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THIS TIME WHEN RONAN came to get his daughters, Jirvel was inside the cottage and did not come out to thank him. All seven of his daughters tried to explain what happened to Suria at once and he seemed to be able to hear them all. Relieved that she was alright, he picked her up and hugged her. Then he glanced at Jirvel’s cottage to see if she had witnessed his tender display. She had not. “Is yer mother unwell?” he asked Kannak.
“Nay, she be well.” Stefan answered for her. He neglected to elaborate on Jirvel’s excuse for not being neighborly. Instead, he handed Ronan the empty bread sack. “The wall be nearly finished but we would appreciate Diarmad and Andrina’s help again tomorrow.”
“And not the others?”
Stefan paused as if trying to find a delicate way to say it and then leaned closer, “Lassies take a great deal more care than laddies, do ye agree?”
Ronan rolled his eyes. “Ye cannae know until ye have seven.” He thought about it for a moment. “Very well, ye may have Andrina in the morning, but Diarmad cannae come until after the noon meal.”
“Thank ye.” It would be perfect, Stefan thought. William was coming to help too and Diarmad need not be where he might interfere. Stefan accepted another hug from Suria for saving her, helped the girls mount their horses and watched them ride away.
*
WHILE KANNAK WENT TO do the evening milking, Stefan went inside and took the long bow down off the hook on the wall. He thought the string was a little too loose the last time he used it and wanted to restring it. “Slighting Ronan this once will not be enough.”
Jirvel finished cutting a potato into sections and then laid her knife down. “Perhaps ye might tell him I prefer another.”
“Which other?”
“I dinna know. I can think o’ no lad I fancy.”
“If we do that, Ronan may hasten his plan and go see the priest directly instead o’ waiting for him to collect the tithe after the harvest.”
“Perhaps we should go north after all. I dinna want another husband. One bitter lad be enough for any lass and I suspect Ronan wants this land and the cottage for one o’ his sons far more than he wants me.”
“If only ye had something to threaten Macoran with. Perhaps then he would discourage all the lads who want ye.”
It was almost as if he knew something and Jirvel studied Stefan’s eyes for a moment. Then she dismissed her suspicions and lowered her gaze. “Perhaps I do have something that might persuade him.” She lightly kissed Stefan on the cheek and went back to her potatoes. “Ye are a good son and I could wish for none better.”
Stefan’s heart leapt for joy at her words. Finally he was assured he had a family again and he refused to give this one up. He was not even willing to give up the pesky wee bairn though he would never tell Kannak that.
*
WHEN WILLIAM AND ANDRINA arrived the next morning, Jirvel was ready to play matchmaker. She handed Andrina two empty pails. “Can ye manage? Will the water be too heavy? Perhaps ye should just fill each half...”
“I will help her,” William offered. If he suspected being set up, he did not let on and the two of them walked happily down the path toward the river. Jirvel smiled, Kannak smiled and Stefan grinned. Macoran would not have a hand in this match if the three of them had anything to say about it.
Jirvel mixed the clay, water and heather together in the small pit. Kannak and Andrina went to gather more rocks while the men stacked the stones in two parallel rows and filled the space between them with the mortar to make the third and final wall. It was hard work and Jirvel encouraged the girls to fetch plenty of drinking water. Each time Andrina offered her flask to William, she couldn’t help but smile. Nor could William manage to keep his eyes off of her.
When Stefan went off for his comfort and the girls were gathering more rocks, Jirvel became a bit more emboldened. “‘Tis it me or ‘tis there love in the air?”
With hopeful eyes, William stopped his work and looked at her. “Do ye think so? I mean do ye think Andrina prefers me?”
Jirvel rolled her eyes. “If ye dinna see it in her eyes, yer brain has addled. Ye best ask Macoran for her and quickly afore someone else gets to him.”
“I am not worried.”
“Why not?”
“I asked for her six months ago, only it has taken this long for her to notice me. I dinna want a wife who does not prefer me.”
“If that be the case, I will send her to fetch more water and if yer wise, ye will follow and ask her if she will agree to marry ye.”
“But if she says nay...”
“She will not disappoint ye. She preferred ye long afore now.”
His eyes instantly lit up and he turned his attention back to laying the rocks. The wall was only three feet high and nearly finished with a wide enough gap in the side for a gate. It might not keep a hungry wolf or red fox out completely, but it would keep the chickens in.
Jirvel smiled, noticed the girls were coming and went back to work. “Love...’tis the only thing in life worth the wait.”
*
WILLIAM AND ANDRINA were married the week after, in the village for all to see and Kannak, her new best friend, attended her while Jirvel pleaded a headache so she could avoid Ronan. After the ceremony and the feast, William carried his beloved off on his horse and took her to his cottage.
It was not the only thing worth celebrating and not long after the newlyweds were last seen, Macoran’s guard gathered in front of the keep, loaded Mistress Macoran, her sons and her things on horses and escorted them out of the village to begin the two days of travel to the Brodie hold. The clan wanted to shout for joy, but they held their tongues out of respect for their adored laird. Even so, there was a great deal of gladness among them and especially in the happy eyes and voice of the widow Sarah.
A short time later, Macoran mounted his horse and Stefan was certain he had gone to see Jirvel, so he lingered, talking to Blair and Fergus until Kannak started to glare at him. Still, he wanted to give Jirvel time to get a promise from Macoran not to betroth her.
*
SOMEHOW JIRVEL SUSPECTED Macoran would come and even brushed her auburn hair a second time before she loosely braided it and let it hang down the middle of her back. She put on her new red frock, straightened it and then sat down at the table to wait. There was to be a war between them and she fully intended to win it. But the time passed slowly and he did not come. At length, she decided to go to the river, draw a pail of water and see to her flowers. Never before had she felt like planting flowers – not while she was married to Eogan and it gave her great pleasure to do so now that he was gone.
She was just coming back from the river when she spotted him. This time she would not curtsey and hoped he would take that as a sign of determination. For the past few hours she debated her approach and thought of a range of methods to win her battle from smiling sweetly, to running her sword through him. But just now he looked so handsome seated on his horse, she had to look away to keep from letting her determination dissolve. After all these years, excitement still rushed through her veins at the sight of him.
Macoran watched her carefully pour the water around her flowers and wondered if he dare get down. She did not smile but neither did she glare at him in her normal manner when he came to see her. He decided to take a chance and slowly dismounted, but he kept the reins in his hand instead of tying his horse to a tree branch.
“Good day to ye, Jirvel.”
“Why have ye come this time?”
He was relieved. If he knew how to handle any of her moods, it was this one. “Ye did not attend the wedding and I came to see if ye were unwell.”
“Nay, that be not the reason. Kannak would have said if I were unwell. Too much has gone between us for ye to lie to me now.”
“Kannak said ye had a headache. Has it passed?”
“Nay, it was a lie. I wished to avoid Ronan.” She poured the last drop of water and set the bucket down. “Have ye given yer permission yet?
“Nay, but I cannae avoid it much longer. If only ye would tell me whom ye prefer, Jirvel.”
She walked to him and looked him square in the eye. “I told ye whom I preferred years ago.”
Macoran slumped. “That again?”
“Aye, that again. Ye said yerself ye dinna like knowing another man was bedding me. What has changed?”
He stared at her for a long moment and then lowered his eyes, “Nothing has changed.”
“Then ye must not make me marry again. It would be too unkind for us both.”
“But ye must have a husband to care for ye. What will become o’ ye when Stefan marries? And what then when Kannak takes a husband? Ye cannae live alone, Jirvel and ye know it.”
He was right and it took a moment before she could think of a good argument. “What will ye do if yer wife dies and I am again married?”
Macoran closed his eyes in defeat. “I have considered that. Agnes becomes feebler every day, but she be too mean to die. Her hate keeps her alive just to annoy me and I am convinced she will outlive me by many years. I fully intend to haunt that lass once I am dead.”
She couldn’t help but smile.
Her smiles for him were so rare, he wanted nothing more than to savor the moment. Too soon, her expression grew serious again.
“Please, Artair, ye must find a way not to marry me off. I could not bear it. Ye are the only lad who has touched me and the only one I want to touch me. Can ye not see that?”
She had not called him by his given name in years and it delighted him to hear her say it. He wanted so desperately to take her in his arms, but he held back. If there was to be a touch between them, this time she would have to come to him. “What excuse can I give the lads, Jirvel? Help me think o’ a way to do it and I will not betroth ye. But I must have something to tell them.”
She put the back of her hand on her forehead, closed her eyes and tried to think of something, but all she could think about was her desire for him. She wanted to run to him, to kiss him passionately and let him take her to that place of exquisite love she had only known once. But another fatherless child would force her to marry again and that was out of the question. “There must be something ye can say, but I cannae think clearly.”
“Nor can I.” He turned and started to mount his horse. “I will think o’ something later.”
“Then ye will not give yer permission to any o’ the lads?”
“Nay, ye are right. I cannae bear the thought o’ another man bedding ye. Be at peace, my love.” He put his foot in the stirrup, lifted his leg over, turned his horse and rode away.
She was relieved but she was also miserable and could no longer hold back her tears.
When Blair and Fergus left the wedding feast, Stefan had no more excuses. He mounted Jirvel’s horse, gave Kannak his hand and helped her swing up behind him. Half way home, he halted the horse and scooted around a little so he could talk to her. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did no one come to help Eogan with the land? Surely the others wanted to help.”
She bit her lower lip and considered a lie. “‘Twas not so bad as this till the last year or two. I suppose ye will hear it somehow anyway. My father sometimes hurt her.”
“What? And the other lads knew?”
“Some did and no doubt they told the others, but mother begged them not to tell Macoran.”
“Why? He be her laird; he should have killed her husband for it.”
“Killed him? A laird does not kill a man for hitting his wife.”
“I would, especially if he hurt a kind soul like Jirvel. I become enraged at the very thought o’ someone harming her.”
“Then when ye are laird, I will be pleased to be in yer clan and my mother with me. It was most unpleasant. Ye cannae know the nights I cried for her and...” Tears suddenly flooded her eyes and she could not go on.
He turned a little more and put a brotherly arm around her. “Dinna weep, wee bairn, I dinna mean to upset ye.”
She took a deep breath and rested her head on his shoulder for just a moment. Then she drew away, wiped her cheeks and pushed his arm away. “If Macoran knew, he would have shamed father. Then father would have become enraged and we feared he would kill her. There was naught to do but beg the lads not to tell. Father liked his strong drink and dinna know his own strength.”
“Did he hurt ye?”
“Once, but mother stepped between us afore he could hurt me much. He was always sorry...later when it was too late.”
“Is this why ye have few friends?”
“Mother dinna want people to see her bruises and tell Macoran.”
“Then ‘tis a good thing yer father be gone. If he comes back, I will kill him myself.” He turned back around and urged the horse on.
She put her arm back around Stefan’s waist and muttered, “He will not come back.”
*
HE WAS PROUD OF THEIR little garden, although it did not grow the volume of vegetables and grain Stefan hoped. He wondered if the soil was different somehow than that in his homeland, but he dared not ask any of the men. Next year, he would spend more time with William and watch how he worked the land. Except for two hot weeks, the rain came often enough to keep them from having to haul very much water from the river to the garden.
The hunting was good, they managed to share the meat of the deer with their neighbors and the women were becoming quite good at making more belts from the skins. All three of them looked forward to the fall festival. After that, they could expect the long hours of darkness and they all agreed a few extra hours of sleep would be very welcome. Perhaps the beautiful night lights in the north would come again in the darkness and they could all lie outside to watch them.
Laird Macoran did as Jirvel bid him, did not betroth her and for the most part stayed away. When he did come, which was only twice during the summer, he kept himself well back, did not ask if she wanted a husband or mention one for Kannak. He only asked if they were in need, assured himself they were not and quickly glanced over the land.
But Stefan had developed a keen eye and an instinct when it came to being watched and every time he felt it, it was Macoran who was doing the watching – from the hilltop, the riverbank or from one of several animal paths. If Jirvel noticed, she did not let on. Instead, she concentrated on making life as easy and happy as possible for them all.
When the first of the vegetables were ready to eat, they celebrated. When Diarmad and Stefan caught ample fish in the river, they celebrated and when Blair brought his baby girl and William and Andrina came to share a noon meal, they celebrated.
For the most part, three happier people in the world did not exist. There was only one concern...Mistress Macoran and her sons were sure to return shortly.
*
JIRVEL WAS NOT PLEASED. The priest was asking for a much higher tithe than usual and she was not about to pay it. He sat his horse in her small courtyard wearing a long brown robe made of soft wool with an attached floppy hood over his head and a cloth rope tied around his middle. “Father, was it not ye who said greed was one o’ the seven deadly sins?” she asked.
“Precisely what are ye accusing me o’, lass?”
“Not ye father, me.”
He got down off his horse, clasped his hands together in a priestly way and rocked up on his tip-toes. “Are ye asking me to hear yer confession?”
“Perhaps, but moreover I am asking ye to help me understand. Is greed not one o’ the seven deadly sins?”
“Aye.”
“Then I confess I am guilty. Ye see, the good Lord sent us a laddie to help with the land and he needs to be fed. Yet ye are asking me to give over a larger amount o’ our food for the tithe and ...and my greed forbids it.”
The priest studied her eyes for a moment and then gave Stefan a slow look up and down. “Tis a growing laddie at that.”
“I dinna know a laddie could eat so much.”
As was his habit, the priest started collecting tithes at the eastern edge of Macoran land and worked his way to the village. That meant he would see Ronan next. She handed a small basket of vegetables to him and smiled. “I have heard there are lads who want to marry me, but I think...”
“Ye are already married.”
“And happily until recently. But I think the lads who say they prefer me truly want the land instead. ‘Tis that not also greed, father?”
He tried to think what she was getting at and hesitated. “But yer married.”
“True enough and I wish to stay married. I took a sacred vow and a good wife should wait for her husband no matter how long it takes. Perhaps he be only lost somewhere.”
“‘Tis possible, I suppose. A man would be daft not to come back to ye if he were able, Jirvel.” He noticed her blush and took the small basket she offered. Then he emptied the contents into a much larger basket tied to the back of his saddle. “Feed that laddie well, Jirvel or ye will answer to me!” With that, he mounted and rode away.
Jirvel smiled. She trusted Macoran not to betroth her, but not letting Ronan talk the priest into setting aside her marriage would be an added measure of protection. For days, all three held their breath waiting for news of Jirvel’s marriage circumstances, but nothing more was said and they were relieved.
*
AT THE FALL FESTIVAL, the belts Jirvel and Kannak made were quickly snatched up. They bartered for a new shovel, two hair brushes the fishermen brought from England and then ordered a new pair of shoes for Kannak and the still growing Stefan. The mood, Stefan noticed was not as lively but then, Mistress Macoran and her wayward sons were back.
As before, Macoran sat on the platform with his wife and watched Jirvel, and just as before she occasionally looked at him. But once they were home and Kannak was asleep, Jirvel slipped out of the cottage and went off some place to cry. Stefan wanted desperately to comfort her, but he wasn’t supposed to know about her love for Macoran, so he went to bed instead. That kind of love, he decided, was not worth the pain it caused.
A fortnight later Macoran sent a man. His name was Eachann, and Eachann informed Jirvel that he was to teach Stefan how to fight. But a week later, after Eachann lost every match to Stefan despite the boy’s awkwardness, he ventured to speak to Jirvel alone, “The laddie fights like a Viking.”
“Many Vikings live in the north.”
“I have heard o’ a very tall lad in the north, but he be slow o’ hand and mind.”
“I have heard that too.”
“But Stefan be not slow, though I cannae imagine too many lads...even in the north will be as large as he. How old be he?”
“Not yet sixteen.”
Eachann shook his head. “He will grow still.”
It was the last they saw of Eachann except on their occasional trips to the village.
*
STEFAN SUFFERED A GROWING spurt in the weeks following, his awkwardness increased and the women in his life never missed an occasion to laugh at him. It was time, he decided, to learn the dress of the Scots and once he became accustomed to the belting and tucking, he found the tapered pants comfortable and likeable. Kannak presented him with a new belt and he marveled at how accomplished she had become.
But in the fall, the clan’s livestock began to grow thick, warm coats and the heather plant bloomed profusely and cast off thousands more seeds than normal. It was a sure sign of a harsh winter. As well, the water level in the river started to drop. Already the rain in the mountains had turned to snow.
*
IT HAPPENED ON A DAY when they were bundling fire wood and taking it to the shed. Kannak suddenly let the bundle she carried fall to the ground and grabbed the top of her head. A few yards behind her, Stefan threw his bundle away, ran and got to her just before she collapsed. “Jirvel!”
Stefan already had her in his arms and was carrying her toward the cottage when Jirvel rushed out, felt Kannak’s hot forehead and gasped. “She has the fever.” Jirvel rushed to the door, held it open and then followed him through the first room and into the small bedchamber. She threw back the covers and waited for him to lay Kannak down.
“My head hurts,” Kannak moaned.
Stefan backed away, “What can I do to help?”
Jirvel was already starting to loosen her daughter’s clothing. “Pull off her shoes and then put more wood on the fire. She will chill soon and we must keep her warm.”
He did as she said, closed his eyes each time Kannak complained of the headache and was in a state of near panic. They could not lose Kannak; it would be too cruel for Jirvel. Kannak needed the kind of help he could not give her and although Stefan had not felt Macoran watching them that day, maybe...just maybe.
He stepped outside and started to slowly scan the trees and the paths with his eyes. Then he looked up the hill at Macoran’s favorite place. He could not see the man, but just in case, Stefan raised a hand high in the air. It was not a prearranged signal, but it would have to do. More than a few died from a sudden fever and he was determined Kannak would not be among them. He held his hand in the air for a while longer and then went back inside.
It worked. Shortly thereafter, Macoran burst through the door. “What is it?”
“Kannak has the fever,” Stefan answered.
Macoran did not hesitate; he moved the curtain aside and went into Jirvel’s bedchamber.
“What are ye doing?” a stunned Jirvel asked.
Macoran felt Kannak’s head, pulled her up to a sitting position, wrapped her blankets around her and started to pick her up.
“Ye cannae have her.”
“Stand aside lass. She goes with me.”
“Nay, ye cannae take her, I will not allow it.”
He carefully slipped Kannak through the bedchamber doorway and waited for Stefan to open the door to the outside. “‘Twill be a harsh winter and Kannak will spend it in the village where I can see that she lives.”
“The whole winter?”
Once he got Kannak out the door, he handed her to Stefan and mounted his horse. Then he opened his arms, waited for Stefan to give him the girl and made sure she was completely wrapped up. “There be an empty cottage now that the elder Andrew has passed. Ye are welcome to come or stay as ye please, Jirvel.”
Jirvel stood in the doorway with tears in her eyes. “What right have ye to...”
“I am yer laird and I command it. She belongs to me...” he quickly glanced at Stefan, “just as all the children do. Ye will do as I say, Jirvel.” With that, he turned his horse around, nudged the horse’s flanks and took Kannak away.
Stefan was pleased though he did not let on. Instead, he opened his arms and let his adopted mother cry on his shoulder. “Macoran did the right thing. Ye said yerself we are out of the medicine for headaches and fevers. It would take too long for me to fetch more and return. Gather yer things and follow them. I will see that the fire be put out, take the cow to William and ask him to come for the chickens when he can. Then I will come.”
