Highland Burn (27 page)

“Fare well this eve, my lady.” Anna picked up the basket of fruit Abigale had brought her this morn and quit the room.

Observing the space around her, Abigale couldn’t be happier; she was living her dream. A blessing indeed, James had allowed her to practice her skills and live out her passion. But most of all, she had her independence. Most women didn’t have that freedom. As she'd had her freedom taken from her back at the abbey, Abigale vowed she would assist any woman seeking their independence. Anna had come to her not so long ago, badly beaten. Her husband, a drunk, had beat her. After Abigale told James about Anna’s situation, Anna was under the protection of clan Douglas and as for the drunken husband… he was never heard of again.

Oh if Sister Kate could see me now,
she thought. Abigale looked down at her belly. Aye, if she could see her now.

Breaking her reminiscing, James opened the door to her hut and two beautiful girls charged in before he could step over the threshold. The girls, with their blonde hair bouncing, greeted Abigale with hugs and kisses. “Oh my loves, I’ve missed ye too." Abigale embraced the girls. Peering up from their embrace Abigale locked eyes with her husband’s swirling amber depths and those fiery butterflies returned.

James entered the room and made his way to Abigale. He placed his hands on her belly and kissed her deeply. “I’ve missed ye two today.”

“Aye, we’ve missed ye too, my love.”

“Are ye ready for some fresh air,
bel ange
? I thought we would sit by the old rowan tree and let the girls play for a while. What say ye?”

“I think ‘tis a beautiful idea.” Abigale smiled up at James and kissed him.

“Good.” James motioned for them to step outside.

Indeed it was a gorgeous day. For once there was no threat of rain. Once outside the girls raced to their favorite spot and started to pick wild flowers.

Abigale and James walked beside his mare when Abigale noticed something strange. “James, how much is the lad at the stable feeding yer horse?”

James looked at Abigale as if she had grown two heads. “Why ye ask?”

“She’s fat.”

“Fat? Nay.”

Abigale stopped and James followed. She walked in front of the horse, rubbing the mare’s nose. “Shh lassie.” Continuing around to the horse's side, she ran her hand over its belly. “James, is there a possibility she could be pregnant?”

Still looking confused, he joined Abigale and did his own examination of the mare’s swollen belly. “Fergus, ye sly dog.”

Abigale faced James. “What do ye mean?”

“Do ye remember the night when I brought ye back to bed from sleeping in the stall with Fergus?”

“Aye.”

“Well, let’s just say I rewarded him for good behavior.” James winked.

Abigale slapped his chest. “Ye mean to tell me Shadow is now pregnant with Fergus’s baby?”

“Looks like it, love.”

Abigale’s laughter soon turned to tears.

“What’s wrong? Did I—“

“Oh nay, James, these are happy tears.” Standing on the tips of her toes, she hugged her husband. Now a part of her trusted friend would live on.

They broke their embrace and made it over to the rowan tree. James spread out a plaid then helped Abigale to sit. Next he handed her a basket of fruit and bread and teased Abigale with one of Alice’s famous oatcakes.

Finally as James made his way to the blanket, the ground below began to tremble. He paused for a moment and looked down at the earth.

“What’s wrong, James.” Abigale was beginning to feel alarmed when he didn’t respond right away. “James?”

As quickly as the earth shook, it stopped. Not wanting to frighten Abigale, James shrugged the rumble off but deep down his worse fears were beginning to surface.

“’Tis nothing. We’re fine.”

“James, I felt it too. Ye can no tell me that was nothing.”

He leaned his back against the tree as he joined Abigale on the blanket and motioned for her to come sit with him. “Dinnae worry, it’s no good for the babe.” He smiled.

Abigale quickly forgot about the disturbance as she found herself wrapped up in his loving embrace. Her back pressed up against his chest all the while James kissed her neck and rubbed her belly. How could she be so lucky to have a man who loved her so much? Truly she felt like her life was complete.

“I have something for ye,” James whispered in her ear. ”Close yer eyes.”

She did exactly what she was told. She could hear James rustling around in his satchel next to him.

“Open yer eyes.”

What she saw took her breath away. An elegant silver torc with dragon heads on each of the ends stared back at her. The dragon’s eyes were made out of amber. The torc shined as the sun’s rays hit the metallic necklace making it sparkle. It was fit for a queen.

“Oh James, this is –“she was at a loss for words; the piece was beyond any riches she had ever seen.

“Here, let me see how it looks on ye.” James pushed Abigale’s hair over her shoulder and placed the torc around her neck.

Touching the fine piece, she turned to face him. “It fits perfectly.” She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him.

“Abigale Bruce, I love ye. Hell, I loved ye from the moment I saw ye that morn at the loch. I’m honored to be yer husband and I’m most definitely honored that ye will be the mother of my children. I hope that ye can learn to love my dragon just as much as I love ye.”

Tears were building up again. She was truly loved and she loved every bit of this man sitting in front of her, even the dragon. “I love all of ye and I could no be any happier than ye’ve made me.” Tears broke through and slid down her cheeks.

James took her face in his hands and wiped away the wetness from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Happy tears?”

“Aye, happy tears.” Abigale smiled.

Glossary

Bairn - Baby or small child

Bele ange - French for beautiful angel

Bonny - Beautiful

Byre - Cow shed

Chemise/Shift - A piece of clothing that looks like a light, loose dress and that is worn by women as underwear or in bed.

Circator - Monks/Nuns who ensure that all Monks/Nuns were obeying abbey rules
.

Cannae - can not

Cordwainer - Shoemaker

Daft - Silly

Dinnae - Don’t

Didnae - Didn’t

Dunderhead - Silly

Hogget - A sheep up to the age of one year that has yet to be sheared.

Knight Banneret - A medieval knight who could command men in battle under his own banner.

Pas aussi belle que vous - French for “Not as beautiful as you.”

Sassenach - Derogatory an English person.