Chapter Eighteen #2
“Let me and Caden do that for ye, Milady,” Connor said. “Och, Breckin told us not to leave the longhouse since we are being punished.”
“I am certain he would understand that I sent you on the errand. And I see how excited you are to take the cart but you must promise, though, to return after you deliver it. You shall not dally or get distracted.”
Both lads nodded enthusiastically.
She absently perused the rest of the items until she came across another coffer.
Eva was almost afraid to open it because she didn’t want more coins from her father.
Breckin hadn’t accepted the first coffer and she’d put it in their bed chamber where it remained untouched.
Once, she would have coveted having such wealth but now, the coins were useless to her.
She had no need of exquisite garments or items for her home.
She sighed at the memory of the joy it had once brought her—visiting the markets.
“What is that?” Caden asked and approached.
Eva opened it and peered into the deep wooden box. There was a layer of loose gemstones. She fingered the red, blue, and clear jewels in awe of their beauty. “I wonder how these got in here. My da often traded and must have received these in exchange for goods.”
“I have never seen so many gems, Milady. ’Tis a fortune there…” Connor said with admiration as he eyed them.
“Perhaps. I shall put these in a safe place until I can return them to my father.”
Caden scoffed. “Why would ye want to return them?”
“I do not really need gems here… No, I shall return them.” Eva tucked the small coffer beneath her arm. “I think that’s all there is. We shall take this last load to Master Amos and then you can ask Aymer where to take the cart.”
“I will drive the cart,” Connor said and hurried to attach the horse’s harness to the cart’s hitch. His leg must have continued to bother him, for he limped a little.
Caden groused and shoved his brother. “Och, ye drove the last one. ’Tis my turn.”
“Why do you not both drive it and take turns holding the reins? Now, come along and I shall walk ahead.” Eva didn’t wait for them to agree and hurried on the lane. She wanted to get the chore done and return before she had to ready supper.
Eva walked nimbly past the bridge and didn’t see Breckin on her trek. She passed the encampment of the ailing and reached the market in a short time. There, she found Master Amos and he greeted her with a grunt.
“Milady, I have barely any room left for all your items are taking up all the space. Ye bring more. Where shall I put it?”
She bowed slightly to him. “I apologize, Amos, but I do not need these items. This is the last of them, I promise. I will take some items off your hands, though, to make room. Do you have a few trunks? I mean to give each of the lads their own. And I need more chairs or benches.”
He scoffed. “Ye already took all the chairs that I had. Och, if any come in, I shall set them aside for ye. Come, lads, and help me unload the cart.”
“Amos, you have continued to keep your bargain?”
“Oh, aye, Milady, of course, and each morn when the market opens, I have one of my lads take a basket of foodstuff to the sick. The coins are all accounted for, Milady, and set aside for the purpose. Do ye wish me to send ye the coins?”
“No, no…keep them here. My thanks, Amos, for your help. Lads, find Aymer when you are finished here and return to the longhouse for supper.” Eva waved to the boys and walked at a slower pace back toward the bridge, enjoying the solitude and quiet.
The encampment was silent when she reached it. A crowd gathered near a tarp-covered area and she approached to stand with Harriet. “What has happened?”
The young woman lowered her head. “Gareth is on his deathbed and shall meet his maker soon. Father Murphy has not come to give him last rites yet.”
“Oh, no. I am sorry, Harriet. I know he was your friend.”
Eva prayed for the poor man’s ascension to Heaven.
How she wished that Father Murphy received word on how to help the sick.
There had to be a cure for their ailment but as yet no word reached them on how they might help or treat them.
After a while, Eva decided to leave to give Gareth’s friends privacy for their mourning.
She hurried along and waved to Willa when she reached her cottage. “Good day, Willa.”
Ise-Olcan sprinted toward her and jumped up. Willa shouted for the dog to get down but the dog’s tongue lapped at her and Eva petted her head.
“She is just excited to see me. I am gladdened someone is.” She could’ve laughed at her pitiful remark because her husband still was nowhere to be seen and obviously not eager to see her.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Willa said and ambled toward her. “My daughter-in-law told me that you saved her lad, my grandson, Hamish.”
“Hamish is your grandson? We were chased by a dastardly boar. But it was he who saved me and not the other way around.”
Willa shook her head. “The way he tells it is that ye saved him. Hamish’s parents are mighty grateful for your aid to him. I am sure Deena shall tell ye so when next she sees ye.”
Eva smiled but doubted that. Gideon’s wife all but ignored her whenever she saw her on the other side of the bridge.
She decided to change the subject; she wasn’t interested in talking about herself.
She was here about more important things.
“I just visited the encampment and learned that Gareth is on his deathbed. The poor man. All the sick gather around him. Father Murphy has not yet arrived but has been called for.”
“Oh, nay, not Gareth.” Willa lowered her head with despair. When she raised it, a shimmer of tears set in her eyes. “I shall go and see him before he passes. My thanks for telling me.”
Eva clasped her hand. “I am sorry, Willa, for the loss of your friend. I shall see you later.” With that, she walked on and entered the church.
Inside, a group of women sat on the benches before the altar.
They sang a beautiful melody. Eva was envious of their camaraderie and wished she had friends with whom to sing.
In an almost unheard voice, she sang along, knowing the words to the song.
When the song ended, without being seen, Eva snuck out of the church and strolled along until she reached the area where the torch was erected.
She wondered that if Marian had lived, would she have befriended her?
Eva shook away the sorrowful, woeful mood and viewed her surroundings.
Yet as she took in the beauty of the land and waters, the height was treacherous.
She wondered why Marian drank poison rather than having just jumped from the ledge.
It seemed strange to her but then, she did not know Marian and perhaps the woman wanted to enjoy the view in her last moments.
She stepped back to a nearby tree and sat on the ground.
With her hands clasped around her knees, she sighed at the beauty of the place.
The sky seemed vast in its pinkish, blueish hues to the bilious clouds that spotted the distance.
Eva closed her eyes and prayed for Marian’s salvation, for her father’s good health, for the lad’s patience, and that one day the Buchanans would accept her. One day, she would belong.