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E
arly the next morning, Deirdre found her way to the cave, fully expecting to find her captive more alert — and angry. She couldn’t care less how that woman felt. Actually, she was past caring what anyone else felt and this situation was no different.
When she got to the cave, however, her heart skipped a beat. The brush limbs had been pulled away and were lying to the side of the entrance. The brothers had just pulled on them and they had toppled over. They didn't move them far.
No. Has that skinny little wench found her way out? But she couldn't have. She was far too drugged and it was too dark. Plus, I tied her hands.
Hurrying down the tunnel to the left, she stopped and looked about. That woman was gone. The blanket was gone.
Someone had to have helped ye. Ye got away this time, so I'll just have to create a new plan. I'll never stop until I've sent ye to hell! Next time I won't hesitate to complete the job. I'll make it quick. Ye may have escaped me for now, but I'll not make the mistake of keeping ye next time. I'll find a way to finish ye off . . . and in a hurry. Alex MacKinnon, ye belong to me... me!
Anger rose inside her and she felt the darkness growing. She had felt it when she visited the old woman, and it was becoming more familiar to her now as it grew. She loved the feeling of power it generated in her soul. She couldn't remember when it had started, but knew the old woman was the connection. And now, she had begun to understand the dark power was guiding her thoughts and actions. It was power, dark though it was, and she would use the power when the day came.
~ * ~
ALEX STOOD, STRETCHING his stiff legs. He was ready for this whole episode to pass. "Let this day be over. Getting married has turned out to be even more exciting than I expected but now, I'll bid ye all goodnight."
He took Caitlin's hand and led her from the room. At Alex's instruction, the lads had moved her belongings from Mam's sewing room to the upstairs quarters in the east wing, where Alex had always slept. He had two rooms adjoining each other. The rooms were large and he liked sleeping there. It was quiet and both rooms had windows that overlooked the moor. He often stood at them, looking over the farm—his home.
He waited patiently as Caitlin insisted a bath was in order. This had been an unbelievable day and she finally climbed out of the large tub and wrapped herself in her long robe and sat down at the dressing table. Alex helped her unpin her hair and brush it out. It had become quite a mess during her ordeal and he was enjoying the process of helping her remove the tangles and seeing it return to its usual style streaming down her back.
"It's been a verra long day I know, mo chridhe, but if ye'll indulge me one more moment I have something for ye — a wedding gift Mam would have called it."
He reached inside a box in the corner of the room and brought out a small package wrapped in a rough piece of burlap with a small sprig of heather attached to it.
"What? A wedding gift? I didn't realize brides and grooms gave each other gifts, Alex. I have nothing for you."
"Ah, well then. Maybe they don't, but I know this one is meant for ye, lass."
She looked up at him as he placed the package in her hands. She wondered if Millie had had a hand in the wrapping process — she knew how much Caitlin liked heather. No matter. She couldn't imagine what he thought was meant for her.
As she unfolded the burlap, however, she understood immediately and her face revealed her pleasure. She was holding the very small clay teapot that she had traded her healing services for with the old woman in the village near Inverness when she lived in her cave. She had been so taken with the carvings on the side as they reminded her of a similar teapot that Uncle Wabi had. There was the etching of a young girl, with long curly hair falling down her back. Next to her was a wolf, and a large raven was seen soaring overhead, his wings ever so enormous.
"I can't believe it! How did you find this? I had completely forgotten about it."
"When I went searching for ye I discovered it in yer cave. Actually, finding it told me that ye had left in a hurry as I know ye would never have left it otherwise. I know it means a lot to ye and it seemed I should make sure ye got it back."
"It's very special to me and I will cherish it always. Just as I will always cherish you." She stood up and pulled his head down to hers and felt his body tremble as she touched her lips to his.
Jack walked Millie back to her rooms. These quarters also allowed a view of the peaks that were snow-covered this time of year. This part of the lodge was quiet also, and Millie was thankful for a place where she could go with the bairn and not be disturbed.
Da had claimed the small room next to the kitchen, and Uncle Andrew had quarters on the first floor as well, at the end of the hall. Those two agreed that climbing stairs was for the younger set. Old Jamie, however, had decided to stay upstairs in a room just at the top of the stairs. He'd been there so many years that he didn't wish to leave it, and he had a large bed that was very comfortable.
When he'd been about ten years old, Ian had laid claim to a room even more removed than all the others—an attic space Mam had asked Daniel to install at the top of the central section of the lodge. He had his own small collection of books there. Had you been strolling the moor, most nights you'd see candlelight from that window as the lad would often read far into the night. As it was, each person had a place to call their own and there were several other rooms unoccupied. For the moment, anyway.
~ * ~
SHEEP FARMING DIDN't leave much room for idle time. Caitlin and Millie realized shortly that if they were going to make any changes then they would need to be adamant about their wishes. Otherwise, the men would just continue on with everything the same as it had always been. And in the women’s opinions, there were definitely a few areas where improvement would be in order.
Caitlin's temper easily jumped out front and center still. When she resided with Uncle Wabi he had been able to keep it under wraps, usually. However, this morning's conversation had her at wit's end and she stood, arms akimbo, looking up at her Highlander. Her usually soft voice had a definite edge to it and she spoke quickly with conviction.
"Alex, I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say to you. Yes, I do like being here on the farm. And yes, I can always find plenty to do. But there aren't a lot of folk here close to the lodge who need treatment by a healer. I want to take a cart, my medicines, and of course Willie, and make a trip to the village a couple of days a week. That way the old ones can get attention. It's difficult for them to come all the way out here. And it's not a chore for me. It's what I want to do. The best part of my day is when I see you coming in at night, but the days can get pretty tedious. So I'm asking you to understand this is something I must do — something I am going to do."
She lowered her arms, and her voice. She had made her case. But her tongue hurt from biting back more words she could have uttered.
Alex thought for a moment before answering her. He smiled inwardly as he realized Caitlin and Jack shared a common trait — a temper that had to be contained on occasion. But he'd spent a lifetime with Jack and knew how to handle him. With Caitlin, he was learning she would only back down when you convinced her your way was better. And yes, his penchant for ordering others about had been brought to his attention.
"Mo chridhe, I wish more than anything for ye to be happy here. This place has come alive again, with ye and Millie bringing back the sunshine that Mam always brought. Da, Jack, Hector, Ian —all of us —we've never been so content. As for not wanting ye to practice yer healing, lass, that's how I met ye. And I'll not stand in yer way. But wait just a short while. I'm still not ready to let ye go by yerself. We still don't know who captured ye, ye ken? But we will know. I promise ye that."
"That was a while ago and nothing has happened since. I'm of the opinion it was a prank by local lads. They never meant to hurt me." She stood looking up at him, determination written on her face.
"Well, that could be I suppose. But I'll think on yer plan as ye asked. Just give me a couple of days."
"I'm going to the village next week and that's the end of that. I don't need your approval." The fire in her eyes left no room for debate.
Alex gave her a long look, but said nothing more. He finished his cup of tea, placed the mug on the table and walked to the door, deciding to let the matter go for the moment. The rigid line of his back and his taut face said more than any words would have anyway. Always able to read body language better than most, Caitlin longed to go to him and put her arms around his waist and lean against him, but couldn't get her feet to follow her thoughts. This was the first time she had felt Alex pull away from her emotionally, and she immediately experienced a painful emptiness. He walked out and she watched him as he calmly mounted Zeus without ever looking back.
He was headed to his sheep and to his thoughts about who had kidnapped Caitlin. He was almost ready to approach the one responsible for that adventure. He'd let her think the ordeal was over, but that would never happen when you crossed Alex MacKinnon, especially if you'd tried to harm one he cared for. Deirdre's days were numbered as far as he was concerned. Even he was surprised at the depth of his anger at the woman.
His feelings toward Caitlin following their disagreement were not those of anger, but rather, fear. Presently, he spurred Zeus on and made haste to get to the sheep. Before long, however, he reined him in and sat staring out into space.
Why can't she see that I'm trying to protect her, not control her? She refuses to see that Deirdre could be responsible, but I've never been more sure of anything. I must settle this problem once and for all before she becomes victim to her again.
After Alex left Caitlin tried to get regain her composure, then walked out to the hut by the stream. She had seen Millie leave the house as she and Alex began their confrontation.
"Millie? Are you here?"
"I'm here, inside the hut," Millie called out. She’d left when it became clear Alex and Caitlin were going to cross swords again. However, she still overheard enough to know it was quite a row.
Caitlin pulled at the heavy door and stepped over the threshold. The hut was quite old but Da had made it pretty airtight as Mam wanted to put her special items in here.
Just some things I don't want to part with, Daniel. They'll not take much room. So if ye please, just humor me in this. Ye'll not have to move them again. Just help me store them here.
Daniel went about filling all cracks and making sure the roof would hold. He even put stronger timbers inside to support the thatching. And now, all these years later, Alice's treasures still looked almost like they did the day she placed them here.
"That sounded like a bit of clashing of tempers from here." Millie smiled at her friend.
"Yes, it was that and more. That Highlander can get me fired up quicker than anyone I've ever known. He's even more stubborn than I am, and that says a lot." She shook her head, as if clearing away unwanted thoughts.
Millie continued to smile, then turned back to the items in front of her. "You won't believe what I found. Come over here. Look at this."
Even from the doorway Caitlin could see several large rectangular items. A couple were laying on the floor, and others leaning against the wall. "What are they? Can you uncover one?"
"Aye. I did already. This is a surprise for sure." She pulled the covering off the first item. "It’s an oil painting, and a very good one at that."
"What? Mam collected art? Alex never told me that. I've seen a few charcoal drawings in the lodge, but no paintings."
"This work is better than good. It's very fine. But I don't think Mam collected art. Look closely, in the lower right hand corner. It's signed." Millie was smiling and Caitlin came closer.
A.M. was clearly seen even in the poorly lit hut.
"Millie, do you think what I think?"
"Yes, that's her initials. Alice MacKinnon. Mam was an artist. Why didn't anyone tell us that? Why are the paintings out here in this hut? They should be inside where we can all enjoy them. They're beautiful and would bring color to the walls of the lodge. Do you think we should move them inside?"
"I don't know why not. It would be a treat for my eyes. I'll bet the men would appreciate the change, too. They never give much thought to such. They're more interested in what your next vittles will be than such as this. They could all use a little taste of refinement, but you and I will have to provide that I'm afraid."
The two ladies carefully unwrapped several paintings, brought them into the lodge, and spent the entire afternoon deciding where they should hang them.
"Over the fireplace. That scene of the sun just barely peeking over the mountain is perfect there. Look at the colors. Green from the forest, the white on the mountaintop, and the two hinds walking through the stream, with a stag in the distance. Even the men will like that." Millie was excited about finding such treasures.
"Aye. Then we'll put the floral ones in the bedrooms, where we can enjoy them. They'll be so surprised. I can't wait to see their faces."
Millie had lived in a castle filled with original art and even Caitlin had some pieces Uncle Wabi had collected in his travels. But they were in Skye. Both women were thrilled to bring a touch of color to the all-male, drab lodge. Certainly when Mam was alive there were more feminine touches, but these paintings would add so much to the place.
~ * ~
FOOD ON THE TABLE WAS always the first order of business at the end of the day. The men washed first, then they would have a wee dram or maybe a cup of cider. The table conversation most often revolved around happenings on the farm and who needed to do what, when.
The men had come through the door, headed to their baths, then hurried to the great room for a cup of cider which would be followed by a tasty dinner Millie would have prepared for them. She was more in charge of the cooking than she ever thought she would be, but that was to her liking. She had plans for Hector, which naturally meant she would be busy in the kitchen.
Alex had greeted Caitlin at the door as usual, with a quick kiss on the forehead, and didn't mention the scene that had taken place that morning. She was relieved, but knew the matter was far from over. When the men assembled in the great room, seeking a bit of warmth from the fireplace, they could hardly miss seeing the large painting the lads had hung at Caitlin and Millie's direction. Alex was the first to notice the piece and the smile on his face spoke of his pleasure.
"Caitlin? Where did this come from? It's quite a piece of art. I studied a bit of art history at university, and this reminds me of some of the paintings in the textbooks."
Jack wondered if perhaps Hector had brought it with him this last trip. "Millie, is that one ye had sent up from yer grandmother's place?"
Millie was sure they must have seen these before. "None of you have ever seen this before? Maybe in your early years?"
"Nae, lass. I'd remember this. It's so lifelike. Look at that stag's antlers. Looks like that old one that shows his face occasionally out on the moor. I've seen him from my upstairs window. He knows he's safe from us. Mam never would let us shoot one of those," Alex said.
They began discussing the colors and how the painting brightened the room. The ladies had not yet gotten around to pointing out the initials in the right hand corner. Of course, dinner was never served until all the men had washed and gathered together in the great room. All were here except for Da. So they sipped their cider another moment. Finally, Daniel came in, wondering what all the commotion was about.
"Did I miss the party? Yer all making quite a racket."
Then his eyes rested on the painting over the fireplace. He dropped his cup of cider, the contents spilling across the wood-planked floor.
Millie rushed to get a mop.
Da stood there, taking in every inch of the painting, not speaking a word. His voice cracked when he finally did find it. "I see ye've been in the old hut."
Millie returned with a mop and she and Caitlin looked at each other. It had not occurred to them that perhaps they should have asked permission. They were so delighted about the find they assumed everyone else would be, too. But perhaps not.
"Yes, Daniel. I see now that we should have spoken with you beforehand. We weren't thinking very clearly, it appears. Please accept our apologies for making ourselves at home here," Caitlin said. She had learned early from Uncle Wabi to always admit your mistakes.
Daniel turned to his new daughter-in-law. "Nae, lass. Ye've done nothing to apologize for. It's just that it's been a while since I've looked on that work. Yes, a verra long time."
Alex, Jack, Hector and Ian looked at Da. No one could understand the look on his face. He was close to tears.
Alex finally approached him and laid a hand on the old man's arms. "Da, ye've seen this painting before? Where did it come from?"
"Well, my lad. That's a story ye wouldn't know about. But I suppose it's way past time it should have been told. Let's have our supper first, then I'll tell ye a new tale, one that might surprise ye."
Supper was as usual — men asking for seconds, Hector getting more cider for everyone, and Jack feeding himself and little Midge from the same plate. The two were practically inseparable these days and Millie never failed to be surprised by the man's abilities. How this brash, short-tempered man could have this other side, this caring, patient side that always showed itself where Midge was concerned, was touching — a surprise certainly to Millie, but also the brothers, who had watched this change with interest.
After clearing away the table, which they all helped with as Mam had taught them, they retired to the great room and everyone found a seat. Da sat in his usual place, close to the fire where he enjoyed poking at it with his fire iron. Caitlin pulled her chair over next to Alex. Hector sat across from them and Ian lay on the floor with his head on a pillow. His leg would most likely always prefer a stretched out position over all others. But he was young, so lying on the floor didn't bother him. Millie and Jack claimed the old sofa and Midge had gone to sleep in her crib.
"Yer mam is probably watching us here, so I hope I get it right."
That brought quiet laughter from the lads.
"First of all, Millie and Caitlin, ye've done us all a favor by bringing the paintings inside. Should have done it years ago. It's good that they're here, and the paintings are the first of several other subjects that should have been brought to light. If ye look closely at the painting, me lads, you'll see the artist signed it, way in the lower right corner.
"Yeah. I can see it from here. It looks like A.M. But it might be A.N. Not sure." Hector squinted and decided it was A.M.
"A.M. That's right. Alice McCormick, not MacKinnon. Yer mam painted that, and a number of others before I met her."
"Mam was an artist? But Da, why would she keep her paintings out in the hut? She could have had them here, in the lodge."
"Aye. She could have. But she choose not to, lad. It's a bit complicated, but she decided her paintings belonged to another life, the one she led before we found each other and she came to the Highlands with me. I never liked that she put that part of her life away, but it was not my decision to make. It was obvious to me she was a talented artist, but I learned early on she'd make her own decisions. And most of the time she was kind enough to discuss them with me." He chuckled under his breath.
"But why would she wish to keep such a beautiful painting hidden away?" Caitlin was in awe of anyone who could produce such art. Not a talent that she possessed, certainly.
"I think it was just as she said. It represented her life before she came here. When she made that decision, to come with me, it was not exactly with the blessing of her family, ye ken? Now, ye know ye have a few distant cousins in the lowlands, right at the border, but that's about it. Yer Mam's parents were much older when I met her. She, like Ian, had been a late-life baby for them. There had been two other children, both boys, one of whom died in infancy, so Alice was their only daughter. Her father, Laird McCormick, was a verra wealthy man, ye ken. She had been sent to school in Edinburgh when she was just a young girl, and had begun her studies at university about a year before we met. Naturally, she was expected to marry into the same social class to which she belonged. So as was common then, her father made arrangements for her to be introduced to the finest young men in the country at the annual McDonald ceilidh.
"And she did meet a number of the sons of landowners. Lovely as she was, she could have had her pick. But for a reason I'll never understand, she chose me, a poor Highlander who just happened to be helping MacDonald herd his sheep to the border. MacDonald insisted I, and the other two young lads with me, Andrew and Jamie, come to the party and that's where the story started. There I was, with nothing but a few acres of land, a small flock of sheep, and a couple of crofter's huts to boot. In fact, I tried my best to tell her she wouldn't like it here.
“It's a bit of a struggle, living in the Highlands, Alice. Ye'll be wishing to be with yer servants and wearing yer fine clothing soon. And yer kin will be there if ye need them.
'I don't want to marry any one of these lads. I've known most of them all my life, and there's not one I'd think of spending a minute with. Most of them are only interested in me because I'll inherit my father's lands. And that's not enough for me. I'll choose the man I marry. And that's you, Alex MacKinnon.’"
"She must have been quite a lady, then, I would guess," Caitlin said.
"Well, aye. She was Lady Alicia McCormick. And I thought she was the finest Lady I'd ever seen. There wasn't any question on my part, certainly. So after informing her parents of our plans, Alice packed her trunks and we left. Her father threatened to disown her and to leave all his properties to her brother if she went through with this arrangement. Obviously, she made her decision and she always reminded me that she never regretted it.
'My life with you, our lads, and these Highlands, has been more than I ever hoped for.'
"Those were the words she left me with on her last day. I'll let them be enough. But now, I think we can hang her paintings and let that part of her be shared with us also. She'd be pleased with this. I know she would."
Daniel slowly stood and made his way to the front door, preferring to walk on the moor, winding his way to the top. Alice would be waiting for him there.