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school? Ye want to start a school? Now why would ye wish to do that, lass?"
Jack, as well as the other men, had been schooled pretty much by Mam. She had instilled a love for reading in all of them, and Jack understood how important that was. But create a school here at the lodge?
"There are quite a few children up here and most of them have never seen the inside of a classroom. We could make such a difference in their lives. Everyone needs to know how to read and they could learn a little about history, how things grow, and how to add a line of figures. I could teach all of that. Plus, those who wanted to learn French could do so. I might as well make use of the fine education that Father so insisted on."
Millie's mind was made up, but in this endeavor she would definitely need Jack's approval, as well as that of the other family members.
"But Millie, ye've got Midge to take care of, and the kitchen keeps ye busy already. How are ye gonna find time to teach? That's a lot of change, if ye ask me. And by now ye know how I feel about changes."
"I'm just asking you to consider the idea. It would benefit the entire village and those who have no chance of any education otherwise."
"I don't know. But I'll think on it, lass. A lot of change." He started to walk away, then turned back to Millie "Have ye discussed it with Caitlin?"
"She's all for creating a school. But she's got plans of her own that will take a lot of her time. She just needs to talk with Alex and get his thoughts."
"What kind of plans?" Jack was still a bit unsure about Caitlin. So far, she hadn't brought any lightning on them. But what could she be making plans for?
"That's not for me to be telling, Jack MacKinnon. She'll let you know when she's settled her mind about it." And she returned to her baking.
~ * ~
WABI'S ANTENNAE HAD come to attention. Mrs. Love, owner of a large hunting estate in Skye, had turned over the care and training of her dogs to him. He couldn't think of anything he'd rather do, and presently he'd been making a bed in the barn for her old bitch, who was about to have a litter any day now. But what was it that had his scalp tingling? He stopped a moment, closed his eyes and opened his center, listening closely. Whoever it was that was calling was certainly persistent. His scalp was practically burning by this point.
Ah, Ian, yes. I hear you, lad, I hear you. Slow down, now. Slow down. Yes. Are you sure? Then I'll make my way to you. If there's another incident and I'm not there yet, trust me when I say you can handle it. The power is there for your taking, but take care to think the situation through before acting. Make sure it’s necessary to use your power before you do so. Careful, lad, careful.
~ * ~
SEVERAL MONTHS HAD passed since the wedding ceremonies. Wabi had left the celebration before it was over, as he'd felt a need to go home. But when he arrived, all seemed to be in order.
Now Ian was trying his hand at communicating with Wabi. As Wabi expected, he got through immediately. Wabi's sense of this young lad was right. He would be a powerful tool for the Creator. He knew the time had come for him to put everything else aside and mentor the boy.
I wonder . . . if he would come here I could give him even more attention. Maybe I should talk to Daniel about the lad's special qualities. Pretty sure he won't be surprised.
Owl had recently returned from the Highlands as Wabi had decided Caitlin was in good hands now and had called for his friend to return to him.
"I'm headed to the Highlands again, Owl, are you coming?"
The great owl turned his head, almost all the way around, and focused his all-seeing eyes on Wabi.
If you need me, Master, of course I shall come.
"Well, I know how you dislike time weaving, so if you like, stay here and look after the place. If you get bored with the scenery here then join me in the Highlands as that scenery will certainly renew one's spirits. I'm headed there at Ian's request. He believes there's dark power about and he's afraid of it. Not that he would admit it, but I sensed it in his voice. And I'm glad he fears it. It can be difficult for a novice to conquer — even difficult for me occasionally. So I'll get myself there and see what's what."
~ * ~
HECTOR, MILLIE, AND Jack were headed to the Cameron estate. Millie had to see for herself that all was well with the old ones. And though she knew Dorothea would take excellent care of the three children who had been hiding in the castle, she needed to satisfy herself that this solution was working for everyone.
"Lady Millie, I knew ye'd keep yer word, I did." Clint helped her off the cart and quickly removed his tattered tam. His Mam had taught him it was the proper thing to do in the presence of a Lady. And even though she was married to this Highlander now, Clint still thought of her as Lady Millie.
Millie took his old weathered hand in hers. "Of course I did. You are all important to me, as you have been to my grandmother and aunt for all these years. Without you this place would have fallen apart long ago."
She had such a way with words that old Clint just liked to listen to her.
"Is Dorothea here? I would like to see her, please."
As the words were spoken, several children raced out the door, laughing as they went dashing through the bailey.
"Are those the children Hector discovered?"
A voice called to her. "Yes, m'lady. Those are the ones. Give me a minute and I'll have them come in for an introduction. They're a handful, but with a little work they'll be just fine."
Dorothea never doubted Lady Millie would return, but she was pleased to see her. Once everyone was inside and had been given a cup of tea, Dorothea gave her report.
"I don't know exactly how long they were hiding here, Lady Millie, but it must have been several days — maybe more. They had head lice, infected sores and hadn't had a bath for a bit. I'm not sure, but they likely had some of that before they came. I've taken care of those issues and they're now well-fed and clean. And I'm doing my best to teach them a few basic manners. 'Tis a challenge, though."
Hector, Jack and Clint talked business for a while, and Millie and Dorothea relived old times. Finally, Hector could put it off not another minute. "Millie, we've got to come to a conclusion about what to do with these children. Ethel's been feeding them, Dorothea's been caring for them, and Clint tries to keep the place warm enough for them. But this can't be a permanent arrangement. What did ye have in mind? I know ye've been thinking a while on this. But we need to know where to go from here."
Jack waited for Millie to speak, but when she hesitated, he stepped in.
"Millie's got her mind set on starting a school up at our lodge. And I've bought into that idea. We all need to talk about it, so we'll discuss it at home, with Alex and Da. And Ian, too. Here at the estate, she hopes ye might help her put together a staff for the place, with Clint, Winston and Ethel still in charge, of course. But this staff would be a bit different than what's been here before. Millie wants to provide food for the village again, just as her grandmother had done. Also, perhaps this could be a temporary home for the children and wives who lost their das and their husbands during the fighting.”
Millie was glad Jack had started the conversation. He had been surprised when she first mentioned the idea of a home for the children. But as she knew, he had a fondness for children that others may not understand. And with a suggestion coming from him, Hector might be more inclined to agree.
"I want us to continue with the gardens as Grandmother had. And this is a perfect place for us to establish a place to help the wives and children of the men lost in the fighting — a temporary refuge until they can sort out their situations. My place is in the Highlands with Jack and Midge. I have no plans to live on this estate, but it could serve a great purpose. With Clint, Ethel and Winston's help, we could make this a sanctuary of sorts. That would mean a safe, secure place for the children and it would mean employment for a few.”
"A home for children and widows. A sanctuary." Hector stared at Millie as though just seeing her for the first time. "The place would need to be arranged differently. We'd need to turn bedrooms into sleeping quarters for several people. And there would have to be a dining hall. And food. Ethel could take care of that."
Millie smiled at Jack as they watched Hector already making his plans aloud. The idea obviously appealed to him.
"And it would be work — at first. Take a lot of my time. Just to get things organized and sorted properly. What do ye think Alex will say about that? He usually needs all hands working with the sheep."
"He's already on board, brother. He's given his blessing and Caitlin thinks it's a great plan for the estate. If we need to, we'll take on a new helper or two while ye get this taken care of."
At the end of the day, Hector decided to stay at the estate, get his thoughts together and start making a plan. This would need to be carefully done, with a mind for how the place would pay for itself. There were still a few sheep, but if they could get the farm going again, the flock might need to be increased. They could sell the wool and that would bring in funds that could be used for the other necessities. Hector's mind was rushing like wildfire.