by Alisa Grey
It was a small community that provided everything they needed. Everyone had his job and I was sure it would be good to us, to be part of that village.
After dinner, we went to the guests’ room and I hugged Sam.
«Shona’s right», he said.
«About what?»
He caressed my back.
«You’re lovely, especially now that you’re pregnant».
«Do I think I’m fattening?»
«You’re not», he laughed.
«I’m not sure you’re being sincere».
«I just hope your belly grows fast».
«Remember that word Shona used? Ùraisg?»
«It’s a Scottish legend. Scottish storytellers know many legends and tales. The brownies are goblins living nearby. At night they work so that on the morning the landlord finds everything clean and tidy. They get presents in return, such as cream and sweets. But they are stubborn and once offended, they seek for revenge. They are not after money. They love kindness and you never get to meet them».
«Do you believe that?», I said after a pause.
He kissed my hair. «No, but I like it».
I fell asleep.
Some ten days later we were back in Halifax.
November was cold, even icecold. It started snowing and the sun was merely a memory. We met John Price and I gave him a letter for my father. We went to see Sister Beatrice and we went back to Prince Edward.
Shone left immediately after our arrival, because she wanted to reach Scotland as soon as possible. We found ourselves alone, dealing with a new routine. We were not accustomed to a farm’s routine, but we followed our instinct.
We soon found out that you needed to wake up early if you wanted to be of any use. I learnt how to bake. Bread, cakes... it was all for the children. Sam met the tenants and helped them repair things. He also needed to call the vet from time to time, because some sheep was about to give birth.
Most of the people were Scottish. They were stubborn, tenacious and loyal. I was the Lady to them and Sam was the Laird.
During the day I never got the chance to spend some time with Sam. At the end of the day we were both tired. My breasts started to hurt and I was feeling fat. My body was undergoing a series of changes. Sam was lovely, though.
«I’ll take care of everything. You just need to rest».
He used to massage my feet.
«That feels good. Sam, when I was in London I helped the children. But at the end of the day I got home and they went back in the streets. Here we can make a difference. These families need us. They are not like the families in Whitechapel, but still...»
«You changed my life and it wasn’t an easy challenge. I want to deserve your love. I know you will make a difference. But now you need to get some sleep».
I kept getting fat, but I enjoyed the children’s company. It was great fun, after all. Just before Christmas, I got a letter. It was from someone who claimed to be in love with me.
It was a small note, but it was full of passion. I had no idea who the man could be, so I started thinking about that. I hadn’t met many men. Furthermore, it was way too cold to have a social life. I was unsure whether to tell Sam or not.
It was snowing and we were sitting on the sofa, in front of the fire. We were talking and I was relaxed.
«Sam, how many people work there?»
«McVey, McFadden, McKay, Murphy father and son, McNutt father and son, and their wives... and the children, of course».
So two families had teenage sons, I guessed.
«Why are you asking?»
«It was an out of curiosity question. That’s a lot of daily work, right? I mean we need a lot of people to run this place...»
I took a deep breath.
«I have something to tell you».
He darkened and looked at me.
«I got an anonymous letter».
«What...?»
«You’re not going to like this...», I whispered.
He looked at me.
«It was a love letter».
He was open-mouthed and angry.
«I want to read that».
I turned pink. It was way too passionate to be read out aloud. Let alone by Sam.
«It’s in our bedroom».
He stood up and hurried there. He got downstairs again and kept walking furiously as he read the letter. He was turning more and more red. He looked me in the eyes with his icecold blue eyes.
«No one is going to enter this house anymore! Who brought this to you?», he said throwing the letter into the flames. «Do you know him? I’m sure you do».
«Are you jealous? That’s outrageous! If I had known who the man was I wouldn’t have talked to you about it. I kept the letter in the bedroom!»
«Do you have a lover?»
He needed to calm down.
«Just stop it! I love you and don’t care about any other man. You’re my husband, my friend, my lover and the father of our child. Just come here and stop it».
He sat back on the sofa.
«I don’t like this thing with men...»
«I love you», and I kissed him.
«I love you too but that letter...»
I kissed him twice. «Maybe it was a joke».
«I must protect you, Claire. You’re sweet and naïve. You know men notice you».
«You mean our Christmas lunch with the tenants is over? I don’t think this is a good idea... let’s go through the options, will we?»
He thought about that. He looked at me and then he relaxed.
«Ok, let’s find out who sent you the letter».
The week flew by and my belly grew bigger. I told Rhona, McVey’s wife, that I was feeling awkward. She was the only friend I had.
«That awkward feeling is completely normal. It’s your first son! I know you feel you may not be a good mother. Did you talk about that with your husband? He loves you and will comfort you».
Rhona was a small woman, she had red hair and three children. She was kind.
«I talked to him and he says it’ll be good. But I don’t want to be annoying...».
«I think he likes comforting you», she smiled.
Sam and I talked about every sort of thing. I made up tales for the children and told them to Sam. I made cakes that we ate together. I missed him very much when he was not with me. He told me what happened to him throughout the day.
One day I was making lunch. Sam had gone to the village with McFadden, because he needed the vet to come here and he also wanted to buy a pony for our child. I was helping Rhona in the kitchen. She had a lovely five-year-old daughter and two boys. They were seven and nine. It was Christmas Eve and the children were putting their stockings over the chimney. They had written a letter each for Santa.
Sam and I had made a wonderful tree. It was richly decorated. Rhona and I were making roasted turkey, chicken broth and vegetables. The turkey was filled with onions and sage. We were even thinking of making sausages and roasted potatoes. We had alreday made the pudding with fruit and Brandy sauce. The children would have biscuits.
It was cold and I hoped Sam would get home soon. I didn’t like it, when he was far from me.
I went to the window, to see if he was somewhere to be seen. I noticed a white envelope. I took it and had the feeling that a new storm was approaching. I opened it.
My beloved, I can’t stop thinking about you and I always think of your kisses...
I went through the letter, but couldn’t figure out who had sent it.
...and I would take your clothes off, hug you tight and kiss your mouth while caressing your breasts...
That was way too much.
You’re my slave and you keep doing what I’m asking you for.
I was shocked.
Claire, I will have you and you will be back to me, because you will get tired of him. There’s no rush. I can wait. With love, forever yours.
Come back? Had Alex found me? I was petrified. Whoever had written that
letter knew me. I had eloped from him... Was it Alexander? It was his way of talking: stubborn, nasty, angry, aggressive and passionate. He was furious, I could tell that. I couldn’t let Sam read this... I threw it into the flames.
When Sam got home, I was feeling a bit better. He was holding many presents and he was smiling. He was charming... I hugged him and kissed him. Again and again.
«Are you okay, Claire?»
I decided not to tell him.
«Sure. I wanted to hug you... »
He took my hand and pretended to believe me.
«I need to change my clothes, come with me». He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers. His boots were dirty and his hair was a bit wet. He was beautiful. We went to the bedroom.
«What’s wrong, Claire? I know something’s wrong».
I told him everything.
«I don’t know, Claire... I think something’s happening».
What? He was not worried about Alex?
«What are you talking about, Sam?»
He hugged me.
«Don’t worry, my dear. You are safe. I’ll protect you».
He had not replied, though. I knew he had something in mind. I undressed him and we sat on the bed. He kissed my neck and caressed my back. We kissed and he undressed me. When entering my body, he said:
«You’re mine. He won’t have you! No one will, because you are mine».
«You are mine too», I whispered.
He kissed me passionately and looked at me.
«I won’t you and never will get tired of you. I won’t let you go».
I felt better, even if he had not answered my questions.
«Why did you marry me?»
He looked at me.
«I wanted us to be a proper couple».
«We already were». I insisted: «We came here together, remember?»
My point didn’t persuade him.
«I wanted to marry you. What were you thinking? That we could have sex for a while and break up at some point? Do you miss being free?»
He pretended to be calm, but his words were full of rage.
«I wanted you and I want us to be together for the rest of our lives. I don’t miss being free. Do you?»
«I’d do anything for you! Anything! How can you ask that?»
«Would you sleep with someone else?»
«What... why are you asking me this? I don’t even consider sleeping someone else. I love you».
He was angry and tired but the thought of something stuck me.
«Sam... what if the letters had been written by a woman?»
He turned to me.
«Why?»
I was unable to answer.
«I don’t know... but a woman would never catch the attention. She writes intimate stuff...»
I was still thinking about that, when I said: «We must find out what she’s after. She might have been abandoned by someone... she might have been betrayed. Her man might have chosen another woman! She might live nearby... and she might have heard of us...»
«This doesn’t make sense».
«It does! You didn’t read the letter! She’s a psycho!»
He hugged me.
«I will figure something out», he whispered. «You’re the only one for me...»
I looked him in the eyes.
«Please, don’t you ever leave me here...»
He looked at my belly.
«Sam, next time you go to the village, I’ll come with you».
I was resolute. I had made my decision and wouldn’t step back. Being with him in Nova Scotia had changed me.
«Will you love me forever?»
«Forever and ever».
«We’ll find out who she is...»
I was scared and excited. Why was she after me and why?
On the day after, we woke up early. We set up the table and Rhona took care of the food. Sam remouved the snow over the door. He fed the horses and checked on the stable.
Bruce McVey, Rhona’s husband, helped Sam.
At lunch time, the guests arrived: Bruce McVey, Muireall e Calum McFadden with their sons, Peigi and Fergus Murphy, Keir and his three brothers, Logan and Douglas McNutt, Eoin and his brothers.
Once reunited, we were twentyfour.
We sat. I was sitting next to Sam. Bruce McVey sat at the edge of the table.
«I hope I’ll marry a woman as beautiful as your wife, Mr Campbell», said a young and pleasant man. He was tall and charming, pale-skinned and red-haired.
«Keir!», said his father.
«That’s fine, Fergus. Your son is right», Sam said in a bossy voice. Everyone shut up and the boy turned pink.
Sam was their leader.
I recalled what he had told me. He had been a rebel. He had been offered a job by Alexander. He had killed people, stolen things and spied on me. I was only able to see how kind he was.
We had lunch. Lilias, a red-haired child, sat on Sam’s knees. She kept punching the other children from her privileged position.
«Mom! Lilias is punching me!», said Aidan, her brother.
«Lilias, don’t!», said Logan, her mother. She then looked at me and laughed. «Males are the weak ones, you know. Lilias is the boss. She’s never scared. Her husband will have to behave!»
Sam was surrounded by children. They were climbing on top of him.
«Guys, please... why don’t you have a biscuit? Let’s let Claire tell you a story. Come on, guys... if you behave, I’ll give you your presents!», Sam said.
The children screamed.
«Let’s go then», and he smiled at me.
«Your husband can surely deal with children», said Peigi.
«My husband is always protesting when I ask him to look after them!», said Muireall.
«Mr Campbell is very kind to the Lady», added Rhona.
«He is. He’s a good husband», I said.
They all looked at me. We were an awkward couple, I believe. Not every husband would listen to his wife and treat her properly.
I help the ladies and then went to check on Sam.
«I’m a human, just like you. Many years ago, in these woods, I’ve been kidnapped by the Queen of the Elfs. I was feeling tired and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was with her. Since then, I’ve been taking care of the forest. I must go back to the Queen at night, though. I wish someone helped me break the spell!»
He was telling them a tale. He was good at it. Twelwe children were looking at him. They were all speechless. They were eating their biscuits and enjoying the show.
Sam would be a good father.
I looked at Keir, Fergus’ son. He was a good-looking green-eyed boy. He must have been sixteen or so, but he was tall. I was sure he had a crowd of young girls to choose among.
Eoin was Douglas McNutt’s son. He had golden eyes and brown hair. He was small and very thin. He was fourteen, maybe.
«Tam Lin stayed with Janet, they got married and they lived happily ever after», claimed Sam. Then he looked at me. «Let’s go check on your presents, guys».
They all run to the tree.
«Was I good?», Sam asked me.
«You were».
«Now, let’s go!»
He gave the kids the presents. Everyone enjoyed the moment and laughed at the childrens’faces.
At the end of the day, I was exhausted.
«I’ll massage your feet».
And so he did.
«Do you think I’ll be a good father?»
«You’ll be great».
«I want a big family».
I looked him in the eyes.
«I can picture you being a father. I like the idea».
We kissed.
«Let’s go get some sleep», he said.
«Sleep?» I replied and hugged him.
The days flew by.
One day, Sam came home overexcited.
«I’ll be building a new stable».
There was room, so he could do that easily. Our horses were in the stable o
n top of the hill, next to Bruce’s house, and it would be useful, to have them nearer. It was a good idea, so I smiled at him.
«But... are you able to do that?»
He looked at me.
«Well... no. But how hard can that be? I’m sure I can make it».
I laughed.
«When will you start?»
CHAPTER 13
ABEGWEIT
It was February and I was five months pregnant. I was feeling much better and I was really willing to do something. It was then that I felt something moving inside of me.
I wanted to call for Sam. It was out baby! He was moving! But I decided not to. He had already woken up and had much work to do. We had a very big estate to run, so he was always busy with this and that.
I enjoyed the moment and treasured it.
I started thinking of all the people I had left in London. Alexander was among them. I had never really loved him and we had never really got on. He was charming but selfish. To him I was a prize.
I recalled our wedding day. I had been very happy during the ceremony. He was the most charming man I had ever known. But it all went to pieces in Carcassonne.
And then... then Sam had become part of my life. A huge part.
He was... different. And I was too. When I was with him, I felt strong and peaceful. I was his everything and we got on perfectly well. I was in love with him and didn’t care about anything else. We used to share everything.
When he approached the bed and kissed me goodbye, I didn’t tell him about the baby.
«I want to go to the village today. I want to get some books».
He caressed my cheek. «What books?»
«Something telling the tales of the island. Tales for the kids... maybe even some books about agriculture and farming. I’d like to get to know the plants a bit better...»
He was staring at me.
«I’d like to have my own garden, you know».
«If you want to go, I’ll come with you. What about... in two days? I should be going to the village anyway».
