A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1)

by Taylor, Brenda B.

  Andrew knew he caused Maidie to be uncomfortable, but could not help watching her. She tried not to meet his gaze, looking around the chamber and letting her eyes rest on his armor and weapons now repaired and hanging across racks in the corner. The blacksmith had repaired the chainmail where the battleax cut through.

  Their eyes met. His heart raced when her plump pink lips turned up in a smile. The sunlight struck her hair in such a way that strands of burnished gold shone among the locks hanging from under the Munro kertch and about her slender shoulders. Little wonder his brother seemed captivated by her loveliness.

  Andrew determined to keep his emotions and desires under control. He had managed to escape several romantic entanglements in the past five years since Tara left, and he aimed for things to stay such. Never again would a woman capture his heart only to break it into a thousand pieces like Tara Fraser had broken his.

  A knock sounded. Colin walked across the chamber to open the door, but it opened before he lifted the latch. Davina walked in with Tavish following. The warrior carried Maidie’s precious jar of ointment and a roll of white linen cloth, torn into strips for bandages. Davina went to Andrew’s bedside and took his hands.

  “Brother, seeing you so is verra good to my heart.” Davina studied his eyes and face. He smiled. “Are you in great pain?”

  “Nae, Davina. Verra wee amount now,” he lied. Sitting up in the bed caused great pain in his belly, but he would not give in to it.

  She released his hands and patted the stubble on his face. “I’m so glad, Brother, so glad. I’ve come to help Maidie with your bandages.” With a slight frown and pout, she added, “And Colin can take care of that stubble. Your heavy beard looks more sinister than ever.”

  Andrew addressed Maidie, “My sister likes clean shaven lads. No beards around her.”

  “Gavin said our father was always clean-shaven while our mither lived. Mither said she could read his expressions better. ‘Tis why Gavin stays clean of beard.”

  “I thought, dear Davina, you could always decipher what I’m thinking by the expression in my eyes, and our father had a heavy beard.” Andrew teased.

  “He grew one only after Mither died. I need both your face and your eyes to stay one step ahead of you, Black Falcon of Ferindonald.” She took her brother’s hand and placed a tender kiss on the back of it. “Just get up and around soon. I miss you.”

  “Aye, Davina. I’m trying with all my might. Now change my bandages and let me rest.” He couldn’t help letting fatigue sound in his voice, but now that he could think, concern for his men rose to plague him. “How do the other lads fair?”

  “They were taken to their homes and most are mending well,” his sister answered.

  “And Randal? How goes it with the lad? I was wounded trying to save him from a Cameron battleax, after a MacKenzie sword sent him to the ground.” Andrew winced at the pain when thinking about the ax meant for Randal’s head coming instead to his stomach, breaking through the chainmail, and cutting a gash across his abdomen before Gavin made a quick thrust with his claymore into the Cameron’s back.

  Davina didn’t answer but continued to search his eyes. He saw pain in the depths of her deep brown orbs. “Davina, how fairs Randal?”

  His sister took one of his hands again, and held it tightly. He knew the answer before she spoke.

  “He died, my brother. Not long after he was brought into Fàrdach Castle.” She kissed his fingers. “I’m so verra sorry.”

  “So am I, Sister, so am I,” Andrew managed. Thoughts of the young warrior filled his mind. Randal was brave and loyal. He always fought hard, giving his best to any assigned task. Newly married, he and Anne were expecting their first bairn.

  “Davina,” Andrew took his hand from hers. “Tell Gavin to bring Anne into the castle this day. She can help Nellie. Anne and the bairn will lack for naught.”

  A smile brightened Davina’s face. “I shall, Brother. Thank you. I’ll find him soon as I help with your bandages.”

  Andrew looked at Maidie who stood quietly between Seumas and Tavish. “No need to stay. Madam Munro has plenty of help.”

  Davina kissed Andrew’s cheek and then turned to leave. She stopped in front of Maidie. “Take care you treat my brother kindly.”

  Maidie curtsied, “Yes, M’Lady.”

  After Davina left, Maidie, Tavish, and Seumas gathered around Andrew’s bed. He hated the thought of anyone touching the wound, but it needed the healer’s attention if he wanted to get up and around soon. He would relax, if possible, and enjoy her tender touch. She cut the old bandages with a dirk. Tavish pushed Andrew forward to take the bandages from his back. White heat flashed through his belly. The wound had an angry red look about it. Maidie shook her head but said nothing, then took plantain salve from a small jar, and with long graceful fingers spread it over the stitching. The ointment stung like a thousand bees, but soon the stinging subsided. A feeling of winter ice took its place. Angus had never treated any of Andrew’s wounds with such a potion. The physician’s treatments usually hurt worse than the injury.

  Tavish pushed Andrew forward once more while Seumas and Maidie wound a new bandage around his middle, then Tavish pushed Andrew’s chest back against the pillows.

  “Tavish,” Andrew said to the warrior. “You aren’t the most gentle of helpers.”

  A look of angst crossed the lad’s face. “Sorry I hurt you, M’Laird.” Tavish bowed his head and then backed away from the bed.

  “Dinna fash yourself, lad. Thank you for helping the lady.” Andrew shifted and then winced with pain. “Do you ken your duties in watching Madam Munro? Did the tanist tell you what they are?”

  “Yes, M’Laird. He did. I’m to stay with her and stand guard at her door while she is in Fàrdach Castle.” A smile crossed the young warrior’s face.

  Maidie cut the bandage from the roll. “I dinna need such watching, and I’ll be returning to my home today.” She looked at Andrew with deep blue eyes, now darkened with ire. “I’m needed in the village to care for the wounded. I should replenish the supplies of my lost bag.”

  For some unknown reason, Andrew disliked the idea of the lass leaving the castle. He enjoyed her soothing touch and desired more of the feel of her hands on his body. Has the injury to his belly affected his head? He couldn’t let himself get attached to this woman. She only cared for his wound. Mayhap letting Angus tend him would solve a lot of the difficulty now plaguing the castle and get his thinking back on the right track.

  “Fine, then. Return to your home today, but Tavish goes with you. I’ll send food and supplies for three. Tavish will be your boarder for awhile.” Andrew spoke more gruffly than he wished to the healer, but she tested his patience, always going against his authority.

  “Yes, M’Laird. Thank you. I’ll make Sven and me ready to leave this day.” Maidie turned to pick up the salve from the table.

  “Leave the salve. Colin will see it doesn’t come up missing, and I wish for Angus to use it on the wound.” Saints above, Andrew hated to have Angus treat him again.

  “You wanna require my service, M’Laird? I can come often and check on your healing.”

  “No need. The castle physician will tend me,” he answered in a voice deep with emotion. He coughed, sending white-hot irons shooting through his belly, but he didn’t want the woman to see him full of angst over her leaving.

  Maidie rushed back to the bedside. “Are you good, M’Laird?”

  “Aye. Leave and ready yourself and your son to return home,” he said with a wave of his hand, and then addressed Colin, “bring me some soup from the kitchen. I feel hungry.” His stomach growled for the first time since he had been injured. A good sign.

  Colin left the chamber behind Maidie, Seumas, and Tavish. Andrew stared out of the window beside his bed. A bird sang from the parapet not far away. He needed to be out among his men, riding Scara through his lands, surveying the runrigs, visiting with the tenants, and tending the business of the barony. He h
ated being cooped up inside, depending on others for his care and sustenance, looking at naught but stone walls and bed curtains. Determination flooded his being. Wound or no, he would be out of this bed on the morrow.

  Chapter Seven

  The tanist and his sister visited with Maidie the night after she left the castle. Gavin and Davina stayed for a while, told her of Andrew’s progress, and looked around her small cabin without drinking the ale she offered. Gavin asked about Tavish’s sleeping arrangements. Maidie explained she felt more comfortable with Tavish sleeping in the byre.

  “How can the mon keep watch over you and the lad if he’s in the byre?” Gavin asked with a cutting edge to his voice.

  “He’s close enough, Sir Gavin, to hear my call if I need him,” Maidie explained.

  Gavin shook his head. Davina smiled. “I agree with Maidie. Tavish should not sleep in the same room with an unmarried lass. She’s safe enough, Brother. Let the arrangement be.”

  Gavin gave his sister a hard look, then caught her by the arm and pulled her from the chair. “Time we get back. Night is upon us, and the enemy may be about.”

  Davina jerked her arm away from her brother’s grasp, gave him a scowl, and left without a word. Maidie and Sven followed the pair to the door and watched them ride away. Maidie observed Flora standing in the doorway of her cottage watching Gavin and Davina ride toward the castle. Flora turned toward her, went inside the cottage, then slammed the door shut.

  The morning after Gavin’s visit, at the first light of dawn, Maidie awoke with the sound of hoof falls and wagon wheels. A loud knock sounded on the door. She popped out of bed, slipped on a pair of shoes, and flung her arisaid over her nightdress.

  Sven, rubbing his eyes, peeped from behind the curtains of his box bed. “Whose at the door, Mam?”

  “I dinna ken. Wait in your bed while I see who knocks this time of the morn.” Maidie opened the door with caution.

  One of the luchd-taighe from the castle stood at the door holding the reins of a horse, another drove an ox cart loaded with blankets and food supplies. “I’ve brought these things for you, Madam, and this horse for Tavish. A wagon of hay for the horse and your cow follows.”

  Tavish appeared around the corner of the cottage. “Hello, Erskin. What have you here?”

  Erskin handed the horse’s reins to Tavish. “’Tis for you, Tavish. Sir Gavin says the steed replaces the one you lost in battle.”

  Tavish took the reins and patted the neck of the animal. “He’s magnificent. He more than replaces the horse I lost.”

  “Hay for the animals is on its way, and these are provisions for you and the lady.”

  “Tell the chief and tanist I thank them verra much.” The warrior pressed his head against the stallion’s broad neck, visibly moved by the kind gesture of his chief. The horse neighed and stomped a hoof in approval of Tavish’s display of affection.

  Maidie smiled. What a nice gesture from Gavin and his brother. She wondered how the chief’s wound healed and if Angus gave him proper treatment. Surely, Andrew would not stand for the bleeding again. If he did allow Angus to have his way, the physician would bleed the chief to his verra death. Maidie cringed at the thought of Andrew dying.

  She put her mind to work on an excuse to visit the castle. In the meanwhile, she must go to Maighstir Tam at the abbey and ask his permission to use some of the herbs from the abbey’s garden to replenish her healing salves and ointments. Sven needed to continue his lessons under the maighstir also. The good priest was teaching her son to read and write, and she so appreciated his time and effort in Sven’s instructions.

  Sven stood beside Tavish admiring the fine destrier, while the two castle servants unloaded the supplies, stacking them inside the small cottage. Maidie told the men she would arrange places for storage later. Tavish led his horse to the byre with Sven following closely behind. Her son seemed captivated by horses of a sudden. Or mayhap she had not noticed his interest before now. She didn’t like this new turn in Sven’s attention to horses, swords, and fighting. She decided to take him along when she cared for the sick. The lad should develop an interest in tending the wounded and ill, if he is to study medicine on the continent.

  Maidie graciously thanked the servants before they left, then went about arranging the needed supplies of food in the storage areas of the kitchen. She gathered up two of the four bright woolen blankets for Tavish then headed out of the back door. She would take one and give Sven one for his bed. The cold Highland winter would soon come upon them, and the extra blankets were welcome.

  “My, how do you rate such fine treatment from the chief? With even a castle warrior to sleep close by in your byre?”

  Maidie turned toward the voice. Flora stood at the stone fence enclosing the garden. A smirk etched across her friend’s face.

  “Hello, Flora. How are you and Phillip this fine morn?” Maidie didn’t know how to answer the woman’s question.

  “Never you mind about me. I asked the question of you. My son and me would like some extra food for the winter and fine woolen blankets from the castle looms. Mayhap I could offer some of my services to the chief and receive such favors.” Flora’s voice carried a dark foreboding edge that made Maidie shudder.

  “I’ll be more than willing to share whatever the chief sends to me, Flora.” Maidie could not understand her friend’s attitude. She always shared whatever she had with Flora and Flora with her.

  “Will you share the fine warrior you have sleeping in your byre?” Flora’s lips curled in a menacing snarl.

  “There’s no need for such talk, Flora. I didn’t ask for Tavish to be here. The chief sent him.” Maidie did not want to explain. She didn’t like the idea of having the warrior trailing behind her either. If Flora thought such, then the whole village must think the same.

  “The villagers and myself just dinna understand the fine treatment a Cameron is receiving from our chief, who was almost killed by one. How do you explain to Anne when you see her, about Randal’s death at the hand of your people? You ken Randal’s burial is on the morrow.”

  “Nae.” Maidie shook her head while Flora’s words stung like a thousand bees.

  “Well, best you not attend.” Flora turned then walked away before Maidie could answer. “Come, Phillip,” she called to her son, who talked with Sven and Tavish.

  Maidie stared after Flora. Surely her friends from the village did not blame her for the feud and Randal’s death. Maidie had glimpsed Anne helping Nellie in the great hall. Maidie heard from Davina that Andrew had brought Anne to live within the castle walls, and was relieved the expectant mother would have proper care. Maidie hoped she would be able to tend Anne at the birthing of her bairn, but did Anne feel the same as Flora?

  Maidie made her way to the byre where Tavish and Sven brushed the large bay destrier. The animal’s big eyes caught sight of the bright blankets. He stomped and snorted. Tavish patted the flowing mane. Maidie stood very still. Horses frightened her, especially the huge warhorses of the warriors. “These blankets are for you, Tavish. Are you comfortable here in the byre?”

  “Aye, Madam. I’ve slept in worse places.” The handsome warrior smiled and took the blankets to deposit them on the floor beside his bedroll on a pile of hay.

  “I wish you would go back to the castle. Sven and I will come to no harm.”

  “Nae, Madam. Only when the chief tells me to return. I’m fine here. I enjoy helping you and being with your son.” Tavish continued the brushing.

  “Mam, Tavish’s horse is named Thunder. Tavish said he makes the sound of thunder when he runs. He said I could ride with him one day.” Sven’s voice was filled with excitement.

  Maidie shook her head at Sven. He seemed to love all the things she wanted to keep from him. She asked Tavish, “Do you ken of Randal’s burial on the morrow?”

  “Aye.” He stopped brushing the mighty destrier and turned to her. “I will go with you and Sven.” Tavish looked too pleased with the corners of his mouth t
urning up in a smile.

  “Sven and I will no’ attend the burial.” Maidie turned to leave before Tavish could question her further. She had no desire to explain to the warrior or face the ire of the village. She turned back on second thought. “Sven, stay here and help Tavish brush his horse. I am going to the abbey to talk with Maighstir Tam.”

  “Aye, Mam. I’ll stay to help Tavish.” A grin spread across the young face.

  “Sven and I will go also.” Tavish put the brush on a pile of straw and pushed the hair out of his eyes.

  “Nae. Stay with your horse. I’ll be just fine. I want to be alone,” she insisted.

  “But the chief said...” Tavish began.

  “I said nae, Tavish. I dinna need an escort to the abbey.” She didn’t want to be seen walking about the village with the handsome warrior. Did the chief not care about the wagging tongues who would think the worse about Tavish and her?

  Maidie hurried back to her cottage, grabbed a large basket, her arisaid, tied the Munro kertch over her hair, and then made her way down the street toward the abbey. She passed several cottages. If a neighbor happened to be outside, she lifted her hand to wave, only to be shunned with no return of friendliness. Etta, an old woman who had befriended Maidie and Sven after Kenneth’s death and brought them food on occasion, stopped working in a bed of flowers and went inside her cottage when Maidie called out a greeting. Feelings of hurt and dejection washed over Maidie as she realized her neighbors no longer considered her a friend, but an enemy.

  Kenneth had brought Maidie to the village of Drumainn in the Munro Barony after their marriage seven years before when she was but eighteen. Before the feuding began between Munro and Cameron, the clans were on friendly terms and came together for parleys, gatherings, and celebrations. Kenneth accompanied Chief William Munro to Thor Castle, the seat of Clan Cameron, on one such occasion. Maidie, being the daughter of the Cameron’s youngest brother, had gone with her father to the feast. Kenneth and she immediately fell in love as they danced. He was a dashingly handsome man with bright red hair and green eyes. Her heart melted while she danced in his arms. Kenneth visited her home in Lochaber a month later and asked her father for her hand in marriage. She left the manor house of her father to live in a cottage with Kenneth, but she cherished every minute of their time together.