” Caitlin’s mother said, as they began to strip Evie’s clothes from her and warm her by the fire.
“Did ye fall into the stream?” Caitlin asked, looking at her friend in disbelief.
Evie’s teeth were chattering, and her hands now shaking as the warmth of the croft hit her.
“I … yes, I fell, tryin’ to cross over on the yonder bank,” she said, as Caitlin’s mother placed a pan of water over the fire.
“Let me have those wet clothes, ye shall have to wear somethin’ of Caitlin’s for now, Evie. Ye poor wee bairn, soaked to the skin and freezin’ cold. Ye will catch yer death if we daenae get ye warm,” Caitlin’s mother said.
They warmed milk over the fire and mixed it with honey to make a soothing drink, which Evie drank thankfully. Gradually, she began to feel warmer until the feeling in her hands and feet returned. Caitlin brought her a simple dress and wrapped her in a warm blanket, her own clothes hung over the fire to dry.
“Is this one of yer brother’s cloaks?” Caitlin said, holding up Hamish’s woolen cloak and examining it.
“ … Aye, ‘tis Rory’s, he … he lent it to me when the rain looked as though it were to be heavy,” Evie replied.
“It was nae the rain ye needed to worry about,” Caitlin replied, shaking her head, “why were ye crossin’ so far up the stream? I never cross there, ‘Tis far safer to cross near the castle where the shallows form.”
“Aye, I know,” Evie replied, taking another sip of hot milk, “but the banks have burst with the sudden rain ad I thought I could find a better place upstream then down below. It was foolish, I know.”
“Ye were lucky to get out. I have known animals to be swept away in that stream, and if ye were to go over the falls then …” Caitlin said, her words trailing off.
“Aye, well. I didnae, and I am all right,” Evie replied.
“Nae, if we cannae get ye warm. Ye must stay here tonight, Evie,” Caitlin’s mother said.
Evie nodded. Her mother was used to her staying with Caitlin, and she would not be missed if it were only for a night. She glanced out through the window onto the moorlands beyond. There was rain in the distance, though the sun was still breaking through in patches and far off she could see her old home, the castle in which she had grown up. How strange to think of a MacBryde coming so close at hand. Hamish risked much in doing so, he was a fool if he thought her father would never discover him. But should she tell him or not? After all, Hamish had saved her life and loyalty notwithstanding that fact meant something to her, something significant.
“Aye I will, thank ye,” Evie said, smiling at Caitlin and her mother, who both shook their head at the sight of Evie sat curled up before them.
“A sad business about yer grandfather, Evie. How dae ye feel about yer new home?” Caitlin’s mother said, as she continued to fuss around Evie, who was now feeling much better, the warm milk and fire alleviating her chill.
“ a sad place, Kirklinton. I miss the castle below. My grandfather’s castle is a dark and broodin’ place, full of shadows. I wish we still lived at the old Armstrong place,” Evie replied, “I was happy there. Life suddenly seems far more complicated than it did before.”
“There is a difference in bein’ the daughter of a Laird and the granddaughter of a Laird,” Caitlin’s mother observed, “yer mother loved that place though. It reminded her of her parents. The Armstrong’s were folks and benevolent too. I recall my mother weepin’ a bitter tear on that fateful night when the Musgraves burnt the place to the ground. Wicked people.
Evie nodded, she had known her since she was a child and she knew Caitlin’s mother to be a wise woman. Just like her own mother, she was strong-willed and had a steely determination to her. Caitlin had lost her father to a skirmish with the MacBrydes, another reason why Evie had no wish to mention her encounter with Hamish by the stream. She could well imagine her friend’s reaction if it were known she had been fraternizing with the enemy.
“Ye will soon be married off, Evie and then we shall never see ye again,” Caitlin said, settling herself down next to Evie, as her mother passed them both a bowl of stew and a hunk of bread.
“Married? Nay, I have nay intention of marryin’ anyone,” Evie replied, as she began to eat hungrily.
“Tell her, mother. She will have to marry, she is the Laird’s daughter and does nae a Laird’s daughter have to marry some nobleman or other?” Caitlin said, laughing.
“Aye, ‘tis true, Evie. Ye cannae live at Kirklinton all yer life as a spinster. I am sure yer father will find ye a suitable match in due course,” Caitlin’s mother replied.
“But I daenae wish to marry any man,” Evie said, shaking her head, “why is everyone talkin’ about my marriage all of a sudden?” and she thought back to her mother’s words of earlier in the day.
“Because soon ye must dae so,” Caitlin replied.
“But ye are nae interested in marriage either, are ye?” Evie said, turning to her friend.
“It’ll come to her too,” her mother said, settling herself down opposite them by the fire, “I cannae have Caitlin under my feet forever.”
“Then we share a fate together. Rory is waitin’, and ye could marry him tomorrow if ye wished,” Evie said, turning the table on her friend, who blushed.
“Rory is a nice lad, he is kind too, but … I daenae think I could marry him,” Caitlin replied.
“And why, nae? He is madly in love with ye, even today as I was leavin’ he asked after ye, sent ye his greetin’ and spoke of how he hoped to see ye soon,” Evie replied.
“I am nae the daughter of a Laird. I shall marry when I choose, ye, on the other hand, must marry when ‘tis decided for ye, Evie,” Caitlin replied.
“My father wouldnae dae such a thing. Ye forget that he and my mother married for love, nae duty. My grandfather wouldnae hear of it at; first, it was only after my father rescued my mother from the Musgraves that the truth was revealed,” Evie said.
“And what a story that was,” Caitlin’s mother replied.
Outside, it was growing dark, and the rain had begun to fall again. Evie was glad that she did not have to walk back across the moorlands that night, nor navigate the treacherous stream in the dark. The croft felt warm and snug, the fire was stoked up, and more milk put on to warm. Evie, Caitlin, and her mother talked long into the night, reminiscing about the old days when life had seemed far simpler for Evie than it did now.
She and Caitlin slept together that night, covered over in a mound of blankets. For despite the fire, the night was cold. Evie was exhausted, the shock of her fall into the icy water still foremost in her mind, and despite her tiredness, she lay awake for some time, mulling over the events of the day. If Hamish MacBryde had not rescued her, then there may well have been two funerals for her father and mother to attend in that sad week. She had been lucky, and she knew it. But the thought of admitting that it was a MacBryde who had rescued her was not something she wished to entertain. The MacBrydes were the enemy, and whether Hamish was different or not, Evie knew that it would not matter if ever her family discovered the truth of what had happened. I shall keep it a secret, she thought to herself, as she closed her eyes and let sleep overcome her. Her dreams filled with gushing streams, handsome strangers, and the most unlikely of rescues.
Chapter Four
Evie slept late the next morning, and as she rolled over and rubbed her eyes, the events of the previous day came flooding into her mind, like the gushing stream into which she had fallen. The thought made her shiver, and she pulled the blankets up around her, watch
ing, as Caitlin’s mother stirred a pan of porridge hung above the fire.
“Oh, so ye are awake,” Caitlin said as she entered the croft a few moments later.
“Aye,” Caitlin said, yawning and rolling over once more.
“The rain has stopped, and Rory’s cloak has dried in the wind outside. I hung it out for ye on the tree. See, all dried. Though I didnae recognize the clasp on it, surely that is nae Rory’s?” Caitlin said, holding out Hamish’s cloak.
Evie had been too cold the day before to even look at the clasp on the cloak. But she sat up, as Evie passed it to her, a wave of horror running through her. The clasp was cast in the crest of the MacBrydes, though in the dim light of the croft, it was somewhat hard to tell. Evie had seen that crest on several occasions, though it seemed that Caitlin had not recognized it.
“I shall give it back to him. Perhaps he was given it by someone, I am nae my brother’s keeper now, am I?” Evie said, folding the cloak up tightly, so the clasp was not visible.
“I just thought it strange, that is all,” Caitlin replied, as her mother passed her a bowl of porridge.
“Evie was lucky she had the cloak with her, else she may well have frozen to death after fallin’ into that dreadful stream. Ye tell yer father that now he is Laird he should have a bridge built across it. The number of times I have nearly slipped into it on my way to Kirklinton, even at its shallowest point, ‘Tis still a treacherous crossin’ and make nay mistake,” Caitlin’s mother said.
Evie nodded but made no reply. She knew Caitlin was looking at her strangely, and she wondered if indeed she had recognized the clasp, perhaps suspecting Rory of some intrigue or deceit. Caitlin would be no friend to anyone who cavorted with the MacBrydes, not after the death of her father at their hands.
“I should be getting’ home, they shall worry about me,” Evie said, once she had finished her breakfast.
Her clothes had dried now, and she felt warm once more as she pulled them on and wrapped Hamish’s cloak around her.
“I shall walk with ye as far as the stream and see ye across,” Caitlin said, and Evie nodded.
She would be grateful for the company, wondering if perhaps Hamish MacBryde might once again be watching from the heathers above. In the bright light of day, a day on which the clouds were replaced by sunshine and the whole landscape looked as though it were freshly laundered, the heathers sparkling in the sun, she felt foolish for having been scared of her rescuer. If he had wished to do her harm, then why had he rescued her? She had been rude to him, hostile even when his only intention had appeared honorable. A wave of guilt ran through her, and she tried to dismiss the thought as she took Caitlin’s arm, and the two of them set off across the heathers.
“Tis a beautiful day,” Caitlin said, taking in a deep breath.
“Aye, and I am lucky to see it,” Evie replied, sighing.
“Ye are. Few fall into a torrent such as that and come out alive. I didnae know ye were such a swimmer. When we were bairns, ye were always so timid down at the pool in the forest glade. I remember yer brothers once divin’ into rescue ye when the water became too deep,” Caitlin replied.
“I have learned since then,” Evie said, feeling Caitlin’s eyes upon her.
“Ye must have learned well,” Caitlin said, and Evie nodded.
“Aye, well, all that matters is I am here now, and thanks to ye and yer mother, I am warm and rested,” Evie replied.
They could see clearly towards the Armstrong castle now and across to what had once been her parent’s croft, a small building which had once belonged to her great grandparents. Or so her mother had always told her.
“Ye miss it, daenae ye?” Caitlin said, pointing out across the heathers.
“ only a few miles, but it may as well be the end of the world. I was so happy there and now at Kirklinton things seem so different, even after just a few days. That was why I wanted to come and see ye and yer mother, I want things to be just as they used to be,” Evie replied.
“And they can be. Ye and I will always be friends, Evie. Even when yer father marries ye off,” Caitlin replied, laughing as Evie scowled.
“I will nae be married off to anyone, Caitlin. And ye are a fine one to talk, the way ye play my poor brother a merry dance. Why will ye nae marry him? He is in love with ye, and he would dae anythin’ for ye,” Evie replied.
Caitlin smiled and shook her head.
“I cannae love someone just because they love me, Evie. I wouldnae be true to myself if I did so now, would I?” Caitlin said.
“I suppose nae, but ye will break his heart if ye find another man,” Evie replied.
Caitlin looked out across the heathers and moorland, which stretched endlessly before them and laughed.
“I daenae see a stream of men comin’ towards me, dae ye? I fear I shall never find a man to marry, perhaps yer brother will have to dae after all,” she replied.
They had arrived at the stream now, about half a mile further down from where Evie had tried to cross the day before. It was still in flood, though the worst of the torrent had subsided, and there were exposed rocks over which Evie could pick a path to the other side.
“Thank ye for walkin’ with me, Caitlin,” Evie said, turning to embrace her friend.
“Are ye sure ye daenae need me to hold yer hand as ye cross, Evie?” she said, laughing.
“I would push ye in, and ye can see how cold ‘Tis in there,” Evie replied, and she smiled at Caitlin before stepping onto the first rock.
It was slippery, and she made her way precariously across, turning to wave to Caitlin from the other side.
“Daenae be a stranger to us,” Caitlin called.
“I will nae and be sure to visit us at Kirklinton very soon,” Evie called back.
She turned and made her way up the bank and onto the moorland beyond. The sky was bright blue, with wisps of white cloud trailing across it. She could see her father’s castle, the banner of the Elliotts fluttering in the distance and down below that which had once belonged to the Armstrong’s, and which she had once called home. There were just a few miles between the two, but to Evie, the difference was insurmountable. She wondered how her father must now feel, faced with the grave responsibility of being Laird over the Elliotts and how her dear mother must also feel, mistress of the castle in which she had grown up, her own father now gone.
As Evie walked across the moorlands, she occasionally paused, contemplating what had occurred on the previous afternoon. She could not rid herself of the image of Hamish MacBryde. His face was etched permanently in her mind. A pang of guilt ran through her again at the thought of how terribly rude she had been. She had hardly thanked him, and she had certainly not been polite. She looked down at the crest on the clasp of the cloak and deciding it was best to not arrive home with it about her person she took it off and hid it in the hollow of a tree. The path forked there, with one way leading to the village of Lochrutton and the other to the castle at Kirklinton.
I should return the cloak, she thought to herself, looking around her lest anyone might see. But the moors were wild and lonely, and there was no sign of anyone, even her father and brothers who the day before had been so busy at their labors. She walked slowly on, a breeze playing across the moorland and causing her to shiver, despite the warmth of the day. As the gates of the castle came into view, she could see horses in the stable yard, and her Godfather mounted on his old stead, Buckler. As she neared, he turned and looked at her, shaking his head at her and climbing down from the horse.
“I was just comin’ to look for ye. Where have ye been? Yer father and brothers have ridden to the Armstrong castle in search of ye,” Sweeney said.
“I have only been gone a night. There was … an accident; I stayed with Caitlin and her mother. I didnae think anyone would mind, I have done it before,” Evie said.
“Accident? What accident?” he said, looking at her with concern.
“I … I fell into the stream, just above the castle. I am
all right, but I was soaked through and cold. Caitlin’s mother insisted I remain there for the night and get warm,” Evie replied.
“That stream is treacherous, did ye nae cross at the ford like any sensible person? Sweeney said, shaking his head.
“The ford was flooded, I … I made my way upstream and thought I had found a safe place to cross, but I slipped and fell. I swam to the side, but I was so cold; I couldnae have walked back home that day,” she replied, hoping her story sounded convincing.
“The stream is treacherous further upstream. Ye could have been carried over the falls at Kinclaig Rock. We would have been fishin’ yer body out then, lass. But there are other dangers too ye know, the borders are nae safe for ye. We thought perhaps someone had taken ye or was holdin’ ye,” Sweeney replied.
A Highlander Marked by Fate: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance (Highlanders of Kirklinton Book 3) Page 28
