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IT WAS ON ONE OF THOSE quiet times in the forest that the answer came to her. For most of an hour, Dolee had been talking to God and when Nessa walked into the small clearing, she could not help but think God sent her.
The fifth from the eldest sister, Nessa was becoming more attractive every day with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. She didn’t expect to see anyone and as soon as she spotted Dolee, she stopped short. “What are you doing here?”
Dolee smiled, “Just praying for a miracle.”
“Oh, forgive me for intruding.” Embarrassed, she turned to go back.
“I was hoping you were my miracle.”
At that, Nessa turned. “I have been called many things, but never a miracle. Edana calls me a ghost because I am too quiet, Charlotte calls me quick, Alison thinks I am witless and Aleen normally just rolls her eyes at everything I say.” Nessa wrinkled her brow and then looked for a place to sit down. “Come to think of it, perhaps you could be my miracle.”
Dolee was already seated on one of the many tree stumps available in that part of the forest and waited for Nessa to settle on one not far away. “What sort of miracle do you need?”
“I want to marry a lad who prefers another.”
Dolee interlaced her fingers, laid them in her lap and thoughtfully rubbed her thumbs together. “You do need a miracle.”
“Aye.”
“Might I know who the lad is?”
“Do you promise not to tell?”
“I promise.”
Nessa lightly bit her lower lip, “He is Ros and I love him dearly, but he cannot see me. Emily is always with him and she demands all his attention. She is not the right wife for him, but he is too...”
Dolee hid her smile. “Witless?”
“Precisely, too witless to know it. Oh what am I to do?”
“Well, I cannot see why you would want to marry a witless lad.”
Nessa quickly stood up. “You are right. No lass wants a witless husband, even me.” Just as quickly, she sat back down. “It would not do for both the husband and the wife to be witless. On the other hand, I doubt Neil would let us get too out of hand.”
Dolee couldn’t help but finally grin. “Tell me, what do you love about him?”
“Everything. He is strong, kind, gentle and good to his horse. A lad who is good to his horse will also be good to his wife, do you agree?”
“I do agree. If he has not noticed you, how do you know so much about his good qualities?”
“I watch him...from afar. He has three little brothers and I see the way he is with them. He is much older and one would think he is the father the way he keeps guard over them. He is never too busy to answer their questions; he takes them riding and teaches them absolutely everything he knows.”
“I have noticed that too. Ros was born to his father’s first wife who died. His father did not remarry for several years and thus the difference in the ages of his sons.”
“I see, I did not know that. He will be a good father someday and I would give all I own to have a husband like Ros. Even his smile is kind. If only he would smile at me, but he does not. Never have I known such vexation. I have tried everything to get his attention short of kicking him in the shins.”
“That would surely work.” It should have made Dolee laugh, but although Nessa was helping to lighten her mood, she didn’t feel like laughing just yet.
Both of them were quiet for a time, each lost in thought. Nessa took several forlorn, deep breaths and let them out. But then she studied the sadness on Dolee’s face. “You are unhappy. I have seen you often looking down as though you do not want anyone to see, but I can tell you are sad. Is it your husband?”
“Not at all, he is a fine lad and I love him very much. You are young and would not understand. Perhaps...”
“I understand more than you think. Nine sisters with two lazy brothers and a stupid father makes a lass discern a great deal. Is it your lack of children?”
Dolee looked surprised. “Is it that evident?”
“Nay, it is just that you have everything else...or seem to.”
“I do have everything a lass could want, save children.” She forced herself to smile. “I am barren. I have tried everything and for a moment I hoped you had an answer, but now I see I was mistaken.”
Nessa bit her lower lip again and tried to think of some way to help. “If only we were not so far away from the Widow Kennedy. She is a soothsayer and Edana warned us not to go there, so it is out of the question. Besides, to get there we would have to cross the land of the Kennedys. They are not so pleasant as the MacGreagors, believe me. Slava thought...”
“What could the Widow Kennedy do?”
“Well, she could tell if there is to be a child in your future. She knows all kinds of things. Edana would have my hide if she knew, but I went to see her once. Edana said mother told her soothsayers are not of God. I was very young when I went and at first, I was terrified. But the Widow Kennedy is a nice old lass who means no harm.”
“How could she tell if I am to have a child?”
“Easy, she reads the stars, the fire flames, and the rings in the water when a drop falls into the bowl. I wanted to know if my mother was in heaven, you see. She read the water rings and assured me she was.”
“Oh, she is a Seer. Does she have potions too?” Dolee asked.
“I saw bottles on her table, but I do not know what they are for. It is out of the question anyway, she lives very far from here and I doubt any of the men would take us. Besides, my sisters would never allow me to get that close to our old home, and without me, how would you find her?”
“You could tell me how to find her.”
Nessa wrinkled her brow and thought about that for a moment. “I suppose I could. Would your husband take you?”
“He wants children as much as I do.”
“You must tell him to be very careful when he crosses Kennedy land. They are not pleasant.”
“Where exactly is this place?”
“Well, first you must go south and then east. The land of my father is beyond the Kennedy hold and is without many trees.” She stood up, scraped dead leaves away with her foot until she got to the dirt on the ground, and then drew a map with the end of a stick. “Perhaps you should go east first and then go south until you get beyond Kennedy land.”
“How will I know when I have passed Kennedy land so I may turn south?”
Nessa shook her head. “I am not sure. Perhaps you could ask for directions from one of the lasses. My father has vast herds of sheep and everyone knows him. We used to shepherd the sheep and I do not miss it one little bit. It is very hard work and the sheep are always getting lost. Edana was good at it and so was Slava, but I hated it.”
“But if we find your father’s home, from there where do we go?”
Nessa shifted her eyes from side to side. “Well, let me see. The widow Kennedy lives in a cottage on the top of a hill. From our land you must go farther east past the loch and I believe it is three or four hills more.”
“How long will it take?”
“Two days to get there and two back, at least. Maybe more if you go around the land of the Kennedys, and of course, you must. You must avoid that clan as best you can. But Dolee, it is very, very far away.”
Dolee lowered her excited eyes and stared at the ground. “I will ask my husband.” Then she smiled. “About your problem, I can see no other way but to force Ros to notice you.”
“You think I should kick him in the shin?”
This time Dolee’s smile was genuine, “I have a better idea. First, you must watch him when he is with Emily. If they are betrothed, then you must not interfere. But if you find that he does not seem that interested in her, you should proceed.”
“How do I know if he truly prefers her?”
“Watch to see if he looks into her eyes or just glances at her face. If he touches her often other than in a helpful way, then he is smitten with her. If not, then she is the one who is smitten and he is perhaps just being kind.”
“And if he is just being kind, what do I do?” Nessa asked.
“Then you will be where he is as often as possible, but you must not be too obvious. When Emily is with him, go talk to her. Ask her advice, compliment her or tell her a story...anything to get his eyes away from her and on you. But be sure all your attentions are paid to her. If she suspects you are interested in him, she will not let you get near in the future.”
“Do you think it will work?”
“Perhaps and perhaps not. But it is worth a try. You must be very shrewd.”
“So you are saying I should ignore him?”
“Aye, talk to her, let him look at you and pretend not to notice. If he is interested, you will know soon enough.” Dolee slowly stood up. “We should get back before Neil sends the lads to look for us.”
“Aye.” Nessa nodded and started back through the trees. “At first I did not like being so protected. It seemed someone was always coming to see to my safety. But now I find it very comforting. It is good to know that if I fall someone will soon find me and help me get home. The forest can be a frightening place in the dark.”
“Indeed it can.”
Nessa held a branch back until Dolee caught up with her and passed. “How old are you?”
“I am one and twenty.”
“You do not look that old.”
Dolee giggled. “Thank you.”
“How did you know Camran was the one for you?”
“He told me so.”
Nessa couldn’t help but laugh. “I have not heard that one before. Were you difficult?”
“Worse, I was witless. I did not understand why he was befriending me and in the beginning, I believed that was all it was—friendship. Now I am convinced I could not breathe without him.”
