Her nose registered scents that hadn't been there just a few weeks ago. The strongest scent came from the heather that covered the moor from one end to the other. She took in the freshness of the young pine saplings growing in the forests, and she could detect just the faintest aroma of primrose and mountain avens—spring, her favorite time of the year.
She turned her attention back to her patients and Robbie, whose help had been tremendous during this time.
"Thanks be, the fever has broken on two of our patients. The worst is over for Bridgette and Midge. But Flinn is still burning up. Robbie, run out to the stable and look in the old cupboard in the last stall. That's where I keep extra herbs until I need them. Find the bottle labeled yarrow. I'll make a paste of that and apply it to Flinn's body. Hopefully this will bring her fever down. Go now. Hurry."
The lad fled down the stairs and out the back door. For reasons unknown to Robbie, Willie took off with him, which was surprising. This was the first time the wolf had ever tagged along with him for anything. But he wasn't afraid of Caitlin's wolf anymore. The animal was just as much a member of the family as he was, maybe more so.
At least he's pure bred, not a half-breed like me.
Opening the gate to the last stall, Robbie located the cupboard and combed through the numerous bottles of herbs and liquid mixtures. Each one was properly labeled and tightly corked so nothing dripped. He found the small bottle of yarrow and put it in his pocket, then closed the stable gate behind him.
In one of his early lessons from Alex, he was taught to always close the gate to all stables or pastures or fences. This was a very large sheep farm and keeping sheep in their proper places took effort from all hands.
Turning back toward the lodge, he was startled when Willie let out an ear-shattering howl and went sailing past him. Robbie followed quickly and found himself in the first stall looking down at a body on the ground and an agitated Willie pulling at the hand of the old man lying there.
"Oh, no, no!" Robbie got to his knees.
"Grandda, can you hear me?" He held the old one's head in his lap.
"What's wrong?"
Grandda's eyes remained closed and there was no response to Robbie's words. The lad had no idea what to do. If he called for Caitlin, she'd have to leave the bairns and come through the house, which he knew she didn't want to do. That left only one solution. He'd have to carry Grandda to the lodge. There was no one else around so he took a deep breath and tried to lift his grandfather. Like all the MacKinnon men, even in his old age Grandda was quite a large man.
But so am I. I can do this.
After trying to lift him like he would have carried a child, Robbie finally resorted to laying Grandda over his shoulder as if he were a sack of feed. At this juncture he just wanted to get him inside where Caitlin could check him out. As Robbie struggled to lift Grandda, Willie took off to the lodge, howling as he went.
Caitlin's head snapped up when she heard the howling. Willie only howled when something was wrong. What could be going on? She needed to know, but really didn't want to chance spreading the fever by leaving the room. She'd had no choice but to send Robbie out, but she'd prefer not to leave herself unless it was absolutely necessary.
She listened at the door and knew the moment Willie arrived. She spoke softly to him and then she heard Robbie.
"Caitlin, something's wrong with Grandda! He's unconscious, I think. I don't know what to do. Help me!"
"Be calm, Robbie. Listen to me carefully. Take Daniel and put him in Mam's sewing room. You know which one that is. Take Willie with you and stay with him until I come. I'll be there shortly."
Robbie kicked the door to Mam's sewing room open and Willie rushed in first. Placing his grandda on the bed, he looked about for a blanket. Somehow it seemed the right thing to do. Willie lay down on the floor close to the bed and would remain there until Caitlin gave him leave. Some lessons he had learned a long time ago.
Robbie found a blanket and tucked it around Grandda, then stood, feeling totally useless.
Caitlin hurried through the door and was at Daniel's bedside immediately. She touched her hand to his forehead and completed the head-to-toe assessment she always gave her patients. If the heat she felt coming from him wasn't enough to help her make a diagnosis, the telltale rash on his neck was.
"He's got it too, Scarlet Fever."
"But don't just bairns get that?" Robbie questioned.
"No, I'm afraid not. Adults get it too and for them it can sometimes be even more disastrous. He's quite an old gentleman now and I've learned that the young ones and the old ones have one thing in common—they sometimes have more difficulty fighting off diseases than others. We'll have to be vigilant with him and try to keep the fever down. I'll need you to help me even more now, Robbie.
"Yes, of course. Just tell me what to do."
~ ~ ~
Robbie's only experience helping a sick person was with his mother, Fiona, just recently, and ultimately she had died in spite of all efforts to save her.
Fiona was an exceptionally intelligent woman with a great amount of fortitude. She was her father's only child and he had spent his life making sure she became an educated woman who would leave her mark on the world.
He had been sorely disappointed when she was born, as he had needed a son to carry on his family's linage. They were, after all, one of the oldest families in the realm. In fact, he and the king were distant relatives and close friends.
Lord Robert Wellington brought tutors from several countries to teach Fiona languages, mathematics, science, and art, and had exposed her to some of the greatest minds of the time. She proved to be a quick study in most subjects, and to his surprise had become a beautiful young woman. He shouldn't have been surprised, however, as her mother, Lady Wellington, had been most attractive herself. She had been stricken during one of the many flu epidemics that had spread across Europe and had died when Fiona was just a child.
When Fiona informed Lord Wellington she wished to go to university, he hardly knew what to say.
"Women don't go to university, Fiona."
"But this one will. I know you have great influence and can help get me admitted."
"That would take quite some doing, my dear."
"Yes, I expect it would. But, then you do have a good friend who can make most anything happen. I would suggest you enlist his help."
Lord Wellington looked at his daughter. Yes, she was indeed his daughter...and apparently thought like he did. So, never one to refuse a challenge, he took the matter up with the king.
The most difficult aspect of the request was that Fiona wanted to attend Edinburgh University, not Oxford as he had assumed she would.
Her research had revealed that Edinburgh University was regarded as the best institution of higher learning at the time, with Oxford a very distant second place. Lord Wellington had to step on a number of toes to accomplish the task, but once again, having a royal relative—a most royal relative as it were—paved the way for Fiona to apply at university.
It was not until 1892 that women were actually admitted to the university—and so Fiona was never included in their official enrollment documents. However, having received pressure from the king himself, she was allowed to sit in on classes. It hadn't taken long for her intelligence and abilities to be noticed by her professors, and they made use of these skills for their own purposes. They allowed her to act as a tutor, and that was how Alex came to be acquainted with her. He was taken with her beauty initially, but shortly realized she was more than just beautiful, she was well versed in many subjects. He was enamored with her. She was truly his first love.
He was a bit younger than she, but that didn't seem to be a problem for either of them. Their relationship was tumultuous and hot, and they often argued about the differences between the Brits and the Scots. But the physical side of the relationship was more than satisfying to both of them.
Robbie smiled when he thought about how insistent his mot
her could be. When she had shown up at the Old Tollbooth, the prison in Edinburgh, and demanded she be allowed to visit with the women prisoners, of course the officials refused her, reminding her the women prisoners were kept in a special area of the prison and were not allowed visitors.
The English and Scottish folk were always at odds, but she had spent a lifetime confronting that situation. So when Fiona informed the officials she was the daughter of Lord Wellington, cousin of the king, she eventually gained access.
Though Lord Wellington was British, he was well known throughout Scotland. It was common knowledge he and the king were close friends, and he mingled with both the English and the Scottish aristocracy. It was also known that if he were opposed in any endeavor, those in opposition often disappeared without anyone knowing what had become of them.
Fiona found the conditions in the prison so appalling and hideous she could hardly believe it. She was not a nurse, but she was very adept at listening to the women's woes and often brought them a shard of soap, or a small bit of chocolate or cake if she could sneak it in. Most of all she just gave them an ear, and often read to those who could not read, which was most of them. Even if they could have, there were no books or reading materials of any sort.
It was during one of her visits to the prison that she contracted typhus, a most debilitating and painful disease, one that claims most of its victims.
In her last days, Robbie often sat next to her bed and read to her just as she had to the women in prison. And it was strange, he thought. She didn't want him to read anything new. She wanted him to read from her favorite passages in her novels, or perhaps read a few lines of Shakespeare to her, and she often drifted off to sleep before he could finish his reading. No doubt the medications to ease her pain also made her sleep. In the end she just didn't wake up again.
Now here he was once again called upon to help a sick person, a special old Scot who was his grandda. He had not even known him a few months ago, but today Robbie was very aware that he fervently wanted him to live.
~ ~ ~
Placing her hand once again on each child's forehead and listening to Bridgette's chatter, Caitlin breathed a sign of relief.
"And now my sweet lasses, you may go downstairs. I don't think you'll spread anything to anyone. Go, now. We all need a change of scenery."
Opening the door, she called out. "Millie? Can you come up and relieve me of this bairn who's calling for her mam?" Little Midge was beginning to make a few sounds, and MumMum came out most often. Millie came scurrying up the stairs and held her daughter for the first time in a number of days.
"Oh, Caitlin. I don't know how you did it, but you managed to bring them through this disastrous fever. I was so afraid we'd lose them all."
Robbie reached into the crib and picked Flinn up, holding her close. He'd become quite comfortable with her during these days of helping Caitlin, and he still marveled at having a sister so late in life.
"It was touch and go for a few days, I admit, but perhaps we had a little help from other sources, eh?" She smiled to herself as she took Bridgette's hand and led her downstairs. The child had been ever so quiet during her illness, but before they got to the bottom of the stairs she was calling for Charlie and Dugald.
But, no sooner had the group gathered in the kitchen than Kenny burst through the back door, gasping for breath.
"Caitlin, Millie, I've just come from the Black Isle. Alex sent me down there to see what they're getting for their wool these days. And it's a good price, ye ken?
But what I need to tell ye is there were British soldiers everywhere. There was talk they had captured two Highlanders last week. I'm worried it was Alex and Jack. They talked about one of them having red hair and said he was 'big as a giant.' I couldn't ask any questions, so I come back as quick as I could."
Caitlin motioned him to sit. "Easy, Kenny. Let's not jump to any conclusions. There are many Highlanders with red hair, and most of them are big men, too. But let me talk with Uncle Andrew and we'll figure out what to do. You go on now, go get some rest. That's a long ride from the Black Isle."
Kenny nodded and turned to leave. At the last moment he turned back to Caitlin. "What can we do? Mr. Daniel and Mr. Andrew are too old to go about the country looking for them."
"I agree. But we'll talk with Uncle Andrew. He may have some ideas. He's been through a lot of trials in his time. We'll think of something. Go rest now." The young lad nodded and headed to his cottage.
"Robbie, come with me. We'll talk with Uncle Andrew, see what his thoughts are. Millie can you manage a few minutes? And don't go into Mam's sewing room. The children are all past being contagious, but Da's still running quite a fever."
"Of course. Bridgette can help me make some biscuits. You two go on," Millie responded, taking Flinn from Robbie's arms.
The walk over to Andrew and Camille's cottage was a short one, but before they even got halfway Camille flung the door open and called out to them.
"Oh, Caitlin. I'm so glad you came. Andrew's burning up. It came on so quickly, just this morning. I sent Dugald and Charlie outside and told them to stay in the stable until I came for them. I don't know what to do." Caitlin hurried through the door and went to Andrew's bedside.
"Ah, lass. Looks like I'm not any more immune than Daniel. But we're old ruffians who can withstand most anything. Go on with ye, now. I'll be alright."
"I'm quite sure you will be, Uncle Andrew. Just the same, I'd like you to come to the lodge. We'll put a cot in Da's room and I can tend both of you that way."
"Ah, lass, do ye think that's necessary?"
"Aye. Let's keep this fever contained in one place if we can. Robbie can help you if you can walk a bit."
Andrew nodded to Robbie. "I can walk well enough, but a hand from ye would be appreciated, lad."
"Yessir." Robbie stood next to Andrew and let the old one put his arm around his neck.
"That'll work. Come on then. Let's get to the lodge."
By the time they reached the lodge, Andrew's strength had been totally drained and Robbie had to help him onto the cot. Daniel was awake, but still fevered.
"Andrew? What are ye doing in here? Ye need to go on now, Caitlin says this stuff moves like wildfire."
"Well, I thought I would just keep ye company for a while, Daniel. We've shared a lot of other things, might as well share this fever too."
There was no response from Daniel. He had already drifted off again.
Sometime later, in the wee hours, Andrew called out softly. "Daniel? Ye'll not forget our pact now will ye? It could be important."
Daniel smiled in the darkness. "Nae, Andrew, I won't forget. But I don't think either of us needs to worry about that yet. Caitlin says we're on the mend. She's a fine healer, ye ken?"
"Aye. Then I'll see ye in the morning, eh?"
~ ~ ~
The next morning found Caitlin still working with Uncle Andrew. As soon as Robbie had gotten him onto the cot, Caitlin had given him her undivided attention. As for Daniel, he seemed to have weathered the worst of the fever, but was still in need of care. Andrew was another story. Like Daniel, his advanced age was not in his favor. She continued forcing medications down him, but more often than not they came back up.
"Here, Andrew. Let's try another cool bath, anything to get the fever down a bit."
Unexpectedly, Andrew grabbed her by the front of her blouse and tried to sit up. "Florence? Florence? Where have ye been? I've been looking for ye, lass."
Caitlin eased his hands away and helped him lie back down.
Robbie watched in amazement. "Who's he talking to? Who's Florence?"
"Florence was his wife. She died many years ago."
"Oh. So he's confused, I guess."
"Hallucinations are common with a fever as high as his. We've got to get it down somehow. Let's try the yarrow paste again."
The two of them worked diligently through the day and night, constantly bathing Uncle Andrew and applying paste. But as
the sun crept slowly over the mountain and announced the arrival of a new day, Andrew's death rattle announced his departure.
~ ~ ~
At first light Caitlin went to check on Da once again before she left for the day's event. She met Robbie in the hallway coming from Da's room. Apparently he had visited him also.
She entered quietly. "I believe the worst is over, Daniel. You had me worried there for a while, but you'll recover now, with a lot of rest and some of Millie's delicious food."
"Lass, yer a Godsend to the MacKinnon family. I'm not real sure how Alex managed to convince ye to come with him, but we're awful glad he did. We need ye, lass. And we want ye, too."
"This is where I belong. This is my home and you are my family now.
Daniel gave her a small smile. "And Robbie. The lad waited on me hand and foot. He's a MacKinnon whether he wants to be or not, I say."
"I couldn't have managed without him, Da. Spending so much time with him lately, I realize he's more like Alex than I knew. Rather quiet, but always thinking."
Daniel looked at his daughter-in-law. "I know ye all have a task today, one I wish ye didn't have. Burying a loved one is difficult, particularly when it's one who was as fine as Andrew."
"Yes, he was loved by all of us," Caitlin responded. She nodded and swallowed, finding it difficult to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over.
"Lass, would ye look inside that tin over there, the one where Alice kept her extra buttons and such—that small tin on the window sill?"
Caitlin walked over and picked up the small rectangular tin and handed it to Daniel. He removed the top and searched around inside it for a moment, his fingers finally finding what he was searching for.
"Ah, here it is. Would ye please take this gold crown and put it in Andrew's coat pocket for me?" he asked, handing the coin over to her.
"Of course, Da. But a gold crown? That's very valuable. I don't think Andrew's going to have any use for it."
"Well, ye see, lass, we made a pact some years ago. We agreed whichever one of us went first, the other was to put a gold crown in his pocket before burial."
Highland Bloodline Page 10
