Everything In Its Time

by Dee Davis

  Suddenly she could almost see Jeff standing at the wall, leaning over it, gleefully examining those machicohickies or whatever they were called. She felt the pricking of tears. Jeff. If only there were some way he could be with her here. Then everything would be perfect.

  "I see you found the stairs."

  Katherine sniffed and wiped at her eyes. She turned, smiling at her husband. "I did. When I woke up, you were gone, so I set about finding you."

  "Well, you've found me, but I'm still waiting for a proper greeting, wife."

  Katherine opened her arms. "If it's a proper greeting you want, you'll have to come to me. I can't come any closer to the outside wall." She gave him a small embarrassed grimace.

  Iain was beside her in one step, enfolding her in his arms. He was wearing only his plaid. "What do you mean you canna?"

  "Just what I said, I 'canna.' " She felt him rumble with laughter at her imitation of his speech. "It's a sort of fear of heights. Falling, really. Anyway, I'm fine as long as I stay here by the building wall."

  Iain frowned down at her. "But you canna see the view from here, and I want to show you my holding." He kissed the top of her head tenderly. "Nay, I meant to say our holding."

  "But I can't. Really. I get all panicky and hyperventilate. It's not a pretty sight."

  "Katherine, trust me. You canna fall if I'm holding you. I'll go first and then you can come to me." He walked to stand by the edge of the pitifully low wall. He held out a hand. "Come here. Have faith that I will protect you."

  Katherine swallowed and edged forward a step or two. She froze for a moment and then, squaring her shoulders, reached out for Iain's hand as she took the last few steps to join him. He pulled her in front of him, holding her next to his body, wrapping them in his plaid, his strong arms keeping her safe.

  He leaned down to whisper in her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. "You can open your eyes now, my love."

  Katherine opened one eye and then the other. The view was absolutely breathtaking. She could see far more than she had been able to from the tower wall. She leaned back into Iain, letting his warmth and strength drain her fear.

  "Straight out there is Càrn Coire na h-Easgainn, a verra boggy place. I know that from personal experience. In the winter the snow and ice hide the bogs and if you're no' careful you fall right in. 'Tis no' a verra comfortable way to spend a winter's day."

  "I can imagine."

  "To its right is Càrn lain Duibh. I've no notion of the true history of the name, it is literally Càrn ic Iain Duibh, but my father always called it Black Iain's Mountain, saying that it was named for me. When I was about seven, just before I left for Corybrough, I got it into my head to try and climb it. Well, of course I never even got near it, but by the time I gave up and returned home, I was covered with dirt from my head to my toes. Between the soil and my hair, I looked a wee bit black. And so, after that, my father always said, the mountain was named for me."

  Katherine rested her head against his broad chest, enjoying their intimacy.

  "And that one?"

  "There?" He pointed to the southeast. She nodded. "Ah, you can just see it. 'Tis Càrn Sgùlain. See its basket shape?" He continued the geography lesson. "And there in front 'tis Calpa Mòr."

  "They're beautiful. You can still see snow on some of them."

  "Aye. O'er there to your left is the river that cuts the valley to Duncreag." He pointed at the sliver of water far below. Katherine swallowed and looked down. In her time it was called the River Findhorn. She remembered driving along it with Jeff. The thought of her brother made her wish again that he was here. So many wonderful things had happened to her, and it felt strange not to be able to share them with Jeff.

  Iain's arms tightened around her. "What troubles you, lass?"

  "Nothing really. I was just thinking of my brother, Jeff."

  "You were missing him, then?"

  "Um-hmm. We've always shared everything. I was wishing I could tell him about you, and how happy you make me."

  Iain nuzzled her hair. "So tell me about your brother."

  Katherine snuggled into Iain's warmth. "He looks a lot like me only he's taller." She glanced up at her husband. "I'd say about your height. His hair is short, a little darker than mine. And it's usually standing every which way because he runs his hands through it all the time. He has blue eyes and he's always laughing."

  "Sounds like a handsome fellow. Is he more than just fair of face?"

  "Yeah. He's an incredibly talented architect. He designs all kinds of buildings, in cities all over the world."

  "Your parents must be proud of him."

  "My parents died when I was eight, in a car wreck. I told you about cars."

  "The carts that move without horses?"

  "Right. Anyway, after that my grandmother took care of us. We loved her, but it was still always Jeff and me against the world. Our own little family."

  " 'Tis sad that I canna know him."

  "He would have liked you."

  "And I would like to have had a brother. I had a sister, but she died as a babe. My mother died giving birth to her. We never had much of a family after that."

  "But surely you and your father ..."

  "Nay, my father might as well have died with my mother. His heart went with her. So there was no' much left for me."

  "But you loved him."

  "Aye, that I did."

  Katherine stood quietly, still leaning against him, thinking of all that she had lost and all that she had gained.

  "Katherine?"

  "Hmm?"

  "I know you miss your brother, but if you'll let me, I'll be your family now. And you will be mine."

  Katherine turned in Iain's arms, pressing her lips to his, feeling the heat of his body against hers. He reached down, scooping her up into his arms, a devilish smile on his handsome face.

  "Come, my love, I find I've the need to show you just how much I care."

  *****

  "Well, can you do anything to help the lad?"

  Iain watched as Katherine carefully examined William's leg. It was red and swollen, the edges raw. Even Iain could tell that it was not healing.

  Katherine looked at him across the bed. "It's infected. I think that's what's causing his fever. Has he woken at all?"

  "Only for a moment or two. And even then he was no' himself."

  Katherine tenderly covered the boy again, brushing his matted hair back from his face.

  "I think it needs to be drained."

  "Can you do that?"

  "Yes, but I'll need some help. I'm definitely not qualified to sew it up again."

  "I'll send for my aunt. She can assist you. Tell me what you need."

  Katherine thought for a moment, her gaze on the boy. "I'll need hot water, lots of it. And it will need to have been brought to a full boil. I'll also need clean linen to make a compress and more for a new bandage. It has to be sterile."

  Iain sent her a puzzled look. Sometimes he simply could not understand her words. What a complicated place this twentieth century must be.

  Katherine gave him an understanding smile. "Sorry, that means totally clean. Freshly laundered or never used would be best. And I'll need a knife that's been washed in the boiling water."

  Iain nodded and pulled a dirk from the sheath at his waist. "Will this do?"

  Katherine stared at the little knife. "Where did you get that?"

  Iain frowned at her tone of voice. " 'Twas my father's, and his father's before him."

  Katherine relaxed, giving Iain a weak smile. "I didn't mean to sound so harsh. It's just that I've seen that knife before, in my time. I was surprised, that's all."

  "Well, my father would be glad to know that it survived." He carefully handed her the dirk, hilt-first, watching as she absently stroked the smoky stone at the end.

  He turned to the doorway, calling to a girl standing in the outer hall. "Fiona, go and find Sorcha and send her here. Then bring some clean cl
oth and boiling water. And hurry."

  The girl nodded and curtsied, glancing at the boy in the bed and then giving Katherine a look filled with hope. With a last look at William, she hurried away.

  "I think she has a tender spot for our William," Iain said.

  "Does he return her feelings, do you think?" Katherine asked.

  "I truly dinna know. I suspect the lad is still a bit young to be giving his heart."

  Katherine's mouth twitched with amusement. "If I recall correctly, you weren't much older than William when we first met. And I seem to remember you telling me—quite emphatically, I might add—that you knew you loved me even then."

  "Aye, I did." He reached up to touch the cairngorm hanging from his ear, then grinned at the woman who had come to mean more than life to him. "But we are special, mo chridhe."

  Katherine gave an unladylike snort.

  Fiona returned with two pails of steaming water and a pile of cloth clutched under her arm. She placed the lot by the fireplace and turned to go.

  "Try not to worry, Fiona." Katherine's voice was soft.

  The girl gave Katherine a weak smile. "I'll just go and get some more water." She bobbed once and was gone.

  Katherine turned to her patient. After washing the knife in the heated water, she dried it and carefully cut away the stitches. The wound had festered, and once the stitches were gone, it began to ooze.

  "How can I help?" Iain had moved to her side and was intently watching her work.

  "Start by ripping these cloths into small squares and then fold them into a pad like this." She held up a square of cloth she had already folded. "We're going to dip the clean cloth into the hot water and then place it on the wound. The heat, along with a little pressure, should aid in draining it. What we want it to do is run clear." Katherine dipped the cloth in one of the pails of water and placed it on the wound, pressing slightly at the sides. William moaned, but remained still.

  Iain began to tear the linen into smaller pieces, folding each and making a pile next to Katherine.

  "What are you about in here?"

  They both turned at the sound of a voice. Sorcha stood in the door, hands on hips, her face inscrutable.

  "I said what are you about? Are you deaf then?"

  Iain straightened. "Katherine has been kind enough to offer her help in aid of young William."

  "Are you a healer?" Sorcha's brown eyes glared at Katherine.

  Katherine looked first at Iain and then at Sorcha. "No, but I seem to have a healing way. And I've studied a little. I thought that maybe, between you and me, we could help him."

  Sorcha's look softened a bit, and she came to the side of the bed. "Tell me what you're doing then."

  Katherine explained in detail, trying to remember to use words that were not unique to the twentieth century. Sorcha listened intently, nodding now and then, watching as Katherine replaced one compress with another.

  "It might work." Her forehead furrowed in thought, she turned to Iain. "Here, mon, let me do that." She took the linen and began to tear it.

  Iain smiled at Katherine over the top of Sorcha's head. "It looks as if the two of you have little need for me. I'll check on you later."

  "See that Fiona brings more hot water," Katherine called to him without even looking up.

  Iain smiled at the two women, oblivious to him now as they worked side by side to try and heal William.

  *****

  "Well, that's it then. We've managed to drain the wound and clean it."

  "Yeah, and William too. How long do you think it's had been since his last bath?" Katherine wrinkled her nose in disgust.

  Sorcha gave her a perplexed look. "Do they bathe often where you come from? I've heard it said that people of the continent are quite interested in bathing."

  Katherine smiled, rubbing her back. "Yes, well, they do say cleanliness is next to godliness, or something like that." She watched as Sorcha made neat little stitches in William's leg. They weren't exactly the best of friends, but they'd developed a grudging respect for each other in the time it had taken to attend to the wound. "We may need to repeat this whole process if it festers again."

  Sorcha nodded as she tied off the stitches. "Is there something we can do for his fever?"

  Katherine bit the inside of her lip, trying to think of some herb that might reduce fever. Nothing came to mind. What she wouldn't have given for a dose of penicillin. "I think maybe just keeping him cool will help. Perhaps if we keep him uncovered and bathe him from time to time in cool water?"

  "Aye, that might work. I'll call for a clean bucket with cold water from the well."

  "Sorcha?"

  "Aye?"

  "I think it would be better if the water were boiled first and then allowed to cool."

  Sorcha looked as if she wanted to argue, but turned to go with a shrug, mumbling something about people who were overly fond of bathing.

  Katherine placed a hand on William's brow. It actually felt a little cooler. His breathing was slow and even. A sprinkling of freckles stood out on his nose, a contrast to his pale skin. He looked incredibly young lying there, and Katherine was moved to offer a brief prayer for his well-being as she smoothed his hair back from his face.

  Hearing Sorcha returning, she stood and pushed her own hair back.

  "Go now, child. I'll sit with him. You look as if you could use a wee rest. There's naught else to do now but wait."

  "Will you call me when he wakes up?"

  Sorcha nodded and turned to the boy on the bed.

  Katherine stood in the doorway, wondering what Sorcha would make of her century. She'd probably take it all in stride. Sorcha seemed to be a woman with little room for fancy, and Katherine wondered briefly if she'd ever been in love. She didn't really seem the type to give affection easily or deeply, but she had spent all these years taking care of her sister's family. Katherine watched as Sorcha gently pressed a wet cloth to William's forehead. What was the saying? Still waters run deep? There certainly had to be some motivation behind her dedication to the Mackintoshes of Duncreag, because she certainly didn't strike Katherine as the sacrificing type. As Katherine walked from the room, she wondered what Sorcha's reaction would be when she found out Iain had made her his wife.

  *****

  "But we dinna know anything about her."

  Iain stood with his back to the fire in his work chamber, looking at the three astonished faces in front of him. The late afternoon sun filtered through the room's only window. Ranald look amused as well as astonished. Fergus just looked bemused, while Sorcha looked slightly angry.

  "Auntie Sorcha, I know all that I need to know about Katherine. And I'll no' have you making her feel anything less than welcome in this house. She is my wife and by right that makes her mistress here. I'll have our folk treat her as such or they'll answer to me."

  Fergus reached over to pat Sorcha's hand. "Your aunt meant nothing by her remark, Iain. We're just surprised, that's all. We've only just met the girl and now we find that the two of you have promised your lives to each other."

  Sorcha refused to give in gracefully. "What about a blessing by the priest? Surely you canna truly be married without that?"

  Fergus answered for Iain. "Now, Sorcha, ye know that a mon and a woman can pledge to wed without a priest. All that's really necessary to make a union official is a bedding." He looked to Iain with a bawdy smile. "And I'm quite sure our Iain saw to that. Am I no' right, lad?"

  Iain grinned despite himself. "We are well and truly wed. But if it makes you feel better, Auntie Sorcha, Katherine wants the marriage blessed, too. We'll have Father Macniven do it the next time he comes to Duncreag. Until then, a bedding will have to suffice."

  Sorcha nodded with grudging acceptance. " 'Tis no' that I disapprove of the girl, Iain. 'Tis just that I wish you'd told us first and then waited a proper betrothal period."

  "Well, I'm telling you now, and what I'd like is a bit more enthusiasm. You're all the family I have, and I'd like t
o think you're at least a wee bit happy for us."

  Ranald jumped out of his chair, crossed the chamber, and embraced Iain. "Congratulations, cousin. She's a bonny lass. Had I met her before you, I might have married her myself."

  Fergus, too, rose extending his hand. " 'Tis glad I am if she makes you happy. Your father would be most pleased to know you are settled at last. It was his greatest wish that you would marry and produce an heir to carry on the Mackintoshes of Duncreag. My only regret is that he canna be here to meet your bride."

  Iain shook the old man's hand, pulling him forward for a quick embrace. "You've been like a second father to me, Fergus. 'Tis enough that you're here."

  Iain turned to look at Sorcha. "Have you no good wishes for me then, Auntie?"

  A shadow passed across Sorcha's face. "I had hoped that you'd choose Ailis for your wife. I know those were also your father's wishes. But Angus is gone and I wish you only happiness. So if this girl is the one you truly love, then I say God's blessing on you both."

  Iain reached for her hands, then kissed each of them in turn. "Thank you, Auntie Sorcha."

  Ranald gestured to a pitcher of ale on the table. "We should drink to Iain's happiness."

  Fergus poured the brew into beautifully hammered metal cups. He handed one to each of the others and raised his in salute. "To Iain and Katherine—may their lives be long and fruitful."

  Ranald raised his goblet and then drank deeply. Wiping a hand across his mouth, he raised the cup again. "I would drink to your wife. May her beauty never fade and her heart be always full of love for you."

  Sorcha, too, raised her cup. "I would wish that no other come between you."

  Iain tilted his brow, looking at her uncertainly, but raised his goblet and drank. " 'Tis thankful I am for your good wishes. I hope that you'll all wish Katherine the same when you see her." Iain looked pointedly at Sorcha. She flushed under the intensity of his gaze. With a last swallow, he finished the ale, then placed his cup on the table. "And now, I intend to spend some time with my bride."

  Katherine sat in the window of the solar. William was resting peacefully. He had opened his eyes a few hours earlier, informing them he was thirsty. Several cups of water later, he had lapsed again into deep sleep. There was certainly still cause for concern, but Katherine was beginning to feel like he had turned the proverbial corner. She sighed, rubbing her temples. She could really use two Excedrin right about now.