Chapter 6 #4
The blacksmith arrived to look at the deer and greeted Cailean, who explained, “I spied yer daughter ahead of me when I returned from hunting and asked her if her family could use the deer I shot. She said I needed to ask ye. Would ye like it? Truthfully, I’m tired of venison and prefer other meat for a spell. ”
“Ye want to give us this buck?”
“Aye. After ye carve up the meat, ye can smoke it for winter. Ye can share it with others if ye like. Ye can tan the hide and make a coat or rug out of it. Would ye like me to help ye cut it up?”
The men pulled out their dirks and started cutting into the deer hide.
Their roles were clearly known, as they had each grown up taking part in hunting parties.
Elayne ran into the kitchen and found Mrs. Logan.
They carried a large pot and a tray to collect the meat on.
Her father glanced up from his work. “Leave us, lass. Mrs. Logan will help us. Attend the fire and finish with the horseshoe I left on the anvil.”
“Aye, Papa.” She left them to the deer. Inside the forge, she put her kerchief around her hair and tied on her leather apron. Then she pulled on her leather gloves, stoked the fire, and heated the iron shoe to finish her father’s work. She pounded the metal and beat it into submission.
Elayne blushed when she ken Cailean would see her doing menial work. After watching her working like a man, would he still wish to befriend her? She felt sure he would prefer a winsome beauty with a wealthy father and ample dowery.
Will I disgust him when he sees me sweaty and covered in soot before the forge? He is the only friend I have. She would hate to lose his friendship. She remained curious how her father seemed acquainted with him and called him by his given name.
Elayne finished the shoe and left it cooling for her father. Picking up hot iron from the forge with pliers, she began making another horseshoe at her anvil. Already, she felt the sweat trickle down her back, and she ran a cloth across her face, knowing soot covered her too.
As she worked, Elayne could hear the lilt of laughter from Mrs. Logan and the husky voices of the men. They must be enjoying their conversation, as she had finished with her horseshoe and set it to cool in the water.
It hissed and steam billowed from it, making her feel hotter than before.
Undoubtedly, the men were having an ale by now.
She wondered what on earth they were talking about.
Will Cailean ask my father about when I arrived at the clan?
Why is he curious, and why does it matter to him to find out more?
Elayne resumed her work at her anvil and kept a keen eye on the fire in the forge. She ken dinner would be later than usual tonight.
Intent and focused on her work, she did not see Cailean enter the forge.
Nor did she see how he looked at her, silhouetted by the bright sun that shone outside.
Elayne was breathtaking and achingly beautiful to him.
He didn’t want to be caught staring, so strode out of the forge and removed the pheasants from his horse’s pommel, carrying them to Mrs. Logan.
“I want ye to have these. I have heard Bessie talk about what a wonderful cook ye are, so I ken ye can do justice to these birds.”
“Thank ye. I will smoke these and use their feathers to make pillows to sell at the summer fair.”
“I’m glad ye will find them helpful.”
As he walked out to the forge, her father returned and introduced Cailean to his daughter.
“It is nice to meet ye, kind sir,” Elayne said as naturally as possible. “Thank ye for the meat. It will help us over the cold winter months.”
“It is nice to meet ye as well, Elayne.” His eyes glittered with mirth as he smiled down at her. He towered over her, and his presence filled the forge. “Ye made a beautiful shoe.”
Elayne blushed at his praise, but thankfully the heat from the forge would account for her red face. Cailean nodded to William and her.
Cailean told William, “I am visiting various clan members before I leave for my brother’s wedding to see how I can be of service.
I planned to start with the farrier, but since I’m here, what can I help ye with?
” Recalling Elayne’s wishes, he said, “I ken ye could use a larger pen to hold additional livestock, and a bigger garden.”
“Aye, that would be a big help. I can nae stop working to make the pen, as both my daughter and I labor from sunrise to sunset, and now we are aiding the farrier to shoe the laird’s horses.”
“Aye, I ken. What time does it suit ye for me to work on extending the pen tomorrow?”
“We arise early, so anytime ye like is fine. I do not have any extra wood to use to build the pen though.”
“I have plenty of wood to use. Nae need to worry. I will bring it with me. I hope ye will have nails for me though?”
“Aye, that I have plenty of, and a hammer. Tomorrow, let me ken what other tools ye may need. Thank ye, again for the meat and the help.”
When he returned to his chamber, Cailean bathed and dressed in clean trews and a linen shirt. He ran into Kathrine, his youngest sister in the hallway before dinner. “Do ye have any extra blue ribbons ye do not need, or another color?”
“Ribbons? Why do ye need ribbons?”
“Bessie taught me how to make tarts. I want to thank her and ye ken she loves ribbons. I dinna have time to shop for them.”
“That is sweet of ye, Cailean. Let me get a few for ye. I’ll be right back.
” He followed her to her room and wondered what Elayne’s chamber looked like.
Tomorrow, he would glimpse her chamber. Katherine gave red, pink, and blue ribbons to her brother.
“Ye can select what ye want from these colors. I will get more at the market.”
“Thank ye, sister. It will make her happy.” Cailean did nae think about Bessie but about Elayne. He put the ribbons in his pockets with the one for Bessie, for after dinner he would give it to her.
He ate his evening meal in the great hall with his family.
His hunting and work had left him with an enormous appetite tonight.
He couldn’t wait to see Elayne again. After dinner, he lingered over his ale and spoke to his brothers.
Later, he went into the kitchens and put his arms around Bessie and lifted her off the ground.
“What are ye doing? Have ye gone daft?” Secretly she loved his special attentions. Cailean was her favorite among the laird’s sons. He put her down and kissed her cheek.
“Thank ye, Bessie, for yer help today. It meant a lot to me and to Elayne. Here is a token of my thanks to ye.” He dangled the bright red ribbon in front of her and she snatched it out of his hand.
“Thank ye for yer gift. I’m happy to help ye and the lass. She is beautiful, sweet, and kind, and I ken an excellent influence on ye and yer wicked ways.”
He put his hand over his heart. “Ye wound me, Bessie. How can ye call me wicked?”
“Ye ken ye were a mischievous lad. And ye have turned the heads of many a lassie. Mind ye, have a care about this lass. She has seen too much tragedy in her young life.”
“Aye, I ken. If ye learn any more about her clan or origins, will ye write to me and let me ken?”
“Aye, I will be happy to write ye.” She chose not to say any more about his motivations.
“Thank ye, Bessie, for everything. I will worry about Elayne when I’m gone. Will ye talk to Mrs. Logan and Elayne while I’m away and ensure they are well?”
“Aye, I would enjoy that. If I find any new information, I will write to ye.”
Cailean nodded and left, prowling the courtyard. Duncan, his apprentices, the blacksmith, and Elayne appeared engaged in work. Cailean observed the grooms leading the horses back to the stable. The grooms returned, bringing the next horse.
Cailean had worked in the stables when he was a lad.
In their clan, his father wanted his sons to appreciate the work of the tradespeople.
There were many talented tradespeople the clan relied upon for their welfare.
Cailean stayed in the dark shadows, careful not to be seen.
He could have stood and stared at Elayne’s form and face for hours.
She captivated him as no other woman ever had.
Finally, he saw her stride back to the forge. It would take her a few minutes to wash and meet him. Cailean ambled casually in the courtyard, belying his focus and keen anticipation of reuniting with Elayne.
He drank from a cup at the well as Elayne strolled up. Cailean whispered to her, “Follow me.” He strode to the castle’s far side, opening a gate and leaving it open as he waited inside the garden. As soon as Elayne entered, Cailean shut the gate behind her and took her hand in his.
“Ye are amazing, lass. Ye are skilled and can do many things. Yet ye still want to keep learning. Did yer father like the tarts?”
“Aye. When I said I made them with lessons from Bessie, Papa and Mrs. Logan were surprised. I told them I had run into her at the market, and she invited me to the kitchens to teach me how to make tarts. My father and Mrs. Logan were grateful for all the meat too. My father took a large portion to the farrier, and he put it on the spit to roast. As I left, the men were eating and drinking. Ye ken the apprentices are always hungry. What are we doing in the gardens?”
“First, I have a surprise for ye. Here’s a blue ribbon to wear in yer hair. I thought it might be the color ye would like for a dress.”
“Thank ye. It is pretty and ye are right. It is the color I hope to find. Like the color of a robin’s egg in the spring.”
“Next we are going to dance. I will teach ye how.”
“Here in the gardens?”
“Aye, here in the gardens where we will have privacy. Nae one will see ye but me. Ye will nae need to worry and feel foolish as ye learn the steps. First, I will show ye a country dance and its steps. Afterward, I will show ye a slower dance.”