by Jennae Vale
Lettie released her, but stayed close. “My girls will go get the plants she needs. Ye should go be with Rory while they search.” She looked to her daughters. “Isla, Merry take the list and go find what the woman needs.
The girls did as their mother said and Aisla returned to Rory’s side.
Lettie Mackall returned to her seat. “Come, let’s all sit again and visit with each other. ’Twill make the time go by more quickly.”
Logan was amazed at how Lettie was handling this. It was obvious that she was the matriarch of the family and was used to keeping things under control at Dunaill. As they visited, Nick’s brothers Duncan, Aidan and Lockie joined them. Lettie introduced them to Logan and Sara.
“How is Rory?” Lockie asked.
“Yer brother is quite ill,” she said. “He is being attended to right now by two kind people who have come a long way to see him.”
Solemn faces gazed back at their mother on hearing this news.
“Will he live?” Lockie asked.
“We must have hope,” Lettie answered, taking his hand.
Isla and Merry returned with the plants Edna needed. She’d requested several - dandelion, red clover, stinging nettle and burdock root to name a few.
“Thank ye,” she said. “Please stay. Yer positive energy will help me.”
Using a mortar and pestle she found by the bed, Edna cleaned it out, making sure no residue of the oleander was left in it. Then she carefully ground up the plants into a poultice which she placed directly on Rory’s wound.
Aisla held tightly to Rory’s hand as she sat next to him on the bed.
“These plants are to draw the toxins from his body.” She placed her hand over the poultice and the wound and began to chant. It was an incantation that would have been unrecognizable to the others, but for Edna, it was the perfect spell for the occasion. She repeated it over and over, occasionally removing and replacing the poultice, which she threw into the fire, causing it to flare and spark. The others appeared silently mesmerized by her ritual and well they should be, by witnessing Edna’s work, they were adding their own healing thoughts into her spell and that was exactly what Rory needed.
Long minutes passed and well into the second hour Rory gasped and finally opened his eyes. He gazed around the room at them and a smile lit his eyes. “Why are ye all here? Why do ye stare?”
His sisters shrieked with joy and hugged each other. “How do ye feel, Rory?” Edna asked.
“Perfectly fine, why do ye ask?” He seemed unaware of his circumstance.
“Ye havenae been perfectly fine for some time now,” Edna said. She turned to the sisters. “Would one of ye be so kind as to go get the others.”
“Aye,” Merry said. “I’ll go.” She ran from the room and they could hear her receding footsteps all the way to the stairs and down.
“Aisla, have ye been here the whole time?” Rory asked
“Nae, love. Only a few days. Are ye well, then?”
“Aye. I’ve never felt better,” he said.
She held his hand to her mouth, kissing it as happy tears ran down her cheeks.
Rory sat up in the bed and pulled her close. “Don’t cry, love.” He cradled her head against his shoulder. Isla hurried to the other side of the bed and leaned in to kiss his cheek. “We thought we were going to lose ye.”
“It would take much more to ever get me to leave ye,” he said.
“Yer will to live is as much responsible fer saving yer life as is Edna Campbell. Everyone did their part to help, but ye were the most important piece of the puzzle,” Dr. Ferguson added.
The door opened and a rush of people entered. First was Lettie Mackall, then Nick and Kat, then Logan and Sara and finally Merry and the brothers. They all crowded around the bed wanting to see for themselves that he was well.
“Wow!” Sara exclaimed. “Compared to just a short time ago, it’s like you were never sick.”
“How do ye feel?” Nick asked the question on everyone’s mind.
“Fine, I’d like to get up and come downstairs, if that would be alright,” he said.
“I think it would be fine. If ye feel at all weak, please tell us,” Edna said.
“What are ye all waiting fer? I cannae get dressed while yer all standing there gaping at me,” Rory laughed and there was no more wonderful sound to the group gathered there.
The door opened and everyone began filing out. When Aisla got up to leave, Edna heard him say, “Nae, lass. Please stay. I dinnae wish you to be far from me.” Aisla sat back down and Rory took her hand. “I love ye, Aisla. I’ll never leave ye again.”
Edna smiled, knowing that by meddling in Rory and Aisla’s lives, she successfully helped Sara and Logan. She wasn’t sure she’d call that part of it meddling, but she was very pleased with herself.
The great hall was filled with the Mackalls and their guests. Everyone waited patiently for Rory and Aisla to make their entrance.
Sara was so excited by this turn of events that she had to control the urge to jump on Logan, who seemed overjoyed at what he’d just witnessed. He hadn’t been able to stop stroking her hair and her face. The elation she saw told her he loved her and she had no reason to doubt him.
“Sara, thank you,” Logan said, gazing into her eyes.
“For what?” she asked.
“For knowing the right thing to do and doing it. If it werenae fer ye, Rory would never have known about Aisla or the babe and he may nae have lived. And if it werenae fer ye, I would have lived me life without ye.”
His words touched her deeply. She didn’t know what to say, she did it because she loved him and there was no way she was going back home without having tried everything she could think of first. “Well, I did what I had to do.”
“I’m verra happy ye did, lass.” He crushed her to him and when she gazed up at him he took that opportunity to place a sweet, soft kiss on her lips.
Aisla and Rory entered the hall to cheers from all gathered there.
“I have an announcement to make,” Rory said once they had stopped. “Aisla and I are to wed.” Aisla looked over to Logan and smiled. Logan was so happy for her, she looked to be at peace. As though all of her wishes had just come true.
“Congratulations, brother,” Nick said, slapping Rory on the back. “And congratulations to our new sister.”
The other Mackall brothers raised their quaichs in a toast. “To yer good health and to our new sister. Welcome to the family.”
“Aisla would like to wait fer her Da to join us,” Rory said.
“Of course, my dear sister,” Nick said as he took Aisla’s hand and bowed to kiss it. “I shall send a messenger to Breaghacraig within the hour.” Aisla thanked him. And then she was swept up into hugs by her new sisters.
“Of course, in the meantime, we’ll plan the feast,” Lettie said, turning to face her guests. “We’d be happy to have ye join us for the celebration. Yer welcome to stay fer as long as ye like.”
“Thank ye. ’Tis most kind of ye,” Edna replied.
“Ye saved me son, I cannae thank ye enough, Edna. If I could give ye the moon and the stars, I would.” Lettie went to Edna and hugged her for a good long time.
Sara was feeling quite emotional and found she had tears in her eyes, she was so happy for this family and for Aisla.
Finally, back in their room and wrapped in each other’s arms, Sara’s thoughts were a jumble. She’d done it. She’d done what she set out to do and now here she lay in the arms of her love, a testament to the power of her determination.
They were quiet for a while, simply being together was enough for them and they both seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. Sara thought of Aisla swept into the loving arms of her new family. She looked so happy and so overwhelmed at the same time. Aisla had a new home. She had Rory and baby. She had brothers and sisters now, and her child would grow up surrounded by people that loved him. Or her.
She thought about her own childhood. Her brother that she l
eft behind and felt that ache again. She missed him. She wondered if he was worried about her. She had been gone for weeks without checking in and she wondered if he had called in the cavalry to look for her. Edna hadn’t said anything, but she hoped that somehow Zeke knew she was safe. Logan could be her family.
“We’ll be going home to Breaghacraig soon. Are ye happy, lass?”
Still lost in her thoughts, Sara didn’t answer right away. Home. Family. It suddenly occurred to her that she had no idea if Logan had a brother. She didn’t really know anything about him, his childhood. How did she get this deep without knowing the basics?
“Sara?”
“Yes.”
“Are ye happy or did ye you nae hear me?”
“I’m sorry, I was just thinking.”
“’Twas a simple question. Are ye happy?” He seemed afraid of what her answer might be.
“Of course, I’m happy,” she said, shifting in his arms and turning slightly to look into his eyes.
“So, what were ye thinking of?”
“Nothing. Just stuff.”
Logan tipped his head and cocked an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“Logan, tell me about your family,” she said.
“There’s nae much to tell,” he answered.
“Have you always lived at Breaghacraig?”
“I was born at Castle Treun, where Dougall MacRae’s father is laird. When I was about eleven or twelve, Dougall and I went to live at Breaghacraig. Aisla and her Da also lived with the MacRaes and decided to move on at the same time. So, the three of us, Dougall, Aisla and I became the best of friends.”
“Why did you move to Breaghacraig? Did your family move there too?”
“Nae. Me family stayed with the MacRaes. Both Dougall and I were fostered out to the MacKenzies. ’Tis a tradition among families here to send their children to live and work with other families.”
“I’ve read about that. Was it hard for you to leave home?” Sara couldn’t imagine being a child and being sent away from your parents to live with strangers.
“It was, but ’twas also an exciting adventure. The MacKenzies are a good clan and they treated us well. ’Tis nae always the case with fostering, so I considered meself lucky.”
Sara’s thoughts went to her own childhood and how lucky she’d been to have a grandfather to care for her and Zeke. “And what about your family? Your mother and father. Where are they?”
“They’re still with the MacRaes. They work fer the laird. Me ma is the alewife fer the castle and me da is the master huntsman for the MacRaes.”
She had so many questions to ask him. So many things she didn’t know about him. So many questions about what it would mean to live in this time. Her parents had abandoned her and Zeke when they were young, but at least they were with her grandfather. If she and Logan had children here would they expect her to send them off to live with strangers? Is that what Jenna and Ashley were planning to do?
She watched as Logan drifted to sleep, his arms tight around her. She loved him. But she wondered if she could ever feel at home at Breaghacraig. Could she live in the past and leave her brother all alone? The thoughts and fears continued to swirl around in her head until she fell into a fitful sleep.
Chapter 18
Dunaill Castle was busy the next morning. Castle workers scurried about tending to their regular duties and preparing for the wedding that was to take place as soon as Aisla’s Da arrived. Edna and Sara strolled around the courtyard. In the light of day, her fears and worries seemed to dissipate a bit. Life was certainly different than in San Francisco, but she had to admit she felt a certain peace when surrounded by so much beauty. It was a joy to be outside in the sunshine, feeling hopeful for the future. They passed the stables where horses were being groomed and the blacksmith where they were to be shod. Several buildings lined the inside walls of the bailey, each with a specific purpose. The smell of freshly baking bread wafted their way as they passed the kitchen. Their noses led them inside where they complimented the baker on the wonderful aroma that had drawn them in. She was so pleased by their compliment that she rewarded them with two warm rolls to take along on their walk.
“Mmmm… this is delicious,” Sara said, breaking off a piece and placing it in her mouth.
“Very,” Edna agreed. “I’m happy to see that Rory is well on his way to a full recovery. The good doctor has been keeping a close watch on him and we’re both pleased with his progress. I can hardly believe how quickly he’s gotten up on his feet. He has a good appetite and is getting stronger by the minute. Thank goodness ye mentioned oleander, Sara,” Edna said to her as they continued on their way. “It saved his life.”
“Really? I thought you did,” Sara teased.
“It was a group effort, but seriously I may never have thought of it and the good doctor may not have put two and two together and asked to see Fenella.”
“Well, I’m happy to have been of service,” Sara said. “I had good reason to want Rory well again.”
“Yes, you did, but you’re a kindhearted lass and more than anything I think ye wanted yer friend Aisla to have the love she was meant to be with. The fact that it benefited ye was a bonus.”
“You’re right. I would have headed back home, broken hearted and alone so that Logan could marry her if things had turned out differently.”
“How are things with ye and Logan?” Edna tipped her head and raised an eyebrow in Sara’s direction.
“Where do I begin? He’s the most amazing man I’ve ever known. He’s kind, generous, honorable and loyal.” She got an impish look in her eye. “And he’s a pretty good kisser, too.”
Edna laughed heartily. “Sara, I’m so glad ye convinced me to let ye travel back in time. It just goes to show that I’m nae always right.”
“I’m kind of relentless when I want something. There was no way I would have let you say no.”
“I understand that now. So, are ye staying here in this time, or are ye going back to your own?”
Sara wasn’t sure what to say. Her worries from the night before started swirling again.
“I know, it sounds crazy, but I was pretty preoccupied with other things, as you well know.” Sara latched arms with Edna. “I guess I’m going to have to decide.” She felt a special bond with Edna. There was something very maternal about her and Sara welcomed it with open arms. She needed a mother and she’d be happy to have Edna fill that role.
“Ye can return when I do, if ye like. Give it some thought. Living here, as ye’ve seen, isnae like yer life in San Francisco.”
“I know. I like it here. I don’t know if Logan would go back with me, or if I even want to go back.” Just saying the words made her realize that if Logan didn’t want to go back, there was no way she would leave him behind. But that would mean…
“What about Zeke?” Edna asked.
Sara’s heart ached for her brother. “I’d miss him terribly.” He was her only family and she couldn’t imagine him not being in her life ever again. “He needs to find someone to love. Helene broke his heart and he hasn’t been the same since. If I thought he’d find someone and be happy, then it would make my decision so much easier. I love my brother so much. For a long time, it has been just the two of us. All we had was each other.”
“I can tell ye that I’m quite sure he’ll find love soon, but I cannae tell ye anything else about it.”
“Because you don’t want to?” she teased.
“Nae. Not at all. I dinnae ken how it will work out yet.” Sara felt the tightness around her heart loosen a bit. If Edna said that Zeke would find love, she was certain it would come true. It must be so fun to picture two people together and figure out they will fall in love. Sara decided to try a bit of matchmaking herself.
“You know who else needs love?”
“I’m sure ye’ll tell me,” Edna chuckled.
“Hamish. He’s so sweet and nice. He needs some love in his life.” Sara was really turning on the sales
pitch. Hamish had been so kind to her, she just wanted to see him happy.
“Does he now? Ye’ve been quite busy thinking about everyone else’s love but yer own.”
“Oh, no. I’ve done nothing but think about my own.” They completed their circuit around the courtyard and started another.
“Sara, I’m so happy ye came to The Thistle & Hive. I like ye. Ye remind me of me in certain ways.”
“And what might those be?”
“Yer stubborn, determined…” Edna laughed at what she was about to say, “Smart, generous, wise… I don’t have a big head, really I don’t.”
Sara couldn’t help but join in her laughter. “Hey, no reason to be embarrassed by the truth.”
“There ye go. Another reason I like ye. Ye know who ye are and ye dinnae apologize fer it.” Her eyes sparkled with joy.
“I wish I had a mother like you, Edna.” Sara sighed. She thought of Aisla, and all that she had faced without a mother around to help her. Now she had Lettie and sisters, and even brothers around her as she started a new life here at Dunaill.
“’Tis verra sweet of ye, love. I’m sure yer own mother had some of these verra qualities we’re speaking of.”
“Not really. Maybe she did when she was growing up, but something happened to her. I think it was my father. They deserted me and Zeke. They left us with my grandfather, which was probably the best thing they’d ever done for us.” That familiar ache she had every time she thought of her grandfather returned.
“Ye loved him.” It was a simple statement, but it hit home.
“Very much. I miss him so much.” Sara found herself getting teary eyed at the thought of him. “He meant the world to me.”
Edna pulled a hankie from her pocket, handing it to Sara. “He’s still with you, Sara. He always will be.”
“I like to think he is and that he hears me when I talk to him.” Sara was a bit embarrassed to tell anyone she spoke with her dead grandfather. “You don’t think that’s weird, do you?”
