Highland Angels

by Ceci Giltenan

  “He knows. He was in the stable with Grieg and is already waiting in the bailey.”

  “Well then, just tell the others.”

  “Aye, Laird.” Colin hurried to do as he had been bid.

  “Well, lads, it looks as if Ena has arrived, a full three weeks early. I knew she’d take pity on us and come to help.”

  “Aye, it’ll be good to have her here.” Andrew was truly happy that Ena had arrived. She was five years older than him, and he had always adored her. She married Fearghas Chisholm the year Andrew went to train with Laird MacRae. The Chisholm holding was not terribly far from the MacRae’s land and they were allies, so Andrew saw his sister frequently throughout his training. But it had been nearly a year since she had last visited Curacridhe.

  When they reached the bailey, Davy was jumping up and down excitedly. “Aunt Ena’s coming, Da.”

  “So I hear.”

  “Look, there she is now.”

  Sure enough, his sister was riding through the gates with her husband, children, and a retinue of servants and guardsmen in tow.

  Ena was off her horse and hugging her father and brothers before the rest of the Chisholm party had come to a full stop.

  Standing a little to one side, Davy smiled broadly until it was his turn.

  Ena crouched down in front of him, hugging him close and just holding him for a moment. When she released him, her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “It is so good to see ye, Davy, and ye’re growing so big.”

  “Anna—she saved me when I fell in the loch and she’s going to be my mama—she says I get bigger every time she blinks.”

  “I’m sure ye do. Where is Anna? I would like to meet her.”

  “I’ll go find her,” Davy offered enthusiastically. “She might be in her solar.” Before anyone could stop him, he turned and ran into the keep on his mission.

  Ena smiled at his retreating figure. “Andrew, I can’t believe how close we came to losing him. Were it not for Anna MacKay…”

  “Aye. I can’t let myself think about it. Davy thought she was an angel, and for certain ‘twas only by the Grace of God that she was there to save him.

  “My thoughts exactly.” Ena turned to her father. “So, Da, I’m not sure forcing her to marry Andrew was the best way to thank her, even in the name of peace.”

  “Ena, love, let’s at least get into the keep before ye launch an attack on yer da,” said Fearghas.

  “Thank ye, Fearghas. I fear I’ll need fortification before I face my daughter down over this,” said Dougal.

  Andrew said nothing, but he too was thankful for the reprieve.

  Ena and Fearghas’ daughters, Allison who would be eight in a month, Lara who was three years younger, and the baby Rhona, who had been riding in a wagon with maid servants, were lifted out, hugged by their uncles and grandfather and ushered into the hall.

  Mairi burst into the great hall with a squeal of glee. “Eeeeenaaaaaaa!” She launched herself at her sister.

  Ena laughed and returned her hug. “Mairi, sweetling, it’s good to see ye too.”

  Somewhere in the midst of the uproar, Davy returned, pulling Anna by the hand.

  Andrew frowned. Something seemed to be amiss. Anna looked…he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He watched as Davy practically dragged her towards Ena.

  “Aunt Ena, this is Anna.” Davy sounded as if he were presenting his aunt with a rare and priceless jewel. “Anna, this is my Aunt Ena.”

  Anna curtsied. “Good evening, my lady.”

  “Don’t ‘my lady’ me, precious lass. I’m just Ena.” Ena gave her the same warm hug with which she had greeted the rest of the family before linking arms with Anna and introducing her to the Chisholm invaders as she called her family.

  ~ * ~

  Ena took one look at the sad, tense, copper-haired lass Davy dragged towards her and was filled with dismay. She understood why her father had forced the betrothal, at least she did intellectually. But her heart told her Anna was hurting and either no one noticed or cared. Ena maneuvered to surround the little MacKay with Chisholms during the evening meal.

  “Aunt Ena, Anna always sits with me and Mairi,” said Davy.

  Ena laughed merrily. “I’m sure ye quite like that, pet, but I thought ye might like to sit with Allison and Lara tonight and let me get a chance to know Anna better.”

  “Ooh, Ena, ye’ll love her. I’ll sit with ye both,” said Mairi.

  “Mairi, sweetling, I was hoping ye’d keep a bit of an eye on my wee lassies for me, and they have been looking forward to seeing Aunty Mairi all day.”

  Mairi smiled proudly. “I’d be happy to.”

  Ena knew her sister liked being entrusted with a bit of responsibility. She also knew Mairi was one of the most overwhelming members of her family, and if she wasn’t much mistaken, Anna had been overwhelmed by MacLeods from the first moment she stepped foot on their land. She suspected the lass could use a respite, which was Ena’s real purpose for sequestering Anna for the evening. Ena was so very proud of her husband. He had caught on to what she was doing instantly and ensured that Chisholm guardsmen created distance between Anna and Andrew, Graham and Dougal.

  Ena had been right. When Anna was insulated from the family, she appeared to relax ever so slightly and chat a little.

  Nothing was said outright, but the things Ena pieced together shocked her. Anna was marrying Andrew and would someday be Lady MacLeod, but had been given no real position in the household, except to be a nursemaid to Davy. None of the wedding plans had been discussed, or even shared with her. Her father and brothers insisted that Anna was loved and respected by the MacLeods, and Ena was certain she was, but the lass needed to be allowed to step into a leadership role or she would always be the little MacKay who saved Davy. Worst of all Ena suspected her brother might have done something that had deeply hurt Anna. While she didn’t know exactly what it was, she had her suspicions.

  Ena could only imagine the pain of losing a beloved spouse. Losing their mother had been terrible and losing Kenna had nearly been worse. But as much as losing a mother hurt, Ena knew it was different than losing a wife.

  When she arrived at Curacridhe after Joan had died, the brother she knew was gone. He appeared strong, never allowing himself to break, but Ena saw his stoicism for what it really was. Withdrawal. It was as if Andrew had put all emotions into a box, sealed it and set it aside. It wasn’t just his sorrow that he locked away, it was everything: joy, hope and even love. What remained was detachment, emptiness. Ena suspected it was an act of self-preservation—it was easier for Andrew to feel nothing than to risk feeling overwhelming grief ever again. It hadn’t really gotten better over time.

  Ena knew it would take strength and persistence to break through Andrew’s defenses. Perhaps Anna was perfect for the task, but Ena vowed to do what she could to help.

  There was one issue Ena could take steps to fix tonight, and woe be to the father or brother who stood in her way. At the end of the meal, Ena called Brenda over. “Brenda, ‘tis so good to see ye again.”

  Brenda nodded. “And ye, my lady.”

  “I don’t want to be a bother, or be in the way, but I suspect Anna might need a bit of extra help taking care of the household with the upcoming wedding. I’ll meet with ye both in the morning and we can begin to make plans.”

  Brenda grinned broadly. “Aye, my lady. That will be perfect.”

  Ena took Anna by the hand and gave her a sly wink. “Is that all right with ye?”

  Anna smiled the first genuine smile Ena had seen. “Aye, Ena, I would love it.”

  ~ * ~

  Andrew sat at the table the next morning with Davy and Anna. He had felt oddly out of sorts the previous evening when Ena had occupied Anna throughout supper. Of course he realized his sister wanted to get to know her but still, he missed Anna’s company.

  When Ena, Fearghas and their brood arrived downstairs, she was her usual, direct, efficient self. She announced immediately, “Davy,
Uncle Fearghas doesn’t get to go fishing very often and intends to spend the morning with his squire at the loch doing just that. Would ye like to go?”

  Davy nodded happily. “Aye, I would. Can Anna come too?”

  “Actually, there are some things to be done that Anna needs my help with. Yer da can go if he wishes.” She smiled warmly at Andrew.

  Andrew wasn’t sure what Anna needed help with, but he thought it better not to ask.

  “Da will ye go with us?”

  Andrew chuckled. “Aye, Davy, that sounds like fun.”

  When the meal was over, Ena linked her arm through Anna’s. “Now, shall we go find Brenda? I suspect there is much to be done.”

  Andrew frowned. Is that what Ena had meant? “Wait, Ena, there is no reason why Anna has to be bothered with any of that. Brenda manages quite well and Anna has other responsibilities.”

  Ena flashed him a brilliant smile, which he knew didn’t bode well. “Does she?”

  “Aye, she minds Davy.”

  “But Davy doesn’t need minding this morning. He’s going fishing with his Da and his uncle. Besides, what could possibly be more important that the running of her household?”

  “But it isn’t her household.”

  His sister’s arched brow told Andrew it had been the wrong thing to say. “That is to say, she isn’t Lady MacLeod yet, and Brenda has things well in hand anyway. There is no need…” his voice trailed off as he realized Ena was only growing angrier.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Andrew, now that I think on it, there is something I wanted to discuss with ye and Da. I believe he’s in his solar. Excuse us, Anna, Fearghas, we won’t be long.” She headed for the tower stairs, glancing back when she reached them. “Are ye coming, Andrew?”

  Andrew sighed and looked heavenward. He had no clue what had Ena irritated, but he knew he would get no peace until it was sorted out, so he followed his older sister up the stairs.

  He wasn’t left wondering for long. Ena pounced the moment they reached the privacy of the solar.

  “By all that is good and holy, can either of ye tell me why ye are treating that sweet lass so poorly?”

  Their father looked incredulous. “Ena, sweetling, what are ye talking about? She is treated like an honored guest.”

  “But, Da, she isn’t an honored guest—at least not anymore. She is betrothed to Andrew and will be Lady MacLeod in a matter of weeks. Someday she will be leading this clan at yer side Andrew. But the message ye both are giving to her and the clan is that ye feel she is incapable of anything except minding a child.”

  “Nay, ye misunderstand me. I didn’t want to risk her health. She was so very ill.”

  “I’m sure she was very ill, but she isn’t anymore.”

  Andrew tried to reason with his sister. “Ena, she’s quite young, and it’s only been a little more than a fortnight since the betrothals were signed. She needs time to become used to the idea.”

  “She’s older than I was when I married Fearghas and she’s older than Joan was when ye married her, not to mention the fact that she has been equally as well-trained to run a household as Joan and I were. While I’ll grant ye, the poor wee thing has a great deal to adapt to, and I still think it was wrong of ye to force this marriage,” Ena glared at their father, “she seems to be trying to accept it and adjust. I think she wants to find her way amongst us and ye both have tied her hands by not allowing her to assume the role that is her right.

  Andrew tried again. “But she isn’t Lady MacLeod yet, and…well…the household staff might not take too kindly to accepting orders from a MacKay.”

  Ena shook her head. “That is exactly what I thought ye’d say. In spite of everything, ye still see her only as a MacKay. Well, I have news for ye both, tis the household staff that fear ye have no intention of ever letting her assume the role of Lady MacLeod. They are fond of her, they want to help her and see it as an insult to her. I see it the same way. But perhaps worst of all, I suspect she does too. If it were Graham’s betrothed who came here to live before the wedding, you would absolutely expect her to begin learning the workings of this keep. The only reason ye hesitate with Anna is because of who she is.”

  Andrew didn’t know what to say. Ena was right, of course. His own words to Anna came back to him. Nay, ye’ve got it backwards. Da threw ye in the dungeon because of yer name. Ye saved Davy because of who ye are. There’s a huge difference. We love ye because of who ye are, in spite of yer name. After all this he still continued to think of her as Anna MacKay, a guest and an outsider, rather than the woman who would become Lady MacLeod.

  Their father sighed. “We didn’t intend to insult her. I truly didn’t want her overworked and she is so very good with Davy. Not to mention she…ah…encouraged Andrew to spend more time with him too.”

  Ena smiled. “Did she? Well, good for her. Don’t underestimate her—she will be able to manage both Davy and a household. Most noble women do.”

  Dougal nodded. “Aye, ye’re right, sweetling.”

  “So, I’ll get no arguments from ye on this? Either of ye?” She glared at Andrew.

  Andrew put up his hands. “No arguments.”

  ~ * ~

  Since Anna had not been allowed to do anything but mind Davy, once Andrew started paying more attention to the lad, she had even less to occupy her time. She often retreated to her solar alone to do needlework. Frankly, she was thankful for the hours she was able to spend in seclusion. When she was with the MacLeods, particularly Davy, she worked to maintain a pleasant, happy demeanor, but it wasn’t always easy. As each hour passed, she dreaded her wedding more and more. The days and years that seemed to stretch out before her promised to be dismally empty. When she was alone, she didn’t have to pretend a cheerfulness she didn’t feel.

  She had retreated into this solitude the previous evening when Davy burst in with news that the Chisholms had arrived. She had no time to compose herself before he had pulled her down the stairs and across the hall towards his Aunt Ena.

  Ena Chisholm had blond hair and blue eyes just like all of Dougal’s children, and while she was taller than Anna, she was dwarfed by the tall, bearded warrior beside her. He had long dark hair that was beginning to show some gray at the temples. This must be Fearghas Chisholm, Laird Chisholm’s heir, and he was every bit as frightening as Graham had said.

  Even though Ena was only thirteen years older than Anna, when Ena had embraced her, it felt like she imagined a mother’s embrace would. And for a moment Anna had the profound sense that everything would be all right.

  Before she had been fully aware of what was happening, she was at the table, and surrounded by Chisholms. Ena pulled her into conversation and some of the strain she had been feeling began to ease. She was floored when the meal was over and Ena simply included her in the plans for the next day. Frankly, Ena she left Anna a little in awe.

  When Anna had awakened this morning, for the first time since that fateful trip to the strait, she was excited about what the day would bring. That was until Andrew interfered. So crestfallen was she that she found herself blinking back tears at the thought of another day locked away in her solar. But to her surprise Ena appeared ready to do battle with him, all but dragging him from the hall.

  Fearghas Chisholm’s rumbling chuckle drew Anna’s attention. He flashed her a huge smile. “Anna, pet, ye have a new champion, and yer betrothed is about to be eviscerated by her.”

  “What do ye mean?”

  “Ena is not overly happy that her da and brothers are not letting ye assume the role ye deserve in the clan, and when Ena isn’t happy, there’s no one happy.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Fearghas laughed richly. “There’s no need for ye to be sorry—they deserve it. Frankly, it’s only fair that Dougal get a taste of her wrath once in a while. After all, he raised her.”

  Anna smiled at him but was still worried. When Ena reappeared in the hall she looked completely unruffled. “Well now, Anna, shall we find Brenda?�
��

  Fearghas laughed until tears rolled down his cheeks. “Aye. Go,” he said between chuckles. “I’ll tend the wounded if she left any survivors.”

  Ena snorted in a most unladylike fashion. “My husband exaggerates. I was just helping them recognize a minor error in judgement.”

  Anna smiled, but didn’t know what to say, so she just followed Ena.

  The morning sped past. Ena directed work subtlety, deferring often to Anna. It wasn’t long before the MacLeod women turned first to Anna for a decision on something. By time for the midday meal, Anna realized she wasn’t having to force her cheerfulness and she certainly didn’t feel isolated.

  ~ * ~

  Andrew went fishing with Fearghas, Fearghas’ squire Tadhg, Davy, Graham and several guardsman. He didn’t see Anna until the midday meal and wanted to sit with her to find out how things were going. He had hoped his sister was right—that the staff would accept Anna’s leadership, but he wasn’t completely sure. He would feel awful if they did anything to hurt Anna. However, once again Ena pulled Anna into a seat near her family and well away from him. After the meal they disappeared again.

  He frowned, thinking maybe he would follow them, just to be sure all was well. But as he rose from the table his father called. “Andrew, come to my solar. I want to go over some accounts.”

  Andrew sighed. He would seek Anna out later.

  He followed his father to the solar, but before long they were interrupted by Colin.

  “Laird, two Morrison guardsmen have arrived and wish to speak with ye.”

  Dougal frowned. “Show them in.”

  Two older men stepped into the solar and bowed. “Good afternoon, Laird MacLeod. My name is Gordon and this is Conan,” he gestured to the other guardsman, a fearsome looking warrior with a scarred face. “We bring a message from Laird Morrison.”

  “Laird Morrison sent guardsmen to deliver a message?” asked Laird MacLeod.

  Gordon nodded. “I fear we bring distressing news from Laird Morrison. He suffered an apoplexy two evenings ago. He still lives but cannot move the right side of his body. He fears he may die soon and would like to see his sons. We have come to escort Darach home.”