Highland Healer

by Florence Love Karsner

  It had crossed Alex's mind that, being as these three paths were the only ones the soldier could have traveled, he surely would have come across Commander Campbell by now. The old healer had expressed concern that the man was a danger to anyone in his way, and she remarked the soldier repeated several times he would find "that red-haired witch." That phrase kept running through Alex's mind.

  So, he was off again, stopping in every village asking if anyone had seen the healer or the soldier. At least the storm had abated, and Alex always liked traveling through the first snow of the year. But, he well knew this breathtaking beauty would become slush and make traveling more difficult as the day wore on. So, with new determination, he moved along quickly.

  CHAPTER 41

  Caitlin had never been so exhausted in her life. No matter how many babies she had helped into the world, it was always an awe-inspiring experience. But, this particular birth was even more special. As she was trying to reassure the poor woman in the throes of childbirth, she felt as if she were being directed by a presence, certainly an unseen one, but there nevertheless. This presence was warm, caring, and brought a scent that had been buried in Caitlin's brain long, long ago. And it had brought some kind of golden light that helped Caitlin as she struggled to deliver this baby. She had thought the moon was producing it, but as she sat here now, she recalled how it had only covered the place where she and the woman were. It had been very dark when she had discovered the body and started to help this woman. Where had the light come from ? And that scent? So soft. So embracing.

  "I know that scent. But how? Why can't I remember?" Caitlin had spoken aloud and the new mother had heard her.

  "What scent? I don't smell anything." The woman's voice was very soft and Caitlin looked in her direction. The two of them, mother and child, were sharing a moment that only they could. Caitlin had never had this experience.

  "What? Oh, it's nothing. I just have a very keen sense of smell and I'm always smelling something that isn't really there!" She brushed the question off, but that scent was still running around in her brain — searching — and in her heart as well.

  "I don't know how to thank you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along. I will forever be in your debt." The new mother was in tears.

  "I'm Caitlin, and I’m a healer. Aye. I'm glad I came along too. Of course, nature would have taken its course and you would have managed on your own, but it really does help to have someone around in these situations! I think you will both be fine, but we must get going now and try to find some shelter for ourselves. There'll be snow before morning I believe."

  "And I'm Millie, Millie Sinclair." The woman offered Caitlin her hand as was the custom for proper ladies when introduced to someone new to their acquaintance.

  "Where are you going? Is it close by?" asked the woman.

  "Well, actually, no. I'm traveling to the home of a family, the MacKinnons, who live in the upper Highlands. I've no idea how far it is, but I must be moving on. It's rather difficult to explain, but I must go quickly."

  "Then, let's try to get to my family's place in the Black Isle. I don't think it's too much farther, and they'll be delighted to shelter us."

  "Seeing as I have no better idea, we'll do just that," responded Caitlin, ever so glad to have a place to wait out the storm.

  The healer helped Millie get on her horse and handed the baby up to her. The strength of will that this required was unspeakable. Caitlin marveled at the woman's stoic response to sitting on a horse having just given birth.

  "Are you sure you can do this?" asked the healer. She didn't know which was worse, trying to weather the storm out here in the open, or watching this woman climb on that horse. Either choice was not one she liked.

  "Yes. I'll make it. Let's just go, please."

  Caitlin made sure Millie was settled, then got on her horse and started out, holding the reins of both horses. The band of misfits moved on slowly always in a northerly direction.

  Millie had not complained once, but Caitlin knew the woman must be in great pain. Having a baby is a natural event, certainly, but leaves one with considerable discomfort and pain, even after the blessed event is over. But, they had no choice; they must get to shelter somehow.

  "How am I ever going to find the MacKinnon lands now, traveling with a very tired, new mother, and a baby a few hours old?" Caitlin had spoken aloud, and even she could hear the desperation in her voice.

  Millie explained to Caitlin she was trying to get to the home of her family, actually a grandmother and elderly aunt, in the Black Isle. She had not heard from them for several years now. This was her mother's side of the family and Millie remembered them well and knew they would welcome her. She did not tell Caitlin that these relatives had no idea she was coming to visit.

  According to Millie, they had just a short way to go to reach her family's holdings. "But, how will we know when we have reached their lands?" Caitlin asked.

  "Actually, it'll be easy to find," Millie hesitated before continuing. "It's rather a large place, Cameron Castle, you see. And my grandmother and aunt will be most pleased to have us a guests."

  "Ah, well, yes, a castle. Then let's get moving and get out of this weather." Caitlin was worried about the woman and baby, both subject to catching pneumonia, and hoped this place wasn't far. But a castle?

  Caitlin and Millie gingerly asked questions of each other, and both cautiously answered them. They both had secrets the other one didn't necessarily need to know, or so they both thought.

  But, as both were females in distress, there was an unspoken bond being formed. Caitlin was aware that it really was simply the fact they probably sensed a kindred spirit in the other and each was alone without anyone to help them.

  Without going into great detail, Millie told Caitlin enough of her story to make her understand the difficulty the new mother was facing.

  "Oh, aye. He's a beast and more. He never wanted me for the person I am. He wanted me because I came with a sizeable inheritance. He and my father are so alike that it's almost laughable. It's like they must have been brothers or something. And, when I told him a child was to be born, he was more excited than ever as he will now inherit even more from his family. You know, that first son business they all so dwell on. But, I've made up my mind that no man will ever control me again and seeing as how our child is a girl, my husband will never even care to see her. So, 'tis a sad tale, but I'll figure out how to make this situation work for me and my daughter." The only small detail that she consciously left out was her full name, Lady Millicent Sinclair Warwick. She just told Caitlin to call her Millie and let it go at that.

  "My, oh my. And I thought I had problems! Well, I mean, a crazed soldier chasing you is not too much fun either. But so far, I've only had the best of treatment from the men in my life. First my grandfather, and then Uncle Wabi. I never knew my father, but it appears that he was quite a fine man. And apparently I inherited his temper!"

  "So, he was a well-mannered gentleman with a bit of a temper, perhaps red hair and sparkling eyes?" Millie tried to lighten the conversation just a bit.

  "I believe the hair is from my mother." Caitlin smiled at the woman and they kept going. Each felt a new friendship could come from this unexpected situation.

  Caitlin had learned long ago to let Willie lead the way and to trust his instincts. Suddenly he stopped. His hackles were raised, and a deep growl rumbled louder by the second. Caitlin felt the hair on her arms rise, and she was aware of an odor she had smelled before, but couldn't place it. Willie walked to the edge of the woods, next to the path where they were walking and began an even deeper growl.

  Caitlin climbed down from her mount, then tied the reins to a young yew tree. She put a finger to her lips, indicating that Millie was to be very quiet.

  "Shh! Let me see what's spooking him. Stay, Willie." Willie growled deeply, not wanting to obey this command. He was still in attack mode, hackles still standing on end, ears straight, and bari
ng his tremendously large teeth.

  "Stay Willie. Stay with Millie," the healer once again issued her command.

  Caitlin had a pistol, actually another item she had relieved Campbell of, but hoped not to have to use it. Shooting wasn't something she was very good at. She reached into her saddle bag and pulled it out. She walked for a few minutes, looking and listening. Walking on even farther into the woods, leaving Millie and Willie far behind, she reached her arm out, pointing it at the brush ahead. Suddenly, out of the blue, she received a whack on her wrist and the gun went flying from her hand.

  "Oh, no!" she yelled as she was flattened to the ground.

  She looked up into the face of one she had hoped to never see again — Commander Campbell! Now she remembered the smell — henbane — and he still reeked of it! He had straddled her body and had a very firm grip on her left hand, and her right one was trapped behind her back.

  "So, we meet at last, witch! And, I see you are without your wolf. I had hoped to find him, too, and take care of both of you. He'll also pay for his part in your little game!" His left hand held his gun and his right one went to her throat. He squeezed, but only slightly so far.

  "Campbell! What do you want from me?"

  "Why, nothing, little witch. I just want to make your punishment last as long as possible and then, just when you think it's over, then I will strike the match and laugh as you burn!"

  "You're insane! I did not cause your son's death! He died from malaria as did all the others. You must see that!"

  "No. All I see is that you are responsible, and I will watch you suffer!"

  Caitlin could not move. All she could do was stare at the crazed man. As he began to put even more pressure on her throat, she felt more fear than she could ever remember having experienced before. She saw that someone had bandaged his throat, but it was still continuing to seep blood, and he had strength that was unbelievable in his condition. Suddenly, Caitlin went rigid and saw a red flash before her eyes, then a blinding light that had her squeezing her eyes in an effort to shield them. Once again, she managed to push her fear aside and let anger take over. She was only just beginning to understand how to access this power of hers.

  "No! No! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" screamed Campbell.

  The soldier went flying through the air and only stopped when his back met with a huge tree trunk. He fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Caitlin stood up slowly, unsure what had happened just then. And most unsure about what might happen next! Had she done that? Thrown the commander into the air?

  "No. Surely not. I couldn't have done that!"

  Then in a matter of seconds, her nose alerted her to another scent and one that was most welcomed — Alex! As she turned around she was never so glad to see anyone. Alex was standing just a few yards behind her and looked as if he had lost his ability to speak. His face registered a look that spoke volumes about what he had just witnessed. How had he found her?

  Neither of them said a word for a very long moment. Then Caitlin rushed to Alex and his arms went around her of their own accord, without a conscious thought from him, as if they knew that was their proper response to this woman.

  "Oh, Alex. How did you find me? I've been trying to get to your farm, but it's taking so long! And so much has happened!"

  "Aye, lass. Finding ye was part determination and part luck. There are only three paths for getting to the upper regions, and this one is used most often, so I hoped maybe ye would take it, too. But, there've been a few who have taken the other paths. They all finally lead to the same place, so I would have caught up with ye eventually."

  "Alex, I have so much to tell you. But first, you must meet Mille."

  "Oh, good God! What do I do now?" A female voice Alex was unfamiliar with rang out in the night.

  Millie had not moved a muscle for what seemed like an eternity. But, finally she could stand it no longer and walked her horse over and managed to dismount, moving toward Caitlin. Willie had stayed when Caitlin had told him to, but when Millie started to go, he ran up next to her, trying to keep her safe as he assumed Caitlin had wanted.

  "Oh, heavens! What's happened?" She stood staring at the man lying at the base of the tree.

  "That's a very long story, Millie. This man is crazed and thinks I caused the death of his son. Of course I didn't, but he won't listen to reason. But now? I can't just leave him here to die, can I?"

  "Well, I don't know why not, if he's trying to kill you!" replied Millie.

  Caitlin was familiar with observing a new mother's protective instincts, and this mother's were working overtime. Protecting her infant was number one priority on her list.

  "If he's crazed, then he might still try to hurt you, or all of us!"

  "Yes, you're right, Millie. Let's think for a moment. Oh, where is Uncle Wabi when I need him!"

  Alex stood listening to the two women and they seemed to have forgotten he was there. Finally, as Willie ran to Alex as a "welcome committee" might, and was rewarded with a quick ruffing of his neck, Caitlin realized that an introduction needed to be made.

  "Oh, Alex. This is Millie. She's traveling with me and we're trying to get to her family's estate, where we can get shelter. It's difficult to explain everything just now, but trust me when I say we need to get moving."

  Alex came forward and offered his hand to the striking woman standing next to Caitlin. Two women could not look more different One was barely five feet tall with fair skin and red hair, and the other was six feet with a dark mane that ran down her back.

  "I'm Alex MacKinnon. It's my pleasure, I'm sure. Millie smiled at the man, then walked a short distance away as the babe had begun to make her presence known also. The new mother was learning about crying babies and how a short little snack would quiet one. Millie put the infant to her breast, and both of them rested quietly.

  "Oh, Alex! What should I do? Should I, the healer, help him or should I let him lie here and die?" Caitlin looked at Alex and then at Willie, wishing he could speak to her. Alex drew her close and held her for a moment. Caitlin relished the moment and nothing had ever felt so right.

  "Well, it looks like we have to make a rather quick decision and get out of this storm. But, I don't think we can leave the man out here. We'll tie his hands and feet and put him over his horse. Then, once we get to our destination, we'll figure out what to do with him."

  Caitlin was glad to have Alex here with her. But, still she felt the whole situation was out of control Why had her life become so unmanageable?

  "I'll walk back into the forest and see if I can find the soldier's horse. He can't be very far away." Alex began to walk away and to his surprise, Willie went with him. Meanwhile, Caitlin paced back and forth, mumbling to herself.

  "Oh, Uncle Wabi! Where are you when I need you?" Caitlin had not truly tried to contact him since her initial failure, but she certainly wished he were here now.

  So, what was it the owl said? "Relax . . . every muscle . . . and open your mind . . . be receptive to hearing Uncle Wabi's voice . . ."

  "Relax . . . relax . . . every muscle." And, much more quickly than the first time, Caitlin felt the now familiar tingling of her scalp. But this time it was more than a slight tingle. In face, it felt as if her entire head was being singed with some sort of torch. Not painful, but certainly sizzling!

  "Uncle Wabi. Please hear me. I need you. Please hear me." Caitlin was sobbing at this point and didn't hear him when he first responded. So, he answered once again.

  "Yes, Caitlin I hear you."

  "Uncle Wabi? Oh, please help me! I'm in real trouble this time and don't know what to do! I so wish you were here!"

  "Easy my girl easy. Just continue to think about me and hear my voice. I'll be there shortly. Just keep calling me so I can find you more readily. I'll only be a moment now."

  Wabi took a second to look about himself. He stood very still, facing north, and raised his hands to the sky, palms upward. He began to chant in an old, forgotten language that his kind h
ad spoken for millennia. All at once, a great roll of thunder rumbled across the entire region, and the snow began swirling around his body, from his upraised arms down to his feet. And the earth began to quiver, then shake violently. The snow turned into a whirlwind that felt more like a tornado than a snowstorm! The sky lit up with a thousand stars that seemed to shine a path for the tornado to follow and, instantly, Wabi and the storm disappeared into the stars above. The sky changed colors — from blue to pink — then to green — like a wave of colored lights moving across the sky. Even the Aurora Borealis couldn't compete with this event! Were they having a tornado and an earthquake at the same time?

  An instant later, the whirling snow stopped and the trees reached for the sky again. The earth ceased to shake, but still quivered and the stars drifted away. The colors faded and they were left with only the twinkling lights that made up the Milky Way still shining down on them.

  Caitlin looked up and standing just a few feet in front of her was Uncle Wabi, his white hair standing on end and a light covering of snow still clinging to his shoulders. And he was grinning from ear to ear!

  "Heavens! I had forgotten how thrilling time and place weaving can be! The sheer excitement of moving from one place to another or one time to another is truly remarkable!" Leaning on his crooked staff, Wabi had been speaking to Caitlin.

  "Uncle Wabi? How did you get here?" Caitlin looked at the man that had raised her for most of her life. She just shook her head. Finally, maybe, she was beginning to understand he was indeed a special person, just as Owl had said.

  "Uncle Wabi, did you come on the tornado snowstorm?" She looked quizzically at him, not sure what she was hoping to hear as an explanation.

  "Yes, Caitlin, I did indeed. Place 'weaving' is a method of travel that I only use when nothing else will suffice — in a time of great need. At the moment it seemed the most logical way to travel as it sounded as if you may be in a dangerous situation."