Chapter Eleven #2
Breckin sidled next to her and took her hand. “Take care, lass, because the drop here is steep. This is where Marian died. The torch signifies our mourning of her death.”
“Oh, then it is a sad place for you. Perhaps we should return.” Eva dislodged from his hold and turned to walk back toward the bridge.
Breckin stepped quickly to follow her. As they walked along, he wondered if he should have divulged more about his sister’s death.
But Eva hadn’t asked and he did not want to talk about it.
Marian’s death still hurt deeply and he wondered if there would come a day when he wouldn’t mourn her or feel the intense pain that her passing caused.
“We need to stop at Willa’s because my brother was injured.
I want to see how he fares.” Breckin took hold of her hand again and her touch somewhat lightened him.
It was an odd sensation but he felt the squeeze of her fingers.
Her acceptance brought forth the realization that he needed her—needed her solace, care, and affection.
A warrior should not concern himself with the needs of love, he realized.
It was better to keep himself shielded against such tender-hearted measures.
Breckin did not want to be hurt again and after losing so many who he cared about, like Marian and his parents, he wanted to keep himself from experiencing such sentiments.
At Willa’s cottage, he opened the door for Eva and they entered the crowded, small confines of the healer’s domain. Connor sat on a table with his leg outstretched. Willa plied a needle with string to his leg and sewed up his brother’s wound.
“Oh, Connor, you hurt yourself,” Eva said and rushed to his brother’s side. She pressed a hand on his shoulder and then gripped his chin and lifted it. “We shall take good care of you.”
“How do ye know he’s Connor?” Breckin was astounded that she knew who his brother was by name. Most couldn’t tell his brothers apart.
Eva flashed a wily smile. “Of course, I know he is Connor. Conner has a wider nose than Caden. Caden has a small scar above his eyebrow. Do you mean to say that you cannot tell them apart…your own brothers?” She chuckled.
“Bollocks, most times, nay.” Breckin was dumbfounded that he hadn’t ever made the distinction of differences between his brothers. He rounded the table and stood on the other side. “Are ye all right, Connor?” he asked.
“I gave him a wee dram to ease his pain. He shall be out like a candle in the breeze before long, Laird, aye, very soon. Then I shall try to assess his leg,” Willa informed them.
Whatever it was she’d given his brother, it appeared to be working.
The lad wasn’t struggling as she sewed along his wound.
Breckin had never seen him be so still, and it was unsettling.
“Aye, Laird. Willa said it was a nasty gash to be sure.” Connor seemed proud of his injury.
Caden scoffed as if he wished to be lying in Connor’s place. “Ye were lucky and ye probably broke a bone too.”
Breckin smirked at his brother. “How is he, Willa?”
“He shall take a wee bit to heal, for it appears his brother is correct. He might have broken a bone. I had to stitch both sides of his leg. He will have a good bit of pain and trouble walking for a spell, but alas, he shall walk again. I will bind him to keep his leg immobile.” Willa disregarded them as she continued her ministration.
“Ye scared the hell out of me, Connor. I pray ye have learned your lesson. No more daring feats and senselessness, do ye hear? I will hear your pledge.”
“I did not know the wood was weakened, Laird. Och, I vow to be more careful in the future,” Connor said groggily.
Willa ambled around the table, took a clean cloth, and dipped it into a bucket of water. “Eva, fetch that balm there on the table. The small vessel at the end.”
Breckin watched as Eva helped Willa by taking away the bloody cloths and returned with the medicinal the healer asked for. “Willa, Connor should stay here overnight. Will ye care for him? On the morrow, I will have him moved home.”
“I agree, Laird. He might need pain tinctures and he needs to be watched for infection. Caden, ye can stay too. Ise-Olcan will need to be taken out whilst I see to your brother,” Willa said.
“We shall leave ye then. Lads, listen to Willa. I will return for ye both on the morrow.”
“I shall visit you on the morrow too. Rest, Connor, and allow Willa to tend to you,” Eva said and pressed a hand on his brother’s head.
Breckin led the way from the healer’s cottage and Eva followed him.
Across the bridge, several of his clansmen gathered.
Their gazes stayed on Eva as they passed.
Gideon’s observation was astute because his men would have difficulty paying attention when she was within view.
Her beauty was going to cause disruptions, he was certain of that, but he couldn’t help but be pleased with her.
Not only was she beautiful, but she was graceful and caring.
Beckin wanted to learn everything about her.
Yet it might take time to win her trust.
Gideon approached with his wife Deena beside him. “Good day, Milady. I wanted to meet ye. I am Gideon, the commander of the laird’s army. This is my wife, Deena.” Both bowed to Eva, and Gideon’s smile spread across his face.
“It is a pleasure to meet you both,” Eva said and slightly curtseyed to them.
Deena said not a word and quickly left her husband’s side.
She walked away, down the lane, where she met with another woman.
They seemed to whisper and used their hands to shield their mouths.
Breckin did not appreciate the way his commander’s wife failed to welcome Eva and he’d have to have a word about it with Gideon later.
“Milady, if ye need anything, anything at all, just say the word. I am happy to oblige. ’Tis good to see our laird happily married,” Gideon said, still flashing his smile.
“Go on and get back to duty. I shall come and see ye later. Some matters need discussion,” Brecken said.
Gideon tipped his head and marched off.
Breckin took hold of Eva’s hand and led her toward his aunt’s cottage. When they reached it, he stopped her from entering. “Eva, we will only stay here for a fortnight and then we will leave.”
“And go where, Breckin? Are we leaving the land? Returning to the border, to my da’s home?” Eva asked with eagerness.
His body tensed at her questions. She seemed too hopeful that he’d return her to her father’s manor. “Nay, we are not leaving Buchanan land, lass, but will move to our home.”
“Do you have a home of your own? Must we stay with your aunt? Even a fortnight will be difficult. I do not think she is fond of me, and likewise, the clanswomen are so unapproachable.”
She sounded so overwrought. Given Deena’s actions, he could understand why she felt that way. Still, he needed to try to help her understand it would take a while for her to gain acceptance. “Eva, I told ye, lass, that my clan is…”
“Leery of outsiders? I can understand that, but to be so cold and unfriendly…” She sighed and her shoulders slumped. “It matters not because I am used to keeping my own company,” she said in a sorrowful tone.
He flinched because he should have taken the time to explain to his clan who she was and how important Eva was.
Her sadness was his fault. “Truth be told, I am disappointed in them for not being accepting of ye. I should tell them to greet ye and befriend ye. Ye are now our clan’s lady and deserve more respect than that. ”
She shook her head. “No, I do not want to force their friendships, Breckin. I want them to accept me in their own way. I want them to be my friends. Perhaps in time…”
“Well, I am fond of ye. Now, I have a surprise for ye. Come with me and mayhap it will put a smile on your bonny face.” Breckin led her away from the cottage and walked onward.
Toward the far end of the island, past thick-trunked pines and dense yew bushes, the lane shaded and darkened. The walk didn’t take them long.
Situated beyond a copse of trees stood his uncle’s home. Isolated from most of the buildings on the island, the home would afford them privacy.
“Why have you brought me here?”
“Because this is where we shall live. It might look worse for wear now but ’tis old…an ancient building that was erected by our ancestors many, many years ago. My uncle lived here his entire life.”
Her eyes darted from the worn edifice to the dilapidated thatch, to the holes in the wooden walls, to the crumbling stone of the chimney. “We are to live with your uncle then?”
Breckin chuckled. “Nay, my uncle left on a pilgrimage years ago and I doubt he shall return any time soon. He will not mind if I take over the abode. We shall make repairs to it and make it a worthy home. I know ye are used to grandness… Your da’s manor was extensive and beyond in its elegance.
We live a simpler life here in the Highlands and do not need such grand homes. I hope ye understand that.”
She reached out and grabbed his hand and wrapped her fingers around his. “I do, Breckin, but soon my belongings will arrive and I shall have our home looking as grand as my da’s.”
For her sake, he hoped that was true. “Come, let us go inside.”
Breckin stepped on the wooden rundle and it cracked beneath his weight.
Eva skipped over the step and climbed until they stood together on the small landing before the door.
He pressed it open and the creak of the iron hinges pierced the air.
With care, he crept inside and tested the floorboards to ensure they did not give way under his weight.
Eva stood beside him and she gaped with her mouth open slightly at the deplorable condition of the inside.
Breckin couldn’t blame her, but tried to sound confident as he said, “Needs some fixing but I have a skilled group of builders who will see to the task. Before we know it, they shall have this place repaired and readied to live in.”
“It shall take more than a fortnight for skilled builders to fix this place.” She jumped and bumped him when a bird fluttered its wings and left its perch on an overhead beam.
“Nay, my builders are good at what they do. I promise ye, our home will be ready. I only ask that ye be patient until then.”
“I shall try, Breckin. But I want another promise from you.”
He held her face and gazed at her. “And that is?”
“You will not leave again without telling me. Because if you do, I shall be alone and will perish.” Her gaze told him that she spoke truthfully.
His hands shifted to her shoulders and he scowled at her words. “Perish? Surely, ye jest.”
“No, I do not jest. You might not have realized this but I… I cannot light a fire…have never done so in my life. I do not know where to begin to start a fire. And I cannot cook or clean. I am afraid that I lack the necessary skills to care for myself, or you, as a wife should. Servants cared for me all my life and I never had to learn such tasks. Clare told me there are no servants here. There, ’tis a sad admission but the truth. ”
Breckin almost bent over and laughed from the absurdity of her passionate speech.
It seemed to be important to her and he nodded.
“I will not let ye perish, Eva. Aye, and I give ye my vow not to leave again without telling ye. ’Tis true that we have no servants but I might be able to persuade a woman or two to come and help ye.
Now, let us return to Clare’s. I am famished and want to enjoy a good supper. ”
She flapped her arm and shrieked. “Is that a…SPIDER? Sweet Mary, get it off, get it off!”
Breckin chuckled. “’Tis but a wee spider.” He flicked it off her arm and grinned.
“One more promise,” she said breathlessly as she pressed herself against him. “Make sure all the spiders are removed before we take residence.”
Breckin couldn’t resist and leaned toward her. He set a light kiss on her lips and then pulled her into his arms. As he peered down at her bonny face, he said, “Aye, any more promises?”
“One more…” she said as she wrapped her arms around his body and sensually kissed him.
He could stand there in the dilapidated longhouse with Eva kissing him without care of time. Her sweet lips lured his with desire. Breckin pulled back, took her hand, and hastily led her from their future home, intent on giving her the “one more” unspoken promise that she’d hoped for.