Chapter 10
Elle awoke to total darkness. Not an ember remained in the hearth and she was happy about it. Despite the fact that she was chilled to the bone, the eerie howling of the wind as it came down the flue reminded her that any embers would have been blown into the room, possibly causing a fire.
She lay perfectly still, listening to the sounds of mother nature having her way with the castle and surrounding area.
The sound of waves crashing on the rocks mimicked the sound of dump trucks unloading tons of rock every few minutes.
She sat bolt upright as a crashing sound came from the window along with a very faint light.
She crept from her bed, careful not to trip in the darkness.
“There’s a candle around here somewhere,” she said.
Groping around, she found a table in the dark.
Running her hand across the top, her fingers brushed against a candle.
“Yes!” Her excitement was short lived, however, since she had no idea how to light it.
She continued creeping along until she came to the door, which she cracked open.
Light from the passageway shined into her room so she could see that the shutters on the window had blown open.
Reaching up, she lit the candle on one of the torches and, cupping her hand around it, made her way back into her darkened room to fix the shutters.
As she stood at the window struggling with the shutters, something caught her eye in the courtyard.
There was movement by the stables. She strained her eyes to see what was happening.
She could make out three people and two horses.
The smaller of the three was gesturing to the gates.
The other two climbed atop their horses.
She put a hand to her lips as she realized one of them was Hamish.
They bolted off through the gates. Lightning lit the sky and she saw the person left behind was a woman.
She wondered what was going on. Why would Hamish be heading out in the midst of a terrible storm?
He was putting himself in danger for some reason and she had to know why.
She wrapped her cloak tightly around herself and headed downstairs.
At the castle doors, she hesitated. She couldn’t stop Hamish, so what was her goal?
Hamish was her friend. It was totally normal to worry about a friend.
Yes. That was it. Hamish was just a normal friend and she was having a normal friend reaction.
Maybe she could find out who the woman was and why she’d sent him off in the rain.
Opening the large, heavy door she stepped into the courtyard, where she was met by a gust of wind that took her breath away. She turned away from it until it passed. Turning back she saw the woman was headed directly towards her.
“Why are ye out here, lass? Ye’ll catch yer death,” the woman said.
Elle hadn’t met this woman and so she had no idea who she was speaking with.
“I wanted to see where Hamish went.”
“I’ve sent him off to find one of me kitchen lasses. Come, let’s go back inside.” She brushed past Elle and through the doors.
Elle followed the woman inside. She grabbed a torch from the wall, “Follow me. Ye look cold.”
“Who are you?” Elle asked, feeling unsure about whether she should blindly follow this woman.
“Me name’s Mary.” She bustled along down the passageway, Elle following along behind.
“Oh, Mary! I know who you are now. I’ve heard the others speak of you.”
“All good, I hope,” she called back over her shoulder.
“Yes. No worries there.”
“And you’d be?” Mary asked.
“Elle Carrera.”
“Ah, yes, the singer.”
Elle was taken aback for a moment wondering how this woman knew who she was, but then Mary spoke and she understood.
“I heard ye singing in the great hall. Ye’ve a beautiful voice.” Elle followed her to the kitchen, which was warm, dry and with the addition of the torch, well lit. “Sit. I’ll get ye some tea.”
Elle sat at the large wooden table. The kitchen had a warm, cozy, inviting feel to it. It reminded her of the table at her parents’ ranch. She smiled to herself at the memory of her sister and brothers gathering there as her mother served them hot chocolate and peanut butter toast.
“Well, lass, now tell me why yer up and about and why yer so concerned about Hamish MacBeown.”
“What time is it?” Elle asked, avoiding the question.
“Time? Time for me to get me baking started fer the day. That’s what time ’tis. Nessa was to help me today, but as ye can see, she’s nae here.”
“So that’s who you sent Hamish after.”
“Aye. I was worried. She’s nae one to think of the consequences of her actions. She went off on foot last night after the evening meal.”
“Where’d she go?”
“To her Mum’s I imagine. She was concerned about her being alone in this storm.” Mary put her cloak on a hook by the door and ran a cloth over her face, which was wet from the sideways rain she’d been pelted with.
“Hamish knows where that is?” Elle tried to keep the worry out of her voice.
“Of course he does, lass. Everyone here at Breaghacraig knows everything there is to know about everyone else.”
Again, she was reminded of life on the ranch. Her neighbors were the eyes and ears of her parents when the kids were out and about in town. They learned early on to behave themselves or they’d pay the price when they got home.
“Dinnae worry yer head about Hamish. He’s a strong man who knows how to take care of himself and those in his charge.”
“I know, I wasn’t really worried. Some things can be out of his control though, don’t you think.”
“Aye, but why worry about things that havenae happened?”
She was right. Elle would think positive thoughts for Hamish. He’d be fine. She sipped her tea. “This is good. Just what I needed.”
“Ye didnae tell me why yer up at this hour,” Mary said, pouring herself some tea.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was cold and my shutters flew open. I got up to fix them when I saw you all in the courtyard.”
“Stay and keep me company as long as ye like. ’Tis warm here. Are ye hungry? Would ye care fer something to eat.”
“No. I’m good with the tea, thank you.”
“As ye wish. I’ve got to get to work,” Mary said.
“I can help,” Elle said.
Mary gave her an appraising, but skeptical look. “Lass, I ken ye can sing, but I dinnae believe ye’ve the muscles to knead dough.” Mary winked at her.
“I’ll prove it to you,” Elle said, standing and joining Mary. She enjoyed a good challenge and proving herself capable was its own reward. “I’ve done my fair share of heavy work. I used to lift some pretty hefty bales of hay along with my brothers.”
“Here ye go then,” Mary tossed a lump of dough in her direction.
Elle got right to work, kneading away as Mary watched.
“And just where did ye learn to knead dough?” Mary asked.
“I’ve helped my mother in the kitchen since I was a little girl. She always makes her own bread.”
The two women worked together until a soaking wet Nessa, followed by Hamish and Donal burst into the kitchen.
“Where’d ye find her?” Mary asked, eyeing Nessa.
“On her way here,” Hamish said, his hair dripping water down his chest and into his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mary. I tried me best to get here, I did, but the wind kept blowing me back. Thank ye fer sending me Hamish to retrieve me.” She gazed wide-eyed up at Hamish, who closed his eyes, throwing his head back in disbelief. “If he’d nae come fer me, I fear I would have drowned where I stood.”
Hamish gazed at Elle, who couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled forth from her lips.
“And what do ye find so funny?” Nessa directed her anger at Elle.
“Not a thing,” Elle said, going back to kneading the dough.
“Thank ye fer ye help, lass. Nessa’s here now. She can take over.”
“It was my pleasure, Mary. Thank you for the tea.” Elle dusted off her hands and brushed past the men as she went through the doorway.
Hamish grabbed her arm before she could get away. “Elle, ye ken she means nothing to me.”
“I know,” she said, glancing down at his hand on her arm.
He let her go.
“I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried about you.” She turned and walked away back to her room.
***
“She was worried about ye,” Donal teased as they walked down the passageway.
Hamish shoved him aside.
“That’s good, isnae it?” Donal pressed.
“Aye. I imagine it is, but I dinnae believe it has changed a thing.”
“I’m sorry, me friend. I wish there was something I could do to help.”
“Ye’ve nae done a good job of keeping Nessa occupied.”
“I’ve done me best, but she’s a single-minded lass. ’Tis ye she’s decided she wants.”
“I dinnae believe that.”
“Why else would she turn down a night being loved by me?”
“’Tis a good question. Mayhap ye ken the answer,” Hamish said, knowing it would get under Donal’s skin.
“Och! Are ye questioning me skills with the lassies?”
It was working, he was gaining the upper hand on his friend. Hamish chuckled as he pulled open the door that led to the courtyard. The rain was coming down in sheets. He glanced at Donal. “Shall we?”
“Aye.”
The two men ran as fast as they could to the soldiers’ quarters. Their speed was of no use. They were soaked to the bone when they made it through the doors.
“I’m going back to bed,” Hamish said.
“Nessa has robbed us of a good night’s sleep and nae fer good reason,” Donal said, brushing the water off of his plaid.
“Wake me when ’tis time for patrol,” Hamish muttered.
He walked to his chambers and closed the door behind him. There was some satisfaction in knowing that Elle had been concerned for him. He would hold that close to his heart, hoping that it was more than just the concern one would have for a good friend.
***