Highland Light (18 page)

The horses were saddled, packs put on the two pack animals, and they were gone. The women watched until the men disappeared from view. Ailene held her head up then turned to go about her duties. Her heart was with Gideon, but it was necessary that she do her duty. This time there would be no hysterics. Regardless of her good intentions, she did find tears in her eyes. Ailene brushed them away with her fingers. He would return to her when he was able.

What was different was the small hand that reached out to take hers. Fenella walked beside her. Ailene had to shorten her steps to allow Fenella to keep up with her long strides.

"I ha just found him, yer da, I dinna wish to lose him this soon."

Fenella squeezed Ailene's hand.

Ailene nodded. She certainly knew that sentiment.

"Ah well, Fenella, he has Gideon and the others. They will keep each other safe, as safe as can be."

Had her father told Fenella of his head injury? That was something she would not bring up. Gideon knew that was sufficient for the moment. It was not necessary to upset her stepmother further. God willing the injury was finally healed.

Chapter 16

Christmas arrived. The celebration of the birth of the Chist child was upon them. The Bruce was very ill his men knew it. Gideon and all with him were tired. They had been running through the braes and glens as men outlawed. Food and rest came fleetingly. What they had was not sufficient to ease hunger or exhaustion. Gideon and Cadell were convinced The Bruce was suffering from the privations all had endured. In truth The Bruce had suffered longer than they had.

All of the MacGrough men had been injured during the scrimmages that had been fought. None of their party had been injured unto death, but it was hard to heal when rest and food were in such short supply. They were glad to have Dalziel with them. He could easily have filled the post of a healer in any clan. Gideon watched carefully, he learned all the older man could teach him of sewing wounds and setting broken bones. Dalziel tutored him in healing herbs as well.

Gideon had a plan he had not yet discussed with Cadell. He wanted Cadell to go home and take the exhausted clansmen with him. When The MacGrough reached the glen, he could send the men at home back to Gideon. Those who had been serving with the king would be able to rest. Gideon would have fresh troops and possibly more supplies.

He knew Cadell certainly would not be in favor of the plan he had devised. It was necessary if any of them were to survive this debilitating hit and run warfare. He, Adair and Banner were the youngest of them. Gideon he knew the two young men were suffering. He felt he would never again be warm and sated with food or sleep. Gideon knew that if he was feeling totally drained the older men were in worse shape but unwilling to admit to it.

Something needed to be done and soon. They could not go on the way they had been. He and the two lads had managed to bring down two small roe deer that afternoon. The meat had been parceled out as best they could. All would have a watery meat flavored broth this eve. Gideon sent the two lads back to theMacGrough fire with the small amount of meat that was their portion.

Gideon had little energy for it but was still pacing unable to settle. It occurred to him that the only benefit to pacing was that as tiring as it was, it did seems to warm him a bit.

With a shake of his dark head, Gideon stalked back to the fire. He had made up his mind, it was time to talk with Cadell. When he reached the fire he noted the kettle had already been suspended over the small hot fire. Gideon wondered if the meat would even be allowed to reach some stage of warmth before the oats would be thrown in and the whole devoured by the starving men. Cadell was sitting back from the fire wrapped in several plaids. The MacGrough was recovering from a fever that had laid him low for a few days.

Gideon lowered himself to the ground next to his father in law. He nodded to Dalziel and asked Dalziel if he would mind giving them a few minutes to discuss something. Dalziel excused himself then moved closer to the fire. Cadell raised one eyebrow as he regarded Gideon.

"Aye lad? Wa tis it ye wished to discuss that requires privacy?"

"Sir,"

Gideon began to speak but Cadell cut him off.

"Son, gie me a gift this Christmas of no more addressing me as 'Sir'. I dinna expect ye to call me 'da' or 'fayther', mind. Cadell will do well enough. Now out wa it lad."

"Cadell, you need to take the men off. Take them and yourself home."

Cadell began to sputter. Gideon shook his head.

"Please hear me out. There are fresh men at home. These men are worn to a nub and nearly useless at this point. You as well, Sir."

Cadell growled. Gideon quickly amended himself.

"Cadell, you know I speak the truth. Adair, Banner and myself are in the best condition of the lot. As it is the lads have missed too many meals."

"What of ye Gideon? Would you be going back as well?"

Cadell looked over at the men who huddled around the fire.

"Aye, they are no in good shape."

"One of us needs to stay here Cadell. I am the logical choice."

Cadell snorted.

"Aye and the lass will have my head if ye stay here while we all go home."

Gideon drew his knees to his chest then wrapped the plaid tightly around him.

"There is little choice. One of us must stay here with the King. I am best able to do so at this time. I carry a double burden of responsibility to the King in truth."

Cadell sighed.

"So I must tell Ailene that ye stay to fulfill your duty to The Bruce. Can I gie her a hope as to when ye might be home?"

"I will see her in the spring. I am not sure when in the spring, but I will be home then."

Gideon looked over at Cadell.

"By then you should be rested enough to relieve me. If you have not had a recurrance of your head injury."

"God's blood! She told ye!"

Cadell cursed softly.

"Women open their mouths when they should be shut!"

"Nay Cadell. Do not be angry with Ailene. You should have told me long before this. I have been watching. There have been no occurances of what I was warned of."

" Och! Well. Aye, I should have told ye meself. I dinna do so!"

Cadell was silent for a few moments.

"Aye, I should have told ye. There has been no recurrance. The times between got longer, ken? The last of it was shortly before we came for ye when ye wed."

Gideon nodded.

"Then take the men home Cadell. We can let The Bruce know what we plan. We are not abandoning him, we are bringing him fresh troops."

Cadell grumbled a bit more but gave in finally. They met with the king's man, as the king was not receiving anyone due to his illness. Word was carried to The Bruce. He gave them his blessing.

They packed up, mounted their horses then left the encampment. Gideon watched the others leave. At least the horses were rested and ready to go. One of the animals danced on its front feet causing Kai to almost lose his reins. Cadell watched Kai struggle for a moment. He knew that Gideon's concern was warranted.

They rode eight hours that day. Cadell called a halt when there was sufficnent light for them to have traveled another two hours. It was a cold camp that night as Cadell was not willing to expose them to discovery. He thought about perhaps swinging down to the coast to spending day or so in Dundee. After a discussion with the other men, they decided against that couse of action. They all looked too worn. It was best they stay off the beaten tracks. Caution was preferrable to comfort.

Cadell held down their travel times to eight hours a day. It was all they could manage in their present condition. A journey that should have taken no more than four days took Cadell and his men six days. They took their time, picking their way carefully around villages and settlements. It was a relief when they finally rode down the path into the glen. The keep had never looked so good to Cadell.

His only worry now was how to explain to Ailene that Gideon was not with them. The glen was dusted in a light coating of snow. Sentries that Neill had posted alerted the clan of the return of the warriors. Ainsley was waiting in the stable along with Boyd and Caelan to care for the horses. Cadell and the other men gratefully stumbled into the hall where a fire waited. The smell of meat cooking caused their mouths to water.

Ailene dashed down the stairs. She looked for Gideon. Not finding him, she walked up to Cadell.

"Where is he? Where is Gideon?"

Cadell looked at Ailene, backed up then took another look at her.

"Ailene, ye are with child!"

She folded her arms across her swollen body as she glared at her father.

"Aye I am and I want Gideon."

"Ailene, he was no able to leave. He ha a duty to the King. He will be back in the spring. He said he promised ye in spring he would see ye."

"Why are ye here?"

Her voice rose. Cadell knew that she was boiling with anger.

"Those who have been here are rested. They will go be wa Gideon. In the spring, if The Bruce is still on his campaign, Gideon will return and I will replace him.

"Well fayther, can ye do it? Are you able to relieve Gideon so he can be here to see his bairn born?"

Cadell knew what she was asking him.

"Aye. Ailene I can do what ye ask."

She nodded in acknowledgment. The hall was crowded with all the men, those who would be leaving and those who had returned home. The warriors had listened to the exchange between Cadell and Ailene quietly.

Ailene lifted her head as looked at the men who had gathered in the hall.

"All of ye. Listen to wa I am about to tell ye. None of ye are to tell Gideon I am with child. The man wa opens his mouth will lose his tongue. Ye ken? I dinna care who is the culprit."

They all looked at her in amazement. Cadell asked the question no one else dared.

"Why Ailene do ye no want him to know?"

"Are ye all dense? Is there no a lick of sense in any of ye? I no want him to be concerned. Dinna fash him."

Cadell suddenly understood. He knew what she wanted.

"All of ye. She has the straight of it. No one is to say anything to Gideon regarding the bairn. All of ye ken?"

They acknowledged the command. Ailene sighed in relief.

Ailene saw the condition of her father and the other warriors who had come home with Cadell. She was worried about Gideon. She spoke with Cadell. He had to admit to her that her husband was indeed tired and worn as were all in the King's army including the king. Ailene tried to devise a way in which she could help him. She knew he would not keep anything to himself so sending him food for him alone was not an option. With a slight shake of her head, Ailene realized all they could do was to send what could be spared in the way of easily carried provisions to Gideon and to pray.

Ainsley petitioned Cadell to be sent along with the other men. He had just turned fourteen he felt that it was time he enter the world of men. Cadell was of two minds. The lad had worked hard and gained some inches. He was not a flightly sort, he had demonstrated a serious turn of mind. On the other hand he had not seen his parents in some years. Nor did The MacGrough feel that Ainsley had enough training for war. Cadell finally agreed to allow Ainsley to go along on the condition that he was to act as an extra pair of hands to Gideon. Gideon would know where to place the lad to best advantage.

Ainsley went in search of Christal the night before he was to leave. He found her helping her mother to pack provision being sent on with the clansmen. Idelle eyed him, then turned to Christal.

"I think the lad wishes to speak with ye."

Idelle nodded toward the door.

"Ye may have a few minutes, a few minutes only, mind."

Christal gave her mother a quick squeeze on her arm.

"Aye ma."

With a smile in Ainsley's direction, the young girl bounced out of the kitchen into the yard. Ainsley caught up with her. He reached for her hand.

"I'm going with them. We should return in spring. I,.I wanted ye to know I think ye are a bonny lass."

Her smile faded.

"Ye are going wa them? I didna ken ye might leave."

Ainsley recalled seeing Gideon take Ailene's hand to kiss her fingers. That seemed to him to be something Christal might like as Ailene had enjoyed having her hand kissed. He lifted Christal's hand then began to kiss each finger that had become intwined with his. In the faint light of the new moon Ainsley watched her eyes widen.

"Ainsley?"

Christal whispered his name. Gideon had been wrong when he told Ainsley he had no idea of what went on between men and women. Ainsley stepped closer to Christal. He put one arm around her waist as he had seen Gideon do. Gently he slipped his hand under her reddish blonde hair to draw her head toward him. Softly, Ainsley pressed his lips to the Christal's.

"Oh!"

She breathed. Her body pressed against him. Ainsley felt something he had never felt before. The intensity of the feeling took him by surprise. He had a sudden thought that he must be careful with Christal. He did not wish to frighten or hurt her. Ainsley stepped back.

"Och, Christal. Ye are beautiful. I return in spring. Wait for me, I would have ye for meself."

"We are too young to speak of that."

She stroked his cheek with one hand.

"Nay. We are no too young. I know my mind as to you. Ye are the only lass I want. I know we must wait to wed. I want ye to know that I want only ye."

Christal stepped back.

"I must go in. Know ye that I will wait until spring Ainsley."

She left him to dash back into the kitchen. Ainsley stood alone in the yard. There was a smile on his face. He was glad  he had spoken to Christal. When he went home to the Gregorach he meant to take her with him.

In three days the five men and one lad followed Cadell's directions as they set out to find Gideon and the King's army. Cadell made sure to send along more oats and dried meat. He wished that he could send along several fat sheep or cattle but knew he could not. It would be too easy for others to take such bounty from five men and one lad. His men could easily slip through the hidden glens by themselves. Driving cattle or sheep was a different matter. Cadell watched the men set off with a heavy heart. He wished he could do more.